Cardinals: Oli Marmol, others raving about Nolan Arenado

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol and others are raving about Nolan Arenado, who looks primed to break out in 2022.

The St. Louis Cardinals are bullish on their offense and believe it is talented – and deep enough – to make a deep postseason run. But the key to the offense maximizing its potential is for Nolan Arenado to be the Colorado Rockies version of Nolan Arenado.

Last year, Arenado put up very good numbers: .255/.312/.494 with 34 home runs and 105 RBI in 653 plate appearances. But he expressed disappointment after the season, saying he did not meet his expectations, and vowed to be even better in 2022.

At spring training, manager Oli Marmol and other Cardinals people consistently raved about Arenado. They noted that he looked locked in, more comfortable in Year 2 than he was in Year 1, and believed he was on the verge of a monster year. So far, they look like they were onto something, as he has started the year hitting .625/.667/1.375 with one home run and five RBI in nine plate appearances.

Yes, that is an extremely small sample size – it’s only two games! – but that’s about as encouraging of a start for Arenado as both he and the Cardinals could have asked for. Paired with Tyler O’Neill, who had five RBI on Opening Day, and Paul Goldschmidt, and their offense is about as star studded as any team in baseball, except for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It’s what makes the Cardinals such a tough opponent, especially if their pitching staff stays healthy and the other starters – Miles Mikolas, Dakota Hudson, etc. – reward them for their belief in them this spring. But Arenado is the player who can make the Cardinals offense go from good to great. After all, it’s why they acquired him last season.

What we saw from Arenado in 2021 was the appetizer. What we’re seeing and about to see from Arenado in 2022 is the main course – and it could vault them into a deep postseason run if he continues to play like this.