***Official 2024 STL Cardinals Thread ***

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Just doesn't look as athletic anymore. Not defensively, not on the bases. He just looks a lot older. And he's always been a 'see ball, club ball' sort of hitter who wasn't exactly patient or selective in what he swung at. The traditional 'old man skills' weren't really his strength.

But he had good plate coverage and a willingness to attack anything hittable and drive it. Made him an excellent RBI guy.

Now he just looks older. And to compensate I think he's gotten MORE aggressive because, unlike when he was younger, he's not going to punish that first hittable pitch he sees. He may mis-hit it a bit so just in case, he's gonna expand his zone and try to attack a pitch he may not have in the past. And finally the frustrations of losing have him pressing and selling out for power.

I don't think it's anything mechanical. I think he's gotten older, he's gotten frustrated by poor performance and as a consequence he's just gotten awfully damn aggressive in his approach.

But if you want a far shorter answer - watch him play defense. He's not the best defensive 3b in baseball anymore. Or the NL. Or the even the NL Central. You could convince me that he's not one of the top THREE defensive 3b in the NL right now. And that's not approach. That's just age. His athleticism has just wanted.

Agreed, he has never had what you would call a "sweet swing." He has just had incredible hand/eye coordination that was partly innate and partly honed even further by the defensive work he put in everyday.

Now, I think he has started to age (not uncommon for eyesight to start to change in your early thirties) and it's such a fine edge in baseball that you see him struggle. I really thought they should have tried to move him at the deadline last year. Some contender would have overpaid on his recent history.

He could still recover, but the signs of decline are starting to show.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I don't think it's anything mechanical. I think he's gotten older, he's gotten frustrated by poor performance and as a consequence he's just gotten awfully damn aggressive in his approach.
And that's not approach. That's just age. His athleticism has just wanted.

Thanks man. That explains a lot.

Originally Posted by VAChief

He could still recover, but the signs of decline are starting to show.

Thats what it looked like to me. Just age. A little late getting to balls he normally would. He seems to be just a little late on the swings. Aging comes for us all. Looks like its coming for him now, as far as his athletic career.

[Ocotillo]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

J You could convince me that he's not one of the top THREE defensive 3b in the NL right now.

Matt Chapman is the obvious number two.

Manny Machado? Ryan McMahon? Austin Riley?

I just looked!

*The 2023 Fielding Bible voting had Arenado at seventh overall among MLB third basemen behind KeBryan Hayes (1), McMahon (2), Chapman (3), Riley (4) and Machado (5).

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Ocotillo

Matt Chapman is the obvious number two.

Manny Machado? Ryan McMahon? Austin Riley?

I just looked!

*The 2023 Fielding Bible voting had Arenado at seventh overall among MLB third basemen behind KeBryan Hayes (1), McMahon (2), Chapman (3), Riley (4) and Machado (5).

McMahon.

Hayes is #1 with a bullet. Chapman as a probable 2, McMahon at 3 and maybe Arenado at 4 (I still think Riley is a butcher). Machado should be great but doesn't seem to give a shit about baseball.

I think 7th overall is pretty harsh but even with a bounce back, I struggle to get him past Hayes or McMahon and Chapman has a history of elite defense in his own right.

He's just not the guy he was. Happens to everyone.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

McMahon.

Hayes is #1 with a bullet. Chapman as a probable 2, McMahon at 3 and maybe Arenado at 4 (I still think Riley is a butcher). Machado should be great but doesn't seem to give a shit about baseball.

I think 7th overall is pretty harsh but even with a bounce back, I struggle to get him past Hayes or McMahon and Chapman has a history of elite defense in his own right.

He's just not the guy he was. Happens to everyone.

Maybe Arenado opted to stay in STL because he knew he could suck and people would still wash his balls unlike if he went to a new team.

Lowered expectations make for an easy life.

[raybec 4]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Maybe Arenado opted to stay in STL because he knew he could suck and people would still wash his balls unlike if he went to a new team.

Lowered expectations make for an easy life.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Maybe Arenado opted to stay in STL because he knew he could suck and people would still wash his balls unlike if he went to a new team.

Lowered expectations make for an easy life.

Highly likely. Arenado said he had reassurances from Mo that they would bring in more talent. He said that after not voiding each year.

So if Mo lied to you, why would you trust him to tell you the truth the second time?

Only reason is as was mentioned above, he knew he was getting old and would effect his game. He knew he could decline here and people would still love him, New place would want the production of his old self.