As Nolan Arenado cracked line drives and inhaled grounders during batting practice ahead of Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Coors Field, the Cardinals third baseman was at ease inside his former ballpark, comfortable with his relationship to Colorado.
Before jogging inside to gather himself, the former Rockies star indulged a media cohort eager for a few more questions. And within that scrum, the same topic kept coming up: Rockies shortstop Trevor Story and his relationship with Arenado.
The night before, Arenado had implored Coors Field to rock as his long-time friend crushed 20 homers in the first round of the Home Run Derby.
“Wasn’t that great?” said Rockies manager Bud Black, the sparkle of a proud parent in his voice.
“(Trevor) asked me to be his water boy, and I said, ‘No problem, I got you,’” Arenado said. “I was just trying to get the fans hype for ‘Sto’ because he deserved it. He put on a great show.”
Upon Arenado’s return to Denver for a Cardinals-Rockies series earlier this month, he and Story grabbed dinner at an upscale Cherry Creek restaurant before the series opener.
And without addressing specifically what was talked about between the two star infielders, Arenado acknowledged that before he was traded, he and Story discussed how to change the direction of the Colorado Rockies.
“We felt like we could (change it),” Arenado told The Denver Post. “We tried. That was something we always wanted to do was bring a championship here and do great things. But it’s a little bit out of our control. We can only do our jobs, and I feel like we did a great job.”
With the trade deadline looming, Story may be the next Rockies infielder on his way out of town. Arenado was diplomatic when asked about Story’s future, telling him simply to do what was best for him.
But for the previous five seasons, the left side of the Rockies’ infield was the strength of the franchise.
In the aftermath of February’s messy divorce with the Rockies, preceded by mistrust and modified promises, Colorado fans made it abundantly clear how they felt about Arenado, their former bedrock. During player introductions Tuesday night, fans rose in unison well before the PA announcer even got to Nolan’s name.
Still, with even more love to show, Rockies fans showered the eight-time Gold Glove Award winner with adoration while stepping to the plate in the bottom of the first.
If ever there was a referendum on how fans perceived the franchise-altering trade, consider the three-day All-Star bash Arenado’s moment. Fans, it seemed, understood where Arenado’s heart was at after he’d committed long-term to the franchise, only to see the front office default on his expectations.
“What the fans have done for me, supporting me and cheering me on, it was a pretty amazing feeling,” Arenado said Tuesday night. “One of the better things I’ve ever had in my life, my career.”
Though his jersey now bleeds Cardinal-red, Arenado cemented a friendship with Story long ago that he said would last a lifetime. It began, Arenado said, when Story made his debut in 2016 — and will endure long after.
“We have a great relationship,” Arenado said. “He’s like a brother to me. We did some cool things here together, and we had a lot of fun. He’s a great friend and someone that I rely on, not just on the field but off the field, too.”
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Nolan Arenado soaks in all-star moment with Rockies’ Trevor Story: “We tried” - The Denver Post
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