Change is in the air for Nolan Arenado in 2019

Things will be different for Nolan Arenado in 2019.

As it stood, 2018 was already a peculiar season in the career of the superstar third baseman.

He finished highest in his career for MVP voting (third) despite putting up numbers below his previous three-year averages in home runs, batting average, and slugging percentage.

Even his defense, while still stellar and worthy of his sixth straight Gold Glove, didn’t quite look up to the level it has in the recent past.

Playing through a shoulder injury, he hit only three home runs in the month of August and famously went missing in a crucial late-season series in Los Angeles that may well have cost the Rockies the division. He also went 3-for-16 in the postseason – all singles – and did not draw a single walk while striking out six times.

He wasn’t quite as clutch in that regard or throughout the season. Though, it’s important to understand that an OPS of .938 with runners in scoring position (1.040 w/ two outs/RISP, .903 “High Leverage”) is actually below his regular output.

In this “down year” of sorts, Arenado was still among the best players in the game. But he has arrived in spring training trying to get better. And the Rockies are looking to make even more use of him.

While it may be a cliche at this point, it is still worth noting that Arenado has made a concerted effort to show up in the proverbial best shape of his life, coming to camp a full 11 pounds lighter.

“I like Nolan any way he is,” said manager Bud Black of the slight body transformation. “But he does look physically good. As the season goes on, I’m not sure Nolan’s goals as far as his weight. But he’s moving great, looks good in the box, looks good in the field.”

Presumably, the idea of a lighter Arenado is aimed at bringing back some dynamics to his defense and perhaps helping him avoid injury and preserve stamina for a finish strong, a direct response to the ails of last season.

He also might be deployed a bit differently offensively by the Rockies who continue to search for ways to maximize the offense.

Spending most of his career batting either third or fourth in the order, Arenado has been batting second this spring, prompting us all to wonder if this is just an attempt to get him a few more early at-bats or if this might be part of a new reality.

When asked specifically if he might try this in the regular season, Black responded, “Yeah. Why not? Maybe trying it out. Maybe. You like that? Charlie, Nolan, Murphy. We can talk about it moving forward, what we’re thinking… Why not a regular game?”

Arenado admits this change in the lineup will be an adjustment for him. “We talked about it,” he said. “Trying to get used to it in Spring Training. That’s why I’ve been hitting there right now. So, it’s taking some time. Still not 100 percent used to it. That’s not a bad thing. A lot of really good players hit second.”

The important thing is that the Rockies have made their reasons clear to Arenado and he appears to be buying in. “He wants me to get better pitches,” he said. “I guess they have the homework to prove that.”

But, “I hope I’m not hitting and running,” he laughed. “I hope I’m just hitting a lot.”

The data shows that your second and fourth hitters get the most opportunities with runners in scoring position, which as we’ve discussed, is an area where he excels even in his worst season.

“I think that’s what it is,” he said. “I think it’s more having those at-bats late in the game, too, that we’re going for.”

And that’s when he does his best work.