PHOENIX — Several weeks ago, several hours before game time, Paul Goldschmidt stepped out of the Cardinals’ dugout and into the Saran Wrap-like humidity of a broiling St. Louis afternoon, ready to take dozens of groundballs hit right at him.
In the midst of the one of the best seasons of his career, one of the best all-around years in the majors this summer, he felt he had lost his timing — with his glove. For whatever reason he felt late on some hops, early on others, and he mentioned two specific plays where the baseball slipped loose from his glove.