The many reasons to #VoteGoldy
Jun 16, 2015, 4:59 PM | Updated: 5:37 pm
Like hipsters who have loved that coffee shop for years or music snobs who listened to that band before they were on the radio, Paul Goldschmidt fans often feel like they are in on one of the best-kept secrets in sports.
Sometimes, though, having fans and pundits disrespect the two-time All-Star in the best player debate can be frustrating. Here are Goldy’s latest season stats to fuel that debate:
Ruth, Gehrig and Goldschmidt
As Buster Olney of ESPN tweeted Monday, Goldschmidt is on a monster pace for 213 hits, 131 walks, 126 runs, 136 RBI, 88 extra bases and 26 stolen bases.
Paul Goldschmidt three more hits, three more RBI tonight. On pace for: 213 hits, 131 walks, 126 runs, 136 RBI, 88 extra-base hits, 26 SB.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 16, 2015
As the San Diego Union-Tribune points out, the only other players in the history of baseball to have that kind of a season are Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Understandably, it’s mid-June but… we’re just saying.
Goldy is paving his own folklore in one category — Lou and the Babe never put up Goldschmidt-like numbers in stolen bases.
Tale of the Tape
The author of that Union-Tribune article opines that regardless of having a legendary season, the Angels’ Mike Trout is still the best player in the league — who the D-backs also happen to be playing this week. What happens when we compare the two sluggers’ seasons side-by-side?
| Paul Goldschmidt | Mike Trout | |
|---|---|---|
| H | 83 | 71 |
| R | 49 | 47 |
| HR | 18 | 18 |
| RBI | 53 | 39 |
| 2B | 15 | 13 |
| SO | 53 | 59 |
| BB | 52 | 30 |
| SB | 10 | 8 |
| AVG | .366 | .297 |
| OBP | .484 | .381 |
| SLG | .678 | .577 |
Trout does not have Goldschmidt beat in a single category and they are tied for homers. Some categories are close but hits and RBIs show quite a disparity.
Another Elite Club
According to ESPN Stats and Info, Goldschmidt is one of five MLB players hitting .300 with 50 steals since 2012. The only one with more home runs in that span than Goldschmidt is Trout.
Leader of the Pack
Goldschmidt is the best in the National League in 14 categories this season including WAR (4.8), batting average (.366, which also leads the MLB) and on-base percentage (.484).
As of Late
Goldschmidt has had an unbelievable June — he hit his 100th career home run, surpassing Matt Williams for sixth on the D-backs all-time list. He has hit three of his 18 home runs this year in the month and has 19 hits and 10 RBI. On Monday against the Angels, he went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, walk and 3 RBI.
Goldschmidt is currently in first place for first basemen in All Star fan voting with the ballots open for two more weeks.
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