Video summary
Paul Goldschmidt reflected on his pivotal solo home run in the third inning that secured a 1-0 victory for his team against the Red Sox. He explained that his primary focus was simply to be ready to hit when the opportunity arose, noting that he managed to get out of the way of a fast ball before making contact. Goldschmidt expressed gratitude for the result, acknowledging that hitting the only run of the game twice in two separate games is a unique and somewhat cool experience in his career, though he admitted he had momentarily forgotten about the pitcher, Schlitler, who performed exceptionally well on the mound.
The conversation also highlighted the strong defensive efforts that were crucial to the win, particularly involving George Bellinger. Goldschmidt praised Bellinger's athletic ability and strong throw during a key play in the seventh inning where he successfully threw out a runner at home plate against one of the league's fastest players. He further commended Bellinger for making a great play in the eighth inning to end a tough week for the young shortstop, emphasizing that such fundamental defensive plays are exactly what it takes to win games. Goldschmidt noted that while there were moments where Bellinger could have made different plays, the overall feeling in the clubhouse is one of happiness and appreciation for his contributions as a valuable part of the team.
When asked about Cody Bellinger's standout defensive skills, Goldschmidt described him as almost underrated due to his ability to catch balls others miss and his incredibly strong, accurate arm. The discussion then shifted to how Goldschmidt has adapted to a different year where he faced long stretches without playing or having days off. He explained that these periods of limited action actually helped him prepare mentally for moments when he was suddenly called upon in big games, allowing him to refine his routine and stay sharp without overthinking the process.
Regarding how he stays ready when not actively playing, Goldschmidt shared that he avoids falling into the common tendency to do excessive extra work like additional batting practice or swings. Instead, he maintains his normal routine in the cage and focuses on being mentally prepared, treating every at-bat as if it is just another day of his life. He believes that trying to change one's approach often leads to diminishing returns, so his strategy is simply to do what he normally does and ensure he is ready to play every single day, trusting that this consistency will serve him well whenever the team needs him.
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Paul, your home run, the lone run
tonight. What were you looking for a
second time up there?
>> Just trying to be ready to hit, you
know, got a fast ball there and was able
to get out of there. So, uh, thankful
for that.
>> Aaron Boon said, you know, the kid and
Schlitler in the future Hall of Fame are
getting that combo worked in Philly as
well. What do you make of that?
>> You know, just try to go out there and
have good at bats. I didn't know
Schlitter was on the mound. I was
thinking, you know, that was to be part
of that. To hit a, you know, the only
run to be a solo homer in two games was
uh I don't know if I've ever done that,
you know, before in my career to do it
twice in a month or two is kind of cool,
but uh no, I didn't I forgot Slit was
there, but he did a great job tonight.
There was a lot of great plays on
defense, too. George made some great
plays at short, obviously. Belly's play
throwing him out at home and um just
happy to get the win.
>> What's going through your mind on that
Bellinger play in the seventh inning?
>> Hopefully, he throws him out and uh he
got behind it. just made a such a good
strong throw. I knew it was going to be
tough with Raphael over there at third,
one of the fastest guys in the league,
but uh belly showed the type of athlete
he is.
>> What does it mean to you to produce the
only run in such an important game?
>> I mean, obviously it just feels good.
You want to try to get the win and um
you know, I don't really think about it
too much. Just try to go out there and
play well, enjoy playing and you know um
we got to be ready to go tomorrow. We
got a game in probably what 12 14 hours
and um two of them tomorrow and you know
it'll be fun too.
>> In the fifth are you kind of yelling
like hey throw me the ball he's way off
first.
>> I don't think I yelled there because I
mean Gish was so far away but the you
know the way I kind of saw it late was
oh man he's a lot farther off. He threw
second and in my head I'm like oh man we
he didn't see him but obviously Jazz I
think did a great job of turning around
and throwing it to first and bang bang
play and got him out. So there's just
some really good defensive plays by us
tonight and um you know that's what it
takes to win.
>> It's been a tough week for for George
and he makes a nice play there to end
the eighth. Uh you happy to see that for
a kid who's obviously got elite
defensive skills and just had a really
tough week.
>> Yeah, I didn't realize he was having a
tough week. I think he's done so many
good things and has so many good at
bats. We know there's going to be ups
and downs. I guess there are some plays
he could have made, but I think the
feeling in the clubhouse is we're happy
to have him. He's been doing a great job
and um we know he's going to make some
great plays, have some good at bats, and
um a really valuable part of this team.
>> Cody, what stands out about him as a
defender?
>> I think as a defender, I mean, he can
just He's so good. I mean, I think it's
almost like underrated. He goes to get
balls that I think guys aren't even
getting to him. He's catching him
standing up. He gets such good reads out
there and then his arm, you kind of
forget about it. Um, but he's got one of
the strongest arms in baseball and so
accurate. Even on that throw, I saw him
throw it and keeping it down there. So,
the backside runner wasn't going to go
to third if it was safe. So, just a
really fundamental play and um just does
a really great job out there and just a
really great player.
>> This has been a very different year for
you. Beginning of year, you didn't play
a lot. Then there was a stretch where
you had no days off. It seemed like for
a couple months. Did that early stretch
where you didn't play kind of teach you
how to prepare for moments like this
when you don't see many of bats and all
a sudden you're thrown in there uh in a
big game after you not playing for like
quite a while?
>> Yeah, I've done a lot of different roles
this year, but that's what they need me
to do, so I'm happy to do it. But yeah,
I think thinking back on some times I
was like this where I didn't have many
at bats and kind of what I was doing um
on the days I wasn't in there to just
prepare and that bat. So yeah, it
probably did help me, but it's no recipe
for success. Those guys out there are so
good and just try to have good at bats
and try to help us win.
>> What is the key to staying ready when
you're not playing?
>> Um, I mean, honestly, I don't try to do
too much different. I think mentally
just just being ready and just uh
there's not like an answer. There's
nothing sometimes you can do, but um try
just do my same routine in the cage and
really I don't overthink it. I mean, it
was even last year really the first time
in my career pinch hitting and stuff
like that or even leading off. I think
my idea was don't change it, just going
there. It's just an at bat like you've
had your whole life and um just be ready
to go.
>> So, you're not taking extra BP or a lot
of extra swings?
>> No. I mean, I think that's the tendency
is to try to do more. And for me, I just
didn't want to fall in that tendency of
you'll get a bass and you're in there
working on stuff that you normally
wouldn't be working on. And so just kind
of do what I would normally do and um
you know be ready to play every day and
and [music] if they don't need me, be
ready the next day and just be