Nolan Arenado (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals‘ all-star third baseman Nolan Arenado has started to turn things around after a slow start to the season. His rough start had many questioning if he was injured, in decline or somehow effected by participating in the WBC.
Slow Start on Both Sides of the Ball
Arenado’s slow start wasn’t just with the bat. The ten-time gold glover hasn’t been performing up to his normal standards on defense either. Surprisingly he already has four errors and is sitting at negative two defensive runs saved. Fans aren’t used to seeing this type of performance from Arenado.
Many have wondered if he let his struggles at the plate effect his defense. This is doubtful and it’s highly unlikely he’ll continue to stumble in the field. He’s just too good to let that happen. The perennial gold glover is arguably one if the best defensive third basemen of all time. That kind of talent doesn’t disappear overnight.
Arenado Starts June With a Bang
Since the beginning of June his bat has come alive, providing some much needed thump in the middle of the Cardinals’ line-up. If the struggling Cardinals want to turn things around Arenado’s success is key.
Over the first two months of the season Arenado had obvious issues with his timing at the plate. Seemingly just missing balls that he would normally drive with authority. When making hard contact it seemed like more times than not it was right at someone.
Arenado started the season in an extended slump. In the first 32 games of the season, he hit .242 with a .320 SLG with only two homeruns. He then seemed to have turned things around in the following fourteen games. The five-time silver slugger hit .359 with seven homeruns for a .763 SLG in that amazing stretch. After those games he then slipped into another minor slump going 4-for-26. Arenado has begun to heat up again and seems to be back to performing at the all-star level fans are used to seeing.
The struggling Cardinals need him at the top of his game if they expect to turn around this horrible start to the season. Fortunately for the Cardinals, the N.L. Central is probably the worst division in baseball with no team running away with it. They need to turn things around now if they want any chance at the division title.
