After Strong Start, Arenado Gets Some Early MVP Buzz
By Mark Haas
DENVER (CBS4) - Nolan Arenado is picking up where he left off last year. He's among the league leaders in home runs and RBIs, he's flashing his Gold Glove on defense yet again, and this year more of the national media is starting to take notice.
CBS4's Mark Haas sat down with Arenado this week to talk Rockies baseball, Arenado's future, and the hype Nolan is getting from his hot start.
"That's awesome," Arenado said when asked about being an early MVP candidate. "People are noticing what I do on the field and I take a lot of pride in how I play. I don't take it lightly when people say nice things about me, it makes me work even harder."
But winning an MVP playing in Denver won't be easy. So far Larry Walker (1997) is the only Rockies player to win the award.
"Do you ever feel like people don't give you enough credit because you play at Coors Field?" Haas asked.
"Yeah I do. I feel like somethings I do they will question because of where I play, but it is what it is," Arenado said.
The perception, however, isn't always accurate. During his breakout year at the plate in 2015 (130 RBIs, 42 Home Runs), Arenado hit more home runs on the road than at home. This year, his production is once again split pretty evenly between Coors Field and other ballparks.
"If I produce they can't question it right?" Arenado said. "If I keep doing it on the road it shows I can play anywhere. I don't play this game to prove people, I play to win, but it is nice to prove doubters wrong."
His manager, Walt Weiss, certainly isn't a doubter.
"Nolan is big time, he's so clutch," Weiss said after Arenado's go-ahead 8th inning home run last week against Arizona. "He rises to the occasion almost all time. We get spoiled watching it, and he does it on both sides, offense and defense, and wins games for you."
But Nolan can't do it all. Last year Arenado's combination of offense and defense might have put him in the MVP conversation, but he finished just 8th in the voting, as the Rockies once again finished in last in the NL West.
"It's been frustrating, it's frustrating when you are playing well individually, but as a team you don't," Arenado says about the Rockies struggles. "It is nice to play well, but you do it to win. (This year) guys are working hard and it's a better team, and it's been fun."
But fun enough to keep him in Denver long term? When asked if sees himself being with the Rockies for his full career, Arenado didn't have an answer.
"I don't know, I don't know, I think about it all the time, but when that goes in my head I try not to think about it because I need to focus on now, and then whatever happens, happens," Arenado said. "I love Denver, the people have been great to me, but we will see."
So back to the now, and it would be surprising if an athlete answered it differently, but would Arenado rather win the MVP this year, or make the playoffs?
"Oh, make the playoffs man, absolutely make the playoffs," Arenado said. "I would love to win the MVP, it is not a goal, but it would be amazing, but the playoffs, that's what I dream about. In the offseason, I turn on TBS and I see the Mets, and I want to be on the big stage and have the whole world watching us."
Mark Haas is a sports anchor/reporter for CBS4. Read his bio or follow him on Twitter @markhaastv or on Facebook.
