Paul Goldschmidt smiled. The memories are perhaps the fondest of his career. His go-ahead triple into the corner. The dog pile near the mound. The joy on the faces of his veteran teammates. The night was Sept. 23, 2011, and the Diamondbacks’ 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field clinched the National League West.
“It was loud,” Goldschmidt said. “That’s what I remember.”
Five seasons have since come and gone, and it remains the only night Goldschmidt has been able to celebrate in a Diamondbacks uniform.
With spring training set to begin this week – pitchers and catchers report to Salt River Fields on Monday, a day before their first scheduled workout – there is little to reason to believe this year will be different.