Paul Goldschmidt sits in World Baseball Classic finale win over Puerto Rico

Goldy joins @IntentionalTalk on @MLBNetwork to chat about tonight’s #WBC2017 Final. #ForGlory 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/RDRi0ALbDx

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 22, 2017

Team USA’s lineup in Wednesday night’s World Baseball Classic finale included one tweak to it compared to the semifinal a day prior.

That tweak was at catcher and not first base. Manager Jim Leyland again played Eric Hosmer over Paul Goldschmidt at first in Team USA’s 8-0 triumph over Puerto Rico in the WBC championship game.

Hosmer also started ahead of Goldschmidt on Tuesday when the United States beat Japan in the tournament’s semifinal game, 2-1. That riled up baseball fans, and while Hosmer has a game-winning knock in this international tournament and Goldschmidt has struggled, those fans remained confused by the move.

Goldschmidt played in five games during the World Baseball Classic, and he batted 1-for-13 with three strikeouts and two runs scored. Hosmer had gone 9-for-24 with five RBI and five runs scored with only one strikeout before Wednesday.

Against Puerto Rico, he took two walks and added a hit while scoring a run.

Despite the success without Goldschmidt, fans were still not feeling the move by Leyland for the third game in a row didn’t even use a pinch-hitter.

So Goldschmidt will still be available for midgame interviews. https://t.co/auhcoisNgJ

— Sara (@gidget) March 22, 2017

Goldy, Murph and Nolan taking it all in before BP.#ForGlory 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/261wA5p04a

— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) March 22, 2017

This is the closest Murphy and goldschmidt will get to the field tonight https://t.co/yoSGKK5X3w

— JWerth's Beard (@JWerthsBeard) March 22, 2017

who is "Goldy"

— KillTheSave(26-136) (@EvenYearBS) March 22, 2017

I'm only a mile away, but can't in good conscience go to a ⚾️ game where Eric Hosmer starts 1st base over Paul Goldschmidt. @mike_petriello

— mattresstagging (@mattresstagging) March 22, 2017

Prior to the game, Leyland said he was “trying to make America great again,” which of course wasn’t received well by those who know Goldschmidt’s nickname: “America’s first baseman.”

how about making the lineup "great" first??

— Trever Stone (@trever_stone) March 22, 2017

in loving memory of paul goldschmidt. he isn't dead but jim leyland acts like he is because hosmer's starting over him🙏

— maddie (@kyIehendricks) March 22, 2017

Did Goldschmidt kill Leyland's dog? Or steal his smokes or something? https://t.co/R9OM9sqM9q

— Desipio.com (@desipiodotcom) March 22, 2017

WHERE 🗣 IS 🗣 PAUL 🗣 GOLDSCHMIDT https://t.co/EUNyrsGJoL

— maddie (@kyIehendricks) March 22, 2017

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