Arenado Deserves A Better 'Shredder' Ranking Than No. 6
DENVER (CBS4) - In a few weeks, Colorado sports fans will be spoiled. We get to watch Nolan Arenado play night in and night out. And there's nothing better than watching baseball's sixth best third baseman strut his stuff every night, while Dodger fans will get to see the fifth best third baseman play on a nightly basis.
The Dodgers? Justin Turner? He's not even an everyday player.
That's right. According to the MLB Network and an algorithm called The Shredder, Arenado is the sixth best third baseman.
The top 5 in order are:
1. Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
2. Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
3. Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers
4. Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
5. Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers
I think it's time to shred The Shredder. I don't need a fancy algorithm to tell me how good Arenado is.
Let's start with defense. Nobody is better at the hot corner. Arenado has won three gold gloves in his three-year career.
How often does a rookie win a gold glove? He makes plays nobody else can or does.
Beltre has won four gold gloves in his 18 year career. Raise your hand if you think Arenado will win more than that.
Walt Weiss said the other day that if you take the third baseman with the best feet, the best glove, best arm and best instincts and put it into one player, you have Nolan Arenado. High praise, but I believe him. Arenado is the best defensive third baseman now and he might be on his way to being the best ever.
As far as offense goes, Arenado may not be the best of the bunch but he's not far behind. Josh Donaldson won the American League MVP last year. He had a monster season, hitting .297 with 41 home runs and 123 RBI. Of course, Arenado had a fair year himself hitting .287 with 42 home runs and 130 RBI.
Yes, Arenado benefits from playing at Coors Field, but there are many factors that benefit other players as well. Kris Byant plays in the hitter friendly confines of Wrigley and hit only .275 with 26 homers and 99 RBI. Check out Josh Donaldson's home/road splits. They're more skewed than Arenado's. Don't get me wrong -- Donaldson, Bryant, Beltre and Machado are wonderful players, but are they all better than Arenado? I'm not buying it.
Beltre is still good but past his prime, so if this is a lifetime achievement award please explain how Bryant, who was a rookie last year, is ranked second.
Am I biased? Probably. But my eyes don't deceive me.
Defensively, Arenado has no peer and offensively he more than holds his own vs. that group.
So this summer the MLB Network will tell us that we're watching one of the "Top 6" third basemen in the big leagues. Don't believe them.
We know greatness when we see it. Arenado has it, Justin Turner doesn't.
