SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — By most measures, Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was the most productive offensive player in the National League last season.
Goldschmidt hit .302 and led the National League in RBIs (125), slugging percentage (.531), extra-base hits (75), on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.952) and total bases (332) while tying for the home run lead (36) with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Pedro Alvarez. He won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.
That was then, Goldschmidt said, putting the past firmly in his rearview mirror as spring training opened.
“We all start with ho hits, no RBIs, no average,” said Goldschmidt, who finished second to the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen in NL MVP voting. “It doesn’t matter what happened. You have to prove yourself every day.”
Goldschmidt did his best work in 2013 when it mattered most, leading led the major leagues in go-ahead homers, walk-off homers and homers after the eighth inning. He beat the Chicago Cubs with a grand slam on June 1, did some homework while finishing degree work in the management at the University of Phoenix on the team charter to St. Louis, then beat the Cardinals with a 14th-inning single June 4 and another grand slam June 5.
However, the only numbers Goldschmidt seems concerned about are 81-81, the D-backs’ record each of the past two years.
“We all have goals, but I am not up there trying to hit a certain number of stats,” said Goldschmidt, who received his college degree in August.
“For me, I just want to show up and work hard every day and try to get better and help the team win. Those are things I can control. Some number, a guy makes a diving play on you and you don’t reach your goal, it’s going to be a disappointing year? For me, that stuff is out of your control.”
Prescient D-backs general manager Kevin Towers signed Goldschmidt to a five-year, $32 million contract extension two days before the 2013 season began.
“In all my years, I have not been around many like him,” Towers said. “He’s a performer. He’s a (college) graduate. Incredible teammate. In the morning, he beats all our trainers here coming to work out in the offseason. In a very short period of time, he has become the face of this organization.”
The face would blush at that.
“You just have to understand that this is a team game,” Goldschmidt said. “Last year’s over. It was a good year. It was great. It was fun, but you have to start over and go out and try to win. We want to win the World Series. Besides that, who cares what happens?”
NOTES, QUOTES
–LHP Patrick Corbin, who gave up a two-run home run in his first spring start Friday, is preparing as if he will start one of the two regular-season games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Australia on March 22-23, although no decisions have been announced. “I’d obviously rather go out there and help the team win than pitch in a couple of games here that don’t mean anything,” Corbin said. “Hopefully I’ll get the opportunity. That’s what I am preparing for. I think that I’m on schedule for that.” Corbin, who threw 53 pitches Feb. 29, would start one of the games if the D-backs remain in turn.
–SS Chris Owings, a top candidate for the starting job, also played parts of two games at second base early this spring as the D-backs gauge his versatility. Owings, who hit .330 and was the Pacific Coast League MVP at Triple-A Reno last season, played 11 games at second base, his first games at the spot. “I’m feeling comfortable over there. Last year helped,” Owings said. SS Didi Gregorius will not play second base this spring, manager Kirk Gibson said.
–RHP Archie Bradley, the D-backs’ top pitching prospect, was scheduled to make his debut in a split-squad game against Colorado on March 3. “He’s a natural power guy. He knows he has to command the zone, but he’s got something most guys don’t have,” Gibson said his 99 mph fastball. “I don’t want him to think he’s some finesse pitcher. He’s not.” Bradley was washed out of his first scheduled spring start March 1, when rain forced cancellation of a split-squad game against the Chicago Cubs.
–C Tuffy Gosewisch, battling with veteran Henry Blanco for the backup catcher position, suffered a strained calf in late February but is expected to return in early March. C Bobby Wilson, who spent parts of five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, and C Blake Lalli became roster candidates in Gosewisch’s absence, GM Kevin Towers said. “It’s pretty much open for that backup spot,” Towers said.
–RHP Trevor Cahill struck out four in his in 3 1/3 innings in his first spring start, a rain-shortened 2-1 victory of Milwaukee on March 1. “My curveball was working. I was throwing it for a strike when I had to, which was a good sign,” said Cahill, who refined his arm late last season and is looking to maintain consistency this year. “My changeup was really bad until I kind of got the feel for it again. It’s usually one of the tougher pitches to get the hang of.”
–OF Todd Glaesmann, obtained from Tampa Bay for RHP Heath Bell in the offseason, retired from baseball before minor league spring training started. “Although the decision was not easy, it was best move for me. The passion for the game was not there anymore,” said Glaesmann, the Rays’ 2012 minor league player of the year. Glasemann, 24, hit .240/.289/.378 with 11 homers and 54 RBIs in 132 games for Double-A Montgomery last year.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “You can’t forget about him out there. That (arm) is certainly one of his strengths. He’ll be a good weapon for us this year.” — Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson, on RF Gerardo Parra, who threw out two runners in March 2 exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants.