TOP POSTS

Saunders: Baseball fans ‘can’t help but love’ Rockies 3B Arenado

May 23, 2017, 10:53 AM

For the Colorado Rockies faithful, “Nolan being Nolan” isn’t so much as a surprise anymore as it is almost routine.

Those who watch the Rockies — fans, coaches, media of both in-town and out of town varieties — have grown accustomed to the marvel of Nolan Arenado and his golden glove.

“I travel extensively in the NL West, and everybody in the NL West knows about Nolan,” Patrick Saunders, Denver Post Rockies reporter, told “Schlereth & Evans” on Monday. “You get the guys from LA, San Francisco, Arizona, and San Diego, they all know him.”

But when Colorado travels to places they don’t often travel, for instance, Minnesota to play the Twins last week, fans are still discovering the spectacle of Arenado.

“When we were in Minnesota, Nolan made a couple of ‘Nolan’ plays, and it was the writers, certainly, up in the press box or the broadcasters who mentioned it, but you could hear the oohs and ahhs from the fans too,” Saunders said. “And it happened this weekend as well, where people just see some of the plays he makes, and it’s a little bit of a gasp.”

That play this weekend, a sharp liner Arenado stabbed a Cincinnati Reds bullet down the line, threw it from his knees, and collapsed onto his back.

“And the fans loved it,” Saunders said. “If you like baseball, you can’t help but love Nolan Arenado.”

Arenado sits among the league’s top hitters in batting average (.291), OPS (.937), and home runs (12), among other offensive metrics, but his defense — with a league-leading 1.23 defensive WAR — has the Rockies third baseman on pace for a record-setting fifth straight Gold Glove to start a career.

But, for Saunders, it’s Arenado’s enthusiasm, day in and day out during a season that charitably can be categorized as grueling at times, that he’s most impressed with.

“The thing that I love so much about Nolan, he still plays with the joy of a little kid. He can’t wait to get out there. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of summer and he’s on a 10-game road trip, Nolan loves to play baseball,” Saunders said.

“And it shows. I think it’s contagious to his teammates, and I think other fans, regardless of who they’re rooting for, appreciate it.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.

Top Posts

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Logan Paulsen #82, George Kittle #85, Tight Ends/Assistant Head Coa...

Nick Ferguson

The Extra Mile: Broncos must not walk but run to hire Jon Embree

There's a hire the Broncos "desperately need to make" as they fill out their staff, and it's a name Denver fans should be familiar with

2 years ago

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 8: Former Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley (L) appears on The Spor...

Johnny Hart

Les Shapiro had unyielding conviction … and a solid appetite

A (hopefully) fitting tribute from a former college to one of Denver’s most highly regarded sports broadcasters

2 years ago

(Photo via Getty Images)...

Kendall Valenzuela

Nuggets start free agency by keeping the band together

The Denver Nuggets reportedly re-signed unrestricted free agents Will Barton and JaMychal Green to two-year contracts

3 years ago

Teddy Bridgewater...

Kendall Valenzuela

Bridgewater’s “survivor” mentality has readied him for QB battle

Teddy Bridgewater has bounced around the league with many teams, but the veteran quarterback believes that has only made him stronger

3 years ago

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 22: Linebacker Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos warms up before a game ag...

Kendall Valenzuela

Von Miller hopes to play ‘five to seven more years’ in NFL

Von Miller believes he still has many years left in the NFL, but the idea could topple his hopes of being a "Bronco for life"

3 years ago

Broncos roster...

Kendall Valenzuela

Denver Broncos sign DB Tedric Thompson

The Denver Broncos have added more depth to their secondary by signing safety Tedric Thompson, per Tom Pelissero

3 years ago

Saunders: Baseball fans ‘can’t help but love’ Rockies 3B Arenado