Fansided

MLB Rumors: Matt Mervis, Aaron Boone hot seat, Nolan Arenado’s struggles

By Mark Powell

Matt Mervis plays for the Mesa Solar Sox during an Arizona Fall League baseball game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Mervis plays for the Mesa Solar Sox during an Arizona Fall League baseball game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Nolan Arenado (28) sits on the bench in the 10th inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Halfacre-USA TODAY Sports
Nolan Arenado (28) sits on the bench in the 10th inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Halfacre-USA TODAY Sports /

MLB Rumors: What’s wrong with Cardinals slugger Nolan Arenado?

Nolan Arenado is one of the best defensive players in all of baseball. He’s a gold glove third baseman, and can handle a bat better than most at the position. This year, however, his baseball savant page is a scary reminder that slumps can happen to anyone.

If the Cardinals — now 10 games back in the NL Central of the division-leading Pirates — are to make something of this season, a Nolan Arenado turnaround should be at the center of it. Arenado’s baseball savant page is a disaster right now. All of his metrics suggest he’s hitting far too many ground balls, all while striking out more than ever before. He’s not seeing the ball well at the plate, and if it starts to bleed into other parts of his game, Arenado may be in trouble.

The Cards are banking on that NOT happening, which is why Arenado will always be a regular in the middle of St. Louis’ lineup. Eventually, he should figure things out, but will it be too late for this Cardinals team to make a division comeback at that point?

Redbird Rants’ Mason Keith suggested the worst-case scenario possibility that Arenado may be in for a steep decline. Of course, it’s too early to make that argument, but it’s a possibility.

"“As much as we hate to accept the reality….we might be seeing the downward trend of a Hall of Famers’ career. Arenado has stated he only wants to play until age 38 which is not far away. His speed has declined every year and he is even admitting age is catching up to him. Players adapt and learn how to play with aging bodies. But that usually shows the trend of declining performance throughout the remaining years of their careers. Arenado had the best season of his career last year so it is premature to say he is now on the decline. But the possibility still remains.”"

Arenado wants us all to settle down. It’s a blip on the radar of what’s always a very up-and-down season. Fans are watching, though, and rightly so.

Home/Chicago Cubs