Arenado. His surname personifies the surreal that is Nolan. Arenado sounds like a vivacious verb (as if it should start with “aero” or “air”) or some sort of overwhelming weather (“An arenado assaulted the Bay Area on Thursday”) or perhaps, in another language, it means: “Errors? None!”
And the more the Rockies look rocky — perhaps, Rocky-y — the more we’re reminded about reality. The great Troy Tulowitzki could very well be an ex-Rockie within the next 10 months. And over at the hot corner could be the cornerstone. Nolan James Arenado, 24, could be the next big thing the Rockies build around, as the team hopes for an Astros- or Royals-like resurrection.
“I’m a huge fan of Tulo. I would love to be like Tulo, or Todd (Helton),” Arenado said Monday. “I would love to play like them. But those are their roads. I want to build my own road. But I definitely do play for the fans, and I want the fans to enjoy what I do for them.”
The Rockies have 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 could get a good raise this winter in arbitration. In a city where rents are through the roof, the Rockies get quite a bargain out of Arenado. Come to think of it, making “just” $512,500 in Denver means Arenado probably needs a roommate.
I’m enamored by the way Arenado plays. Full throttle. He’s your favorite player’s favorite player. He attacks pitches like they’re tarps. He hit a pair of home runs Sunday in San Diego, and he entered this week with a .964 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), eighth in the National League. Oh, and he seldom strikes out — only five NL players fan fewer times. Even if he was the worst fielder in the league, he’d still be valuable for Colorado, but as Arizona all-star Paul Goldschmidt said Monday, “his defense is maybe the best in the league. It stinks when you’re hitting and you know if you hit anything even close to him, he’s going to rob you of a hit.
“He’s a stud. He’s an unbelievable player. Has some power, good strike zone judgment. He’s aggressive but can be patient too. He really does everything really well.”
Have the reports of the Rockies’ death been greatly exaggerated? Tuesday is only Cinco de Mayo, sure. But, man. This season has all the symptoms of 2014. Or 2013. Or … you get the point. Most starters are either banged up or stinking it up, and the bullpen has logged the most bullpen innings in the NL. And on Monday came the news that Colorado’s best reliever, Adam Ottavino, whose earned run average was his uniform number, will likely undergo Tommy John surgery. Longtime major-league manager Bob Lemon once said, “The two most important things in life are good friends and a strong bullpen.” Here’s hoping Walt Weiss at least has some close confidants.
The Rockies are slowly walking down their familiar, worn-down path to the cellar. Instead of bread crumbs, they leave shells of sunflower seeds. This season is quickly becoming a here-we-go-again campaign. But Arenado is a man to build around. I’m not saying he will be as good as Tulo. But he’s the kind of guy you wish others played like. He plays baseball like it’s football. Arenado assaults.
“He wants to be great in this game,” Tulowitzki said Monday. “His work ethic is great, he cares, he loves the game — sometimes that’s where I can help him a lot because I think at times we love the game too much and it eats at us. If you’re going to a fan’s perspective, emotions might get the best of us or the best of him, but at the end of the day, fans want to see that emotion, because (players) care.”
Entering this season, every fan seemed to have his or her favorite Arenado play. The guy needs a cape. Then this season, of course, he made the “tarp catch” in San Francisco. Indelible. Then again, his second-best or third-best play this season might be better than most third bagger’s webbiest gem.
“Me and (Charlie) Blackmon always look at each other and just shake our heads,” outfielder Corey Dickerson said Monday. “It’s pretty unbelievable the stuff he does. Now, it’s kind of like expected.”
It’s likely the team ERA will end the Tulo era. But here’s hoping that the Arenado era will also include some October baseball.
Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@denverpost.com or
