Gibson not afraid to use rookie Goldschmidt
Aug 3, 2011, 4:45 AM | Updated: 5:48 am
PHOENIX – The Arizona Diamondbacks are tied for first place in the NL West, so logic would dictate that now isn’t the best time to call up a young kid like Paul Goldschmidt from the minors and throw him right into the middle of a stretch run.
Right?
“Why not? We brought him up to play. He’s prepared for this moment,” said manager Kirk Gibson on Sports 620 KTAR on Tuesday afternoon.
Gibson certainly didn’t make things easy for Goldschmidt sending him out against Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum in his first two starts of his career.
“I didn’t really want to sit him for a couple days. It just seems like it’s time,” said Gibson.
Goldschmidt rewarded his manager’s faith by taking Lincecum deep for his first career home run in the big leagues.
Goldschmidt has been on the fast track to the big leagues as he tore up Double-A Mobile this season hitting .306 with 30 home runs.
“We’ve been talking about ‘Goldy’ for quite some time. He’s got to learn. If you’re good, you’ll adapt and figure some things out,” said Gibson.
It’s only been two games and Goldschmidt has already generated some excitement, but the D-backs are being cautious about the young hitter’s development.
“We want to see if he’s capable of doing that. It will determine how we proceed from here,” said Gibson.
The D-backs management is trying to protect their young player from having too much expectation thrown on him, but it’s hard not to be excited at what Goldschmidt could potentially bring to a position that has given the team very little production this season.
