Whatever They Do, Goldschmidt Can't Be Allowed to Swing the Bat

Goldschmidt homers against the Dodgers in earlier action this season. (photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

With every series, there's always one player that you decide you won't allow to beat you.  When it comes to the Arizona Diamondbacks, that guy has to be Paul Goldschmidt.  Based on his performances against the Dodgers, they obviously haven't taken that approach with him in the past.

Goldschmidt is a Dodger killer.  We've seen it time and time again and especially this year.  This is a guy that the Dodgers need to take the bat out of his hands.  If that means walking him 4 times a game, so be it.  Just don't let this guy swing the bat because when he does, balls fly out of Dodger Stadium.  Going in to tonight's action, Goldschmidt this season is hitting .365 against the Dodgers with 4 homers, 14 RBIs  and a .411 on base percentage.  He's a lifetime .348 hitter at Dodger Stadium where in 17 games over his career, he's hit 6 homers.

Honeycutt, Fedex and Nolasco have to be on the same page and simply not allow this guy anything decent to hit.

Goldschmidt is one of those players that the Dodgers drafted out of High School that failed to sign.   It was in the 49th round, so there really couldn't have been much monetary incentive for him to sign when he graduated from The Woodlands Highs School (Texas), opting to go to college instead.   He later signed with the D-Backs, who drafted Goldschmidt in the 8th round three years later.   Another such player that did the same thing years earlier was another Dodger killer, Chase Utley of the Phillies.  Isn't it interesting to see these guys hammer the Dodgers time and time again, almost as if they are holding some sort of grudge against the organization.  What is it with these guys?  Are they upset the organization low-balled them with an offer in their younger years?  It's hard to believe that would be the case, but you never know.

Goldschmidt is a legitimate MVP candidate this year, leading the league in RBIs at 107, while pounding out 31 homers.  He leads the league with a whopping 279 total bases that accompany his .931 OPS.  Paul has fine tuned his game with excellent defensive skills (.996 fld. %) and he can steal a bag for you if necessary, (he's 13/20 in SB's).  His WAR of 5.8 ranks 7th in the league.

So while the Dodgers attempt to close out Arizona and take the division, they'll have to do so while shutting down the guy they call "Goldy," another player that the organization wanted, but not quite enough to l;ure him away from college.  Another one that got away.