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Goldschmidt has fractured left hand, goes on DL

By WTOP Staff

JOSE M. ROMERO
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks’ dismal season got worse Saturday with the news that All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has a fractured left hand.

Goldschmidt, runner-up in National League MVP voting last season, was hurt when he was hit above his ring finger by a pitch from Ernesto Frieri in the ninth inning of Friday night’s 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Diamondbacks have placed Goldschmidt on the 15-day disabled list and there was no word before Saturday’s game on how long he is expected to be sidelined.

“I was holding out hope. Wasn’t trying to think about it being broken,” said Goldschmidt, who stayed in the game after being hit and advanced to second base before the final out was made.

Goldschmidt was to be examined further on Saturday after getting X-rays late Friday. He broke a bone in his left hand, the hamate, while in college and had it removed, but had not had any other injuries of that sort since.

“I was trying to make a fist, which I can do,” said Goldschmidt, who had no protective cast, splint or bandage over his hand as of Saturday afternoon. “After the game there was some swelling. I knew there was something. I was just hoping just a bad bruise or something like that. But unfortunately it wasn’t.”

Despite his team’s overall woes, Goldschmidt is among the NL leaders in several hitting categories. He leads the league in doubles and extra-base hits, is tied for first in runs scored, is second in total bases and is third in RBIs and walks.

Voted a starter by fans in this year’s All-Star game, Goldschmdt is batting .300 with 19 home runs. He has 75 runs scored, 220 total bases, 39 doubles, a triple, 64 walks and nine stolen bases.

A Gold Glove winner last year, Goldschmidt has seven errors in 109 games. Arizona recalled outfielder Alfredo Marte from Triple-A Reno to take Goldschmidt’s roster spot.

Goldschmidt was out of the lineup for only the second time this season Friday night but entered in a double-switch in the ninth inning of a game that was tied 4-4.

The incident immediately drew the wrath of several Diamondbacks players, and there was a showdown between the teams after the game in front of the Arizona dugout. No one did anything but talk, though.

While catcher Miguel Montero called the situation “a little shady,” Goldschmidt said after the game he didn’t think he was hit purposely and reiterated that Saturday.

“It’s part of the game. I mean, who knows? People get hit, it’s just part of it,” Goldschmidt said. “So once I figure out the rehab (plan), just go with that and obviously you’d like to play, but can’t change what happened.”

Frieri apologized several times for what happened, saying he didn’t mean to hit Goldschmidt.

“I feel bad. I’m sorry,” Frieri said. “I know that he’s a really valuable player for the Diamondbacks. I just try to make my pitches and in this game, if you don’t make your pitches inside, you’re going to get hit.

“It wasn’t on purpose. I don’t have anything against him. I was just trying to get him out,” Frieri added.

Goldschmidt isn’t the only Diamondback in recent history to have to deal with a broken bone from being hit with a pitch. Second baseman Aaron Hill missed 10 weeks last season after being hit on his left hand, and outfielder A.J. Pollock was hit on the right hand on May 31 and is only playing in rehab games.

“It hurts. He’s one of the best players on our team for sure. One of the best players in the league,” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. “There are risks to playing the game. We’re very familiar with guys getting hit in the hand.”

It could mean a new approach when dealing with inside pitches.

“Maybe something to talk about, just moving forward about how to turn into the pitch a little better,” Gibson added.

Jordan Pacheco played first base Saturday night against Pittsburgh. Gibson said outfielder Mark Trumbo could also get some action at first base down the road.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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