Question: What must Rockies’ Nolan Arenado do to be named MVP of NL?
Kiz: Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is the best player in the National League. Period. Isn’t that obvious to anyone who lives in Colorado and watches Arenado blast loud home runs and make jaw-dropping plays with his glove? But it’s the rest of the country I worry about. What does Arenado have to do in order to overcome the bias against Coors Field and be crowned the most valuable player?
Saunders: I think the Rockies will have to win the National League West or, at the very least, stay in the race until the final week of the season. I do think a lot of voters have seen enough highlights to appreciate Arenado, but the mile-high stigma is tough to overcome. After all, Arenado’s home OPS is 1.120 vs. .847 OPS on the road.
Kiz: A year ago, Arenado finished fourth in the MVP voting, in no small part because Charlie Blackmon enjoyed the best season of his career and split support with his Colorado teammate. So with Chicago Cubs infielder Javy Baez a legit MVP candidate in 2018 on a team not only bound for the playoffs but a fixture on television, should I begin to worry shortstop Trevor Story has played so well for the Rockies that he will “steal” votes from Arenado this season?
Saunders: I don’t think so. Story has been the Rockies’ best player since the all-star break, and he’s coming off a fantastic series in Milwaukee, but he doesn’t have the pedigree that Arenado does. When I travel to opposing ballparks, Arenado is usually the player the writers seek out, or the player they ask manager Bud Black about the most.
Kiz: While Arenado could lead the league in home runs, his detractors will shout that his .259 batting average on the road makes him a product of baseball at altitude. So there’s only one way Arenado can prove his true value to skeptics. He must lead the Rockies to a playoff berth by hogging center stage during big victories in August and September. Anything less, and voters will find a reason to give somebody else the MVP.
Saunders: We are in agreement on this point, for sure, and there are 50 games left for this to play out. I think Arenado’s prime competition will come from Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman, who is the ringleader for the resurgent Braves, and St. Louis’ sizzling-hot Matt Carpenter. But you’re right, voters are going to dock Arenado for his home/road splits (he has hit 16 home runs at Coors vs. 13 on the road), but I hope voters will consider his defense. It wins games — home and away.
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