Obviously, Nolan Arenado will not say in an interview that the boat is sinking in Saint-Louis and that a fire sale is preparing in anticipation of the trade deadline. On the contrary, he wants to be reassuring by identifying the adjustments to be made in order to right the boat and be successful by the end of the current campaign.
Asked by Ken Rosenthal from the network FOXthe Cardinals’ star player admits that his team will have to shoot better, play better defensively and be more opportunistic with runners in scoring position in order to return to the formation that has been successful in recent years.
Currently in London to face the Chicago Cubs, Arenado and his Cardinals teammates are having a disappointingly disappointing 2023 season.
Arenado points the finger at himself by mentioning that he will have to produce with more regularity.
As we know, the Cardinals lived through perfect storms in 2022 when veteran Albert Pujols reached the plateau of 700 career home runs in the uniform adorned with the two red birds. Add to that the last lap of the undisputed leader of this formation, Yadier Molina, and you get the pinnacle of adrenaline.
Very difficult in 2023 to reach this dose of energy and the result turns to disaster.
Yesterday, the Cubs once again plucked the Cards by humiliating them with a 9-1 score in front of the London crowd at the start of this international series.
The veteran Arenado may be optimistic in anticipation of the balance of the season, but with a 31-45 record at this stage of the year, it will take more than fine words to reach a certain threshold of respectability.
However, the Cardinals were once again the favorites of many pundits to win the title of the powerhouse in 2023, but the pressure experienced by Willson Contreras, who had to put on the very big shoes of Molina behind the plate, had a very negative effect at the beginning of the season and it seems that the formation still feels the measure of it at the end of June. Known for his offensive skills, Contreras is hitting just .203 this season.
The departure of several quality instructors has possibly made manager Oliver Marmol more vulnerable and less in control than he was in his rookie season, in 2022?
Nolan Arenado, Adam Wainwright and Paul Goldschmidt may not be able to take on the role of co-leaders of this formation? It was a role played wonderfully by Molina during all these years.
One thing is certain: the veterans of this team will have to make amends by the end of the regular season, because the next few months will be very long in Missouri.
