Colorado Rockies: The 3 most interesting things we heard from Nolan Arenado

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DENVER, CO – AUGUST 19: The sun sets over the stadium as Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies jogs after a foul ball during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Coors Field on August 19, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Colorado Rockies All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado recently talked to the media and these were three very interesting things we heard from him.

Prior to the final game of the road series against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Nolan Arenado spoke to the media via Zoom about his season and what has been happening in recent days with the Colorado Rockies and their diminishing chances of reaching the postseason.

While Arenado certainly had plenty to say, we picked up on three key portions of the conversation to share with you before the Rockies take the field again tonight to kick off their final homestand of the season.

Colorado enters Friday’s matchup at Coors Field against the Los Angeles Angels with a 9-12 mark at home. Here’s what Arenado had to say about Colorado’s lack of a home field advantage in 2020.

“Yeah, I think the fans obviously help out a lot, but I think it’s just Denver’s just a tough place to play. That’s a hard home field advantage. It’s tough to pitch there, but hitters come in a little bit more comfortable coming there. It’s tough. It’s not a home field advantage like going to L.A. or San Fran back in the day. It’s not like that. Hitters enjoy coming to Colorado. We have to find a way to win there and we have to find a way to compete. “Our pitchers have kept us in games, and our offense hasn’t been there. Then there’s times where we score runs and our pitchers have given up some runs. We just haven’t clicked at home.”

Our thoughts: It’s always interesting to hear the player’s perspective on Coors Field being a hitter’s haven. Rockies fans are well aware of the altitude and the effect it can have on scoring … and getting a player in a slump back in the right. Rockies killer Matt Kemp talked about that in his first media session after signing with the Rockies.

“I do hit the ball well in this ballpark,” said Kemp. “I see the ball really [well] here. I like the background, with the batter’s eye with the trees. It’s just one of those ballparks that I really can get locked in [with]. If I was struggling at any time and I knew we were coming to Colorado, this was a place where I was like ‘Man, I could probably get locked in right here.’ Everybody has those one or two or three stadiums that they enjoy hitting in and this is one of [them for me].”

Perhaps one of the most frustrating things about the 2020 season has been that the Rockies offense hasn’t been able to click consistently at Coors. Can a Daniel Murphy or Ryan McMahon or David Dahl rediscover their swing during this nine-game homestand? It would take a lot of pressure off Arenado, Trevor Story, and Charlie Blackmon if so.

DENVER, CO – AUGUST 12: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies hits a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on August 12, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Here’s what Arenado said about his at-bats and statistics in a shortened season:

“I’m trying to slow the game down. I’m trying to hit the ball hard. You know, I’m just trying to have team at-bats right now. It’s different. You know the stats aren’t going to be there. You know, they just aren’t. It’s gonna look totally different. And I know we all want to hit .300 with a bunch of homers and a bunch of RBI, but the stats are just going to be different and that’s just what it is. So it’s just not getting caught up in all those things. It’s just getting caught up and trying to help the team win, and that’s what I’m trying to do right now. Stay out there, play good defense, have good at bats, and then whatever happens, happens.”

Our thoughts: Arenado enters Friday’s contest in MLB’s 30th percentile in both hard hit percentage at the plate and exit velocity. Both stats also equate to his lowest marks since 2015. His xwOBAcon (expected Weighted On Base Average on contact) stands at .317, which is among the lowest 10 percent in the league.

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There are a lot of issues Arenado is battling at the plate right now, and it’s going to reflect in his statistics. Those are questions Arenado is being asked every time he sits down with the media. Those issues have also had him sit twice this season in an effort to break out of his slumps. It’s a hard current reality for a player who has produced some of the best yearly statistics in recent seasons.

Can Arenado find his rhythm at the plate? The answer to that question could be one of the answers to whether Colorado will or won’t make the playoffs in 2020.

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 12: Josh Fuentes #8 of the Colorado Rockies plays first base during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field on September 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Cardinals defeated the Rockies 10-3. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

One of the biggest recent jokes involving Arenado has also involved Josh Fuentes. After all, you know they’re cousins, right?

That’s the joke that has become a tired bang of the drum for both Fuentes and Arenado it seems. The storyline has been touched upon plenty of times (too many, in all honesty).

Fuentes is in the discussion for what will and could be the future of the Rockies at first base, and it’s not because of any family ties.

In his 32 at-bats this season since being recalled from the alternate training site on August 20, Fuentes is slashing .313/.343/.500. Arenado made it clear to reporters that those numbers are because of the hard work put in by Fuentes.

“And, you know, and at the end of day, Josh took care of business, and he got here. He earned the right to be here. There was no gimme just because he’s my cousin. I mean he literally had to work and get here, and that’s a credit to him, and it’s all him. I know we work in the offseason and we hit, but you know it takes somebody that wants to do those things. It isn’t just because I’m there doesn’t mean it works out. You gotta want to be there, and he wants to be there. So the credit is all him.”

Our thoughts: Let’s drop the cousin storyline and realize that these are two good players being discussed when the names of Arenado and Fuentes are brought up. Fuentes has not only earned the right to be on the Colorado active roster, but also to have more playing time as well with Daniel Murphy and Ryan McMahon scuffling at the plate.

Next. Colorado's best, worst positions by fWAR. dark

As Arenado said, it’s a credit to Fuentes that he made the team. Now he needs more opportunities to impact the squad as well.

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Colorado Rockies All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado recently talked to the media and these were three very interesting things we heard from him.

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