I won’t usually put much baseball on my blog until October, but being my favorite MLB player, Nolan Arenado, just this week signed a record deal for positioned players I think this warrants an exception especially since the Thunder are getting ready to experience a massively tough stretch these next twenty-one games.
Like I wrote on here earlier, I was a decent baseball player and third baseman up until my junior year in high school when I was switched to left field in order to get another good bat in our lineup. There was no DH back then so I gladly embraced the switch to the outfield to make our team stronger offensively. I’ve always had a place in my heart for third basemen. Of course, as a kid, it was for me Brooks Robinson at third and Roberto Clemente in right field who were my two favorite ball players. They still are my two favorite players at those positions.
One of the great things about MAPS in Oklahoma City was the construction of the baseball park in Bricktown. It’s excellent and was actually modeled after Camden Yards in Baltimore. OKC’s affiliation with the LA Dodgers top AAA team has been perfect for me. The Dodgers, who have been in the last two World Series, have run quite a few of their current major league players thru Oklahoma City. I even almost caught a home run ball hit off Clayton Kershaw in the left centerfield grass area when Kershaw made a one game rehab appearance. A little kid dashed in front of me before I could get my hands on it. Unlike Westbrook—I didn’t lecture the kid. Nice moment for him.
With my son now living in Denver it was perfect for me as a baseball fan to now have a close venue to go see some games with my son at Coors Field in downtown Denver. My favorite contemporary third baseman is none other than the Rockies Nolan Arenado so does it get any better for me.
Nolan just this week signed an eight year deal to reup with the Rockies for $260 million and he has an option after the third year. So, again, perfect for me.
Nolan has finished in the top five of the MVP race in each of the last three seasons. He’s a .290, 40 home run, 110 RBI guy who just basically wins the Gold Glove every season. Even Brooks Robinson never puts up these type of numbers.
My son took me to Game 162 last season on the last day of the season with the Rockies battling the Dodgers for the division title. On this day though it was the Washington Nationals at Coors Field playing what my son and I knew would be Bryce Harper’s last game in a National’s uniform.
Just an epic day. The Rockies won the game 14-1 to force a one game playoff with the Dodgers the next day, Bryce Harper hit two massive doubles, and Nolan Arenado hit two of the most towering home runs I’ve ever witnessed. Just a perfect day with my son.
I can’t wait for this season to begin and I hope to at the minimum to make at least three trips during the season to see Nolan and the Rockies play at Coors Field.
This was nice to take a break from the Thunder. Baseball is such a different experience and to me completely a part of American culture.
Hi there! Such a wonderful post, thanks!
Thank you for posting on my Nolan Arenado post. I won’t be back to write on baseball again until I visit Denver sometime this summer to see a game at Coors Field with my son. In my view…Nolan has a chance to become the best third baseman in the history of major league baseball if he avoids serious injuries. Thanks for posting a comment.
Mike