Kiz: Nolan Arenado hogged all the pomp and most of the circumstance during the home-opener celebration at Coors Field. He was handed a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and so many trophies, somebody should have also given him a wheel barrel to cart ’em all home. This guy is good. But stuck in the lost time zone on a last-place team, can Arenado be so spectacular as to make a run at MVP of the National League?
Groke: Kiz-erino, have you seen the lack of respect already shown Arenado this season? MLB Network ranked the three-time Gold Glove winner as the sixth-best third baseman in baseball. Not overall position players, mind you. Just third basemen. That’s nuts. In my eyes, he is the best third baseman in the National League. But to catch Bryce Harper in MVP voting, he will need to put together not just a spectacular season, but one that is impossible to ignore.
Kiz: Before Alex Rodriguez was more associated with the letters MVP than PED, he was recognized as the best player in the American League with the last-place Texas Rangers in 2003. Arenado, however, must deal with a double whammy. Not only is his team disrespected, so is his ballpark. Raising the fences in Coors Field might help Colorado pitchers, but it won’t help Are- nado with the nationwide perception that any hitter can have a big year at altitude.
Groke: Arenado hit more home runs on the road (22) last season than at cozy Coors Field (20). Boom. End of argument. Well, it should be. But the altitude bias will always exist. What will get Arenado the most attention is his defense. If he is on highlight reels every night, like he was the past two seasons, people in Peoria will notice. It may be sacrilege to say, but Arenado could be a better defensive player than Brooks Robinson. Yes, I said it.
Kiz: Arenado can get in the MVP hunt, provided two things happen: 1) He must bump up his on-base percentage in the vicinity of .400 to please the voters who lean on analytics, and 2) The Rockies must hang in the playoff race deep into the summer. I’m confident Arenado can do his part. But a team that figures to lose 90 games is the problem. My bold prediction: Arenado will win the MVP during his career. I’m not so sure he will be wearing a Colorado uniform when it happens.
Groke: His OBP angle is a tough one, because he’s just not the type of hitter to welcome a walk. He likes to the swing the bat. That’s who he is. But more contact would help. And, Kizzy baby, if Arenado’s chances for an MVP rely on the Rockies going to the postseason — and that probably is the reality — let’s just pack up the campaign right now.
