Goldschmidt, Montero proud to represent the Diamondbacks
photo courtesy of dbacks.com
The first half of the 2014 season has defiantly been a disappointment for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the best two players and the leaders of the club are representing the Snakes in the 85th Midsummer Classic at Target Field tonight.
Paul Goldschmidt is the MVP of this club and one of the best players in the game, and Catcher Miguel Montero despite a disappointing 2013 has been one of the most consistent catchers in the game. There couldn’t have been two better guys to represent this organization at this special event.
Manager Kirk Gibson talked about Goldschmidt’s selection as a starter for the National League with MLB.com: “He’s a great choice,” “There’s conversations that are going to go on about whether certain guys were the right choices or not. Paul won’t be one of them. The consensus is he’s earned it. We’ll be excited to see him play.”
Montero only made the All Star Game because of an injury to St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina who was chosen by the fans as a starter for the National League. As far as Montero goes, Gibson thinks he should have been there regardless talking to MLB.com: “I actually thought he should have been there regardless. Of course, maybe we have skewed opinions because we see him every day. He’s had a very good first half for us. Good to have Goldy and Miggy there, they deserve it, good to be on that stage.”
Its the second all star appearance for both players, Montero appeared in 2011 the year that the Dbacks won the National League West, and Goldschmidt was a reserve in last year’s All Star Game.
After a down year in 2013, Montero leads all catchers with 52 RBI’s and in my opinion he should have been in the All Star Game regardless of Molina’s injury. Montero talked about being in his second All Star Game with MLB.com “It’s always exciting, and it’s a blessing for me to be able to go to an All-Star Game and to stay healthy so far this year and to be able to do what I’m doing so far,” Montero said. “So hopefully it keeps going, getting better. I’ve never stopped working, you know? Even last year, I worked very hard toward a good season and it didn’t happen.”
Goldschmidt meanwhile is nearing the completion of his fourth full season as a big leaguer and he is putting up the same if not better numbers in 2014 than he did in 2013 when he was the N.L MVP runner up. He is already a .293 lifetime hitter with 80 home runs, 124 doubles, and 294 RBI’s. I dont think the majority of the country realizes how good this guy is.
Goldy talking to MLB.com, is excited especially considering he gets the chance to start for the first time: “I’m excited,” said Goldschmidt, who leads the team with 16 homers, 36 doubles, a .308 batting average, 66 runs scored and 61 RBIs, tied with Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen for second in the NL. “It’ll be fun tomorrow to have your name announced and run out on the field with the rest of the starters. I’ll just try to go out there and do my part and hopefully help us win.”
What is special about this story is that both of these players grew up and developed in the Arizona system and have committed to this organization long term. It will be fun to watch these special players represent the Snakes and they both deserve to be in this year’s Mid Summer Classic.