by Roberta Umor, Yuma Sun

May 13, 2012: Aurora, CO — News broke this week that David Goode had been traded to the San Antonio Calzones of Laredo.  Celebrations broke out all over Yuma as fans demonized their former infielder, blaming him for all the misfortunes that have befallen the Bulldozers.

“He’s the devil incarnate,” one fan said.  “May he rot in Hell!”

“Or Laredo!” shouted another.

Way back on April 20, the Dozers rallied for 7 runs in the ninth inning to come from behind and defeat Fargo 7-3.  As unbelievable as that rally was – to Yuma fans as well as Fargo players – David Goode’s RBI double driving home the seventh run of the inning was nearly as implausible.  That double proved to be David’s last hit as a Dozer.

Between April 21 and May 7, when Goode was traded to San Antonio for a ½ dozen calzones , he went 0-for-21.  His best day during this streak of perfection was his last appearance in the starting lineup, May 5, when David went 0-for-1 with 2 bases on balls.  Take note of that, statisticians.  David Goode’s most productive day at the plate in two weeks yielded one out and two total bases.  He was hitless in his final 14 games as a Dozer!

When Goode went hitless in his first three games with San Antonio, he extended his no-hit streak to 17 games, but on May 11, he snapped the streak with his first hit as a Calzone.  The following day, he banged a pair of doubles.  This brought a smile of relief to the face of San Antonio’s GM Matt Higgins, who went a long way out on a limb in the trade that brought Goode to San Antonio.

But it’s Goode’s record this year for Yuma that ranks as one of the most memorable offensive performances in PEBA history.  David’s near-perfect batting in 2012 was marred by just five base hits in 61 at bats for a rally-killing .082 average.  His slugging percentage (.182) fell 15 pounds short of his weight, and his projected -36 VORP would – had he continued to show the kind of consistency that characterized his play in Yuma – make him one of the most damaging hitters in all of PEBA… damaging to his own offense, of course.

What happened to David Goode?  Just two years ago, he hit .271 with 13 homers for Florida.  What turned Goode from a solid offensive contributor to the least productive player on the losingest team in the PEBA?

We asked Goode himself as he was packing to catch the 3:10 out of Yuma.

“It’s this place,” he said, referring to Yuma.  “Too hot.  Too dry.  Too dull.  And there’s something wrong with the water.  From the moment I arrived, they resented me.  So I negotiated a good contract; what’s that to them?  Let them do the same.  Instead, they made me the fall guy for every shortcoming on the team.”

When it was pointed out that his offensive numbers were pretty paltry, Goode snapped, “You try hitting in this heat.  Bats feel like they’re on fire.  Your hands burn just gripping the handle.”

When asked how he felt about being traded, he said, “I don’t know what circle of hell this is, but I’m looking forward to the flight out tonight.  It’s the first time I’ve been happy since I arrived – happy to be getting out of this heat.”

Goode seemed unaware of the fact that Laredo was also a hot desert town, almost 250 miles further south than Yuma.  When he heard the news, Goode turned pale.  “Really?”  he asked.  “I mean, you’re not pulling my… no?  Wow… guess I shoulda paid more attention in geography class, huh?”

Fans in Yuma will need to find a new scapegoat.  Goode’s departure on Monday did not turn things around for the Bulldozers.  They lost six more games this week, extending their loss string to 16 consecutive games, one shy of the team record set last season.

As for Goode, the two doubles he drilled in Saturday’s game for the Calzones may go a long way toward helping him adjust to his new club and his new surroundings.  That and the faith of his new boss, Matt Higgins.