D-backs expect big year from ‘Goldy’

It didn’t take long for Paul Goldschmidt to make an impact
last season.

In just his second big league game, he homered off of two-
time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum of the San
Francisco Giants. He would hit seven more home runs in
the regular season plus add a pair — including a grand
slam, during the divisional series against the Milwaukee
Brewers.

Now, what does he do for an encore?

“I think [it’s] big year for ‘Goldy’,” said manager Kirk
Gibson Monday. “He came up and had a huge impact for us
last year. People are going to know a little bit more
about him. It’s a challenge to do what he did last year
and come back and be able to do it again.”

Goldschmidt hit .250 (39-for-156) and drove in 26 runs in
48 games after he was promoted from Double-A Mobile on
August 1.

This year there will be no late-season call-up.
Goldschmidt is expected to be the Diamondbacks Opening Day
first baseman.

“I mean obviously there’s a little difference [from last
year],” he said. “But I think my preparation, my mindset
here at spring training is the same: just continue to
prepare for the start of the year and try to lean on some
of these veteran guys and keep improving.”

Perhaps his greatest improvement has come defensively.

“Obviously [I] take a lot of pride over there.”

Goldschmidt did not commit a single error in 373 chances
at first last season. He also prevented a number of
errors, saving errant infield throws by scooping them out
of the dirt.

“He was better than people said he was when he came up,”
explained Gibson who then added, “I know what his
expectations are — I don’t know if he’d admit it to you.
I think he’d like to win a Gold Glove in his career.”

“I’m not worried about any awards or anything like that,”
Goldschmidt answered. “My main focus is just try to do
whatever I can to help us win. If it’s defense, it’s
defense; baserunning, hitting, coming off the bench.
Whatever they need me to do I’ll be happy to do.”

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