Colorado Rockies: Nolan Arenado insists shoulder not causing slump

Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies is mired in a slump, hitting just .200 with one home run and six RBI over his last 15 games. The timing comes as Arenado has acknowledged he is battling a sore shoulder, an issue that has plagued him since last month.

Is the sore shoulder having an effect on the Colorado Rockies All-Star third baseman? He flatly told Rox Pile and other members of the media after Friday night’s loss to Los Angeles Dodgers that there is no connection.

“It’s not affecting me hitting. I don’t know what’s going on. It affects me on my throw sometimes,” Arenado said of his sore right shoulder. “It’s just one of those times right now where nothing is working out. I’m not hitting. I’m not making my plays. It’s disappointing but it is what it is.”

When Arenado refers to “making his plays,” he was talking about a fifth-inning throwing error on Friday night that pulled Ian Desmond off first base and allowed Max Muncy to score what would eventually be the winning run. It was a tough play and Arenado was leaning backward to make it so, yes, it could have been made … but Arenado is one of the few players in the game who could have made it.

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A clearly frustrated Arenado said the recent lack of production at the plate isn’t just one thing that he can decipher.

“Putting the work in is not the question. I’m putting the work in,” Arenado said. “I’m doing my routine. Every day, I’m trying to figure it out. I don’t know why. Just right now, it isn’t working.“Individually, I have to pick it up. I have to help this team somehow. It sucks not helping.”

Arenado saw his 2018 average drop below .300 with an 0-for-4 performance on Friday night, including a game-ending strikeout, one of two Ks on the night. For the year, he’s now hitting .299 with 31 homers and 93 RBI heading into Saturday night’s matchup against the Dodgers.

“The injury is not the problem. It’s a slump,” Arenado said. “It happens. Obviously I wish I wasn’t going through it right now, especially being in September. This game is hard. I’m doing the best I can.”