While still technically an above-average run creator (105 wRC+) this season, Paul Goldschmidt is suffering through an uncharacteristically long slump, hitting just .216/.347/.388 with four homers over his first 167 plate appearances. As Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic notes, Goldschmidt’s soft-contact rate is much higher than his career average, as is his percentage of swinging-and-missing fastballs in the strike zone. The latter statistic has led to Goldschmidt’s 30.5% strikeout rate, which is far above his 22.4% career mark. The Diamondbacks first baseman didn’t share any details about his slump to reporters, except to say that he feels physically fine, so an injury doesn’t appear to be the cause of the problem. Remarkably, the D’Backs are still tied for the NL’s best record despite not having their star slugger hitting at his usual standard, though obviously the team hopes Goldschmidt gets on track soon.
Some more items from around the NL West…
- Speaking of slumping first basemen, Ian Desmond’s struggles continued today with an 0-for-4 day, dropping his slash line to an ugly .170/.213/.355 over 150 PA. The Rockies are lacking in viable alternatives at first base, The Athletic’s Nick Groke writes (subscription required), with Ryan McMahon recently demoted due to his own lack of production, Daniel Castro and Josh Fuentes both lacking experience at first base, and prospect Jordan Patterson hitting well but carrying a high strikeout rate at Triple-A. It isn’t probable that Gerardo Parra returns to first base, as “his defense lacked and he disliked the idea” of the position change in limited action at first last season. It stands to reason that first base could be a target area for the Rockies at the trade deadline should they remain the pennant race — like the D’Backs, the Rockies have also been competitive (22-19 after today’s loss to the Brewers) despite a lack of production at first base. A new addition, however, wouldn’t help solve the bigger-picture problem of Desmond, who has been a sub-replacement level player since signing a five-year, $70MM free agent deal with Colorado in December 2016.
- Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill was removed during the sixth inning of today’s start due to a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand, manager Dave Roberts told Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times (Twitter link) and other reporters. Roberts is still hopeful Hill can make his next start, though another blister is an ominous sign given Hill’s long history of similar issues. Hill has already spent time on the DL this season due to a cracked fingernail and infection on that same finger. Though Hill has just a 6.20 ERA over 24 2/3 IP this season, the Dodgers can ill-afford yet another notable injury, especially with the rotation already missing Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
- For more from the division, Connor Byrne published another set of NL West Notes earlier today on MLBTR
Gosh, the Rockies sem to have a void at first base….if only they had a first baseman who could hit 30 homers, hit for a reasonable average and play at least passable defense….
Reynolds was worth .8 WAR when you factor in his garbage defense and bad base running. First base was an area of need but reynolds wasn’t exactly a great solution.
I honestly wonder if defense is overvalued in WAR, at least in comparison to offensive production
For a first baseman, sure. But Coors Field diminishes his slash line too. No other team thought he’d repeat that line either. They should’ve brought someone in but I’m not sure Reynolds was that guy.
Yes, Reynolds was nowhere near the amazing solution that is Ian Desmond and his 72% groundball rate.
Yeah, did you even read the reply or did you just harp on Desmond? who I said needed to be upgraded from the get go.
Maybe they should have brought back Mark Reynolds.
You mean someone like Mark Reynolds?
Like Matt Adams or Adam Lind?
Or Jose Abreu-but the Chisox need him.
Wait… are you guys talking about Mark Reynolds?
This would totally screw up the org’s financial flexibility but I would love to see Chris Davis in a Rox uniform
An orioles fan I presume?
Brewers have 5 guys that should only be playing 1B. Shaw does decent enough at 3B to keep him there, Aguilar looked serviceable at 3B in the series but I wouldn’t count on him playing much at the hot corner, Braun was historically bad at 3B when he tried it his rookie year and had been average in OF since, Thames should never play LF again, and I’m just glad they already had 4 1B playing out of position on their big league club already so they didn’t have to keep trotting Choi out there after Spring training.
What I’m getting at here is Colorado could of probably grabbed a guy or 2 from Milwaukee b4 they left town to play 1B, lord knows Milwaukee can spare 1 or 2.
Arenado for Jesus and Shaw maybe?
I kid, Milwaukee would never take that deal…
Funny?
Things are bad when you can’t hit at Reynolds….ummmmm….I mean Coors field. I guess they figured every hitter would get the same kinda bump he got.
I was just commenting on an article about the Padres earlier and Chase Headley possibly being interested in going to play for Buddy Black again. In the same breathe, the Padres could get out from under Myers and his contract since he can’t stay healthy from moving back to the OF. San Diego can Package him to go play first base for Colorado, which would also free up at bats for Margot, Cordero, Jankowski, Renfroe and soon Franmil Reyes. Padres can add Chase Headley to that deal for Salary relief.
So Myers and his whole contract plus Headley and his 1/8 remaining or so, for Desmond and a prospect. Padres save about $22 million in difference between contract swaps and can plug Desmond at SS next year if Tatis isn’t ready yet or if Galvis keeps struggling this year. A trade like this would nullify the negative money SD took on to acquire Mitchell with Headley attached. That was a 12 million dollar mistake that could be reversed by trading always injured Myers and allowing him to go play in Colorado where he rakes.
Preller was connected to Desmond a few years ago via free agency so I know the interest was there at one point. Headley is also from Colorado and went to Tennessee just like Todd Helton and Peyton Manning. Just something to keep an eye on, Bud Black loves him as well.
I doubt the Pads give up on Myers yet cause he is still young and seen as a core rebuilding piece, unless the “prospect” is significant and close to the majors. But Headley to the Rox makes a lot of sense if and when he clears waivers and elects free agency
Desmond for Myers would be an absolute nightmare. Can’t believe a padres fan would endorse that. The padres have too many outfielders but I don’t believe Desmond is a SS and he has been so bad. If the Rockies could get out from under Desmond and get a guy like Myers for only $22 million I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t jump all over that. Why the padres a team with no cash issues and very little on the books in the future would consider that I have no idea.
Hill has another blister??? Sheesh
Hill develops a blister by just going over the scouting report
Newsflash for the Dodgers – you can’t keep following the same method for Hill, and expect different results. It’s quite clear that significant downtime between starts and sessions isn’t conditioning his fingers enough.
He isn’t going to get the thickness and callouses on his fingers by not using them.
Exactly ! That’s called insanity !
Just trade Hill already dude doesn’t want to play in LA
@em650r Why did he sign there then?
The Rockies mishandled 1B by re-signing CarGo. McMahon had a solid spring, but when they couldn’t put Desmond in the OF due to CarGo coming back they turned McMahon into a part-time player with very limited AB’s and he never found his rhythm.
Seriously Hill is pretty bad? But, How did the Dodgers do play so good last year. Now this, they are legitimately the worst team in MLB after losing every series to the worst teams they could possibly play. I get they lost a few players but the so called depth was a big plus. This bad is just insane. Utley batting first and Pederson second? What a letdown these 2 guys couldn’t crack just about any starting lineup let alone batting 1 and 2. What kind of mirage was that from Belle and Taylor last year?
I don’t know any player named Belle but Utley has actually been one of the few bright spots on this roster, so it isn’t a huge surprise to find him batting leadoff with Taylor struggling. They’ve lost more than “a few” players unless you count Kershaw, Seager, Ryu, Forsythe, and Turner as “a few.” What is happening with Taylor is a mystery because his play last year was hardly a mirage. Hill’s track record also merits consideration, but he can be erratic and he started last year very poorly also. Bellinger may never see as many fat pitches to hit as he did last year but he is doing fine for a sophomore year.
Not that this team can recover this season. It’s a goner, if only because of the lousy bullpen and loss of Seager for the year, and no plan or apparent interest from the FO to fix any of it.
The Dodgers are a mess we agree. Belle is short for Bellinger. Utley is sure hitting ok for the moment. If the Dodgers going to fail Just use the roster spot for a prospect or 2.. Utley is a complete waste of space weak in the field and heck, he’s hitting .250! Not a bright spot whatsoever. .
Utley is a bright spot relative to a very bleak roster. He’s playing more and performing better than anyone had any right to expect. He’s really the only leadoff option at the moment. He gets on base, and that matters, as much as anything does in this total dog of a season.
Yes dog of a season and just getting worse every day. Too bad Bellenger and Taylor can’t support the team like they did last year.
It wasn’t just Bellinger and Taylor, it was also Turner, Seagar, Barnes, and Puig. With that many contributors, nobody had to be the hero on any given day. The bullpen was also a lot better.
Of course.
For how many more years does Jordan Patterson have to beat up on AAA pitching to get called up?
Yes, they could have brought back Mark Reynolds. OR they could have given the first base job to McMahon out of spring training. Instead, they parked his hot bat (coming out of ST) on the bench. The kid likely has never ridden the pine for so long in his life, and thus didn’t adjust well to the role. Now he’s still lost at the plate in Triple-A. Of course, if they had opted against resigning CarGo and just proceeded with the goal of McMahon and Dahl spending most of the season as starters, they likely would have just one struggling hitter (Desmond) rather than three (Desmond, a washed-up CarGo and a mishandled McMahon).