Nolan Arenado. He’ll run through a tarp with a uniform thoroughly taupe. This third-base wonder makes one wonder: Just how poorly could he hit and stay in the lineup?
Maybe .220? Two-ten? The Mendoza Line?
But with a dozen home runs in June, man, perhaps it’s now fair to ask: Just how bad could he field and stay in the lineup?
“It’s MVP-like right now,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of his probable all-star. “On both sides of the ball.”
Arenado entered Monday night’s game at Oakland with 24 homers, third-most in baseball, and 68 RBIs, tops in the game. Also on Monday, he won the National League’s player of the week award due to his .391 batting average, seven homers and preposterous 1.348 slugging percentage last week.
After a recent win at San Francisco, Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said Arenado is “my new favorite player.”
Right away, don’t give me that “Coors Field” stuff … because Arenado is actually hitting better on the road. With, conveniently, nearly the same number of at-bats at home and away, Arenado is hitting .287/.309/.580 at Coors and .299/.342/.686 on the road. And 15 of his 24 homers have been away from mile-high altitude.
WATCH: Nolan Arenado named National League player of the week and more stories
And don’t give me that “he’ll only be an all-star” because every team needs a representative. He’ll be an all-star because, even if he played third base like wounded-knees Bill Buckner wearing stilettos, he’d still deserve a spot on the NL team.
Earlier this season I debated some friends about which young local sports figure would have a better career — Arenado or the Avs’ Nathan MacKinnon. A fun debate to have with your buddies, indeed. Look, I still think MacKinnon, a former No. 1 overall NHL draft pick who turns 20 in September, will have a better career. But I’m clearly in the minority, and I could be eating my words like one of those Helton Burgers if the following happens: Are- nado is on pace to hit the most homers ever by a National League third baseman. Ever!
Nolan entered Monday with 24 homers in 75 Rockies games. So, yeah, if he doubles that amount in the next 75, he’ll tie the NL record of 48 with 12 games to go. Incidentally, two NL third basemen finished with 48 — Mike Schmidt in 1980 and Adrian Beltre in 2004. Schmitty won the MVP and Beltre finished second in the voting. Since Bryce Harper exists, here’s rooting for second for Arenado. And let’s not forget that Arenado is only 24.
And Nolan often faces the Dodgers’ and Giants’ pitching in the division. Per the latter club, consider this: In 143 at-bats at Coors Field this season, Arenado has nine homers and 31 RBIs. In just 22 at-bats at AT&T Park, against the defending World Series champion Giants, he has five homers and 11 RBIs.
Now, I hate to say it, but even if Jon Gray — the “Arenado of June minor-league pitchers” — gets called up and pitches brilliantly, the Rockies won’t make the playoffs. But this shouldn’t discourage you from going to Coors, if only because of Arenado. He’s a human Cirque du Soleil. (I’d call the infielder “Cirque du Soil,” but it’s too clumsy.) The Rockies should call the first row of seats by the third-base tarp “Arenado Row” and give out fake purple hard hats for protection.
Oh, and if you didn’t know this tidbit, Colorado has control over Arenado through the 2019 season. The third-year third baseman, who won a Gold Glove in each of his first two seasons, is making $512,500 this season and should get a good raise this winter in arbitration.
So what exactly is he doing at the plate lately? Rockies hitting coach Blake Doyle was asked this Monday.
“Not a whole lot different other than his balance is really good. He’s been working on that a lot,” Doyle said. “But same thing you’ve seen — his pitch selection has been outstanding. From time to time, just like anybody, he might chase one. But more times than not, he’s waiting for his pitch. … He’s in a very good place right now. We only had one guy the last two years this hot. Our shortstop was this time last year too.”
So is there any secret to Nolan’s success?
“Sorry,” he said. “No epiphanies, bro.”
Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@denverpost.com or twitter.com/hochman
