By Sam MacGilpin
With Tommy Goodin (Vanderbilt) on first base in the fifth inning Sunday, Mateo Serna (Missouri) laced a ball into the right-center gap. Goodin cruised to third, but home was another story.
He got the signal anyway.
Goodin churned home and slid in just ahead of the tag, stretching a 270-foot sprint into a run that gave Y-D a 4-0 lead. As he stood up laughing, his teammates couldn't help but laugh with him.
Goodin claimed the dugout banter was because he was "slow," but he moves well for a corner infielder. More importantly, the smiles reflected something Y-D has grown accustomed to this summer.
When Goodin is producing, the Red Sox usually are, too.
In the Red Sox's seven losses, Goodin is just 1-for-18 (.056). In Y-D's 24 wins with Goodin in the lineup, he's batting .304 with an .844 OPS, ranking among the top 20 hitters in the Cape Cod Baseball League. His 20 RBIs in victories lead the Cape, and his latest performance was another reminder why.
Goodin went 3-for-5 with four RBIs in Y-D's 15-1 rout of Falmouth.
"He's a big, big part of our success. We need Tommy to do what he did tonight. He's dangerous," assistant coach Craig Gianinno said. "I think he got back to keeping it simple and trusting himself. He showed what he's capable of tonight. So let's get Goodin hot."
The past few weeks have tested the Thousand Oaks, California, native.
After earning a spot as the East Division's starting first baseman in the CCBL All-Star Game, Goodin cooled off at the plate. Y-D's offense did, too, suffering several losses, but Sunday helped Goodin find his footing in the batter’s box, and so did all of Y-D.
Goodin has become the spine for the Red Sox offense while carrying one of the heaviest workloads on the roster. Most Cape League players receive a day off every two or three games, but Goodin has established himself as Y-D's everyday first baseman and designated hitter.
"Every day I wake up trying to put myself in the best position possible to go out there and make something happen with every opportunity I'm given," Goodin said. "When you're in a slump, playing every day, it sucks. But when you have a positive attitude, the right mindset and great teammates, it definitely helps me out a lot. Hopefully this game was a bit of a breakout, and something I can continue."
As one of Y-D's few everyday players since Opening Day, he's experienced every high and low of the season. Opposing pitchers continue to attack him differently, but he believes the answer isn't changing who he is.
"It's just something new thrown at me every week, so I'm making adjustments and understanding that I have to stick with what got me here," Goodin said. "I also feel like when you do things over and over again, you might build bad habits. I try to keep it simple and boring because that's what I believe works."
Manager Scott Pickler couldn't agree more.
"When he doesn't try to do too much, he's really good," Pickler said. "Those win-loss numbers are because he tries to make up for a deficit with one big swing, and that's where we get in trouble. When he stays right, there's not much better than Tommy."
