Yesterday, we heard from GM Mike Hazen about why he carried out the trade which brought third baseman Nolan Arenado to the desert. Today, it\u2019s the turn of the player to talk about why he agreed to come to Arizona, what he brings to the table, both on and off the field, and what his hopes are for the coming season. [This transcrtipt has been lightly edited for clarity] And going by the background, it looks like Mr. Arenado is a fan of Quentin Tarantino!<\/p>\n
What were your thoughts when you heard about the trade, and what do you like about coming to the Diamondbacks?<\/p>\n
Yeah, obviously I was kind of in shock, because I feel like this process has been going on for a little bit. So I was, \u201cMan, I can\u2019t believe we\u2019re finally getting to this place.\u201d But Arizona was one of the first teams to show interest in me, and I love the way they play the game. I expanded my list and it was one of the teams that I added from last year – I put them on this year. It\u2019s close to home for me. I\u2019m from Orange County. So it\u2019s easy, I got family in Arizona and I really like this team. They\u2019re a good team. They play hard and they\u2019re young, but I feel like I could really help this team win ball games and contribute, and obviously being around good young hungry players. I think it just helps me stay young. So it was kind of a no-brainer for me, and I was really excited about it.<\/p>\n
When it comes to Chase Field, what\u2019s it like hitting in that ballpark and what do you hope your game looks like offensively coming to Arizona this year?<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve played there for so long, you know, obviously, and I really like going there. You know when the Diamondbacks are good, the environment gets pretty electric which is always kind of fun. The batter\u2019s eye is always great, it\u2019s a huge batter\u2019s eyes so it feels better to hit there. I still have high expectations for myself on the offensive side – I do, on both sides of the ball. I expect to go out there and help this team win on both sides, and that\u2019s where my expectations are. I know the last few years haven\u2019t gone the way I wanted, dealt with some injuries and different things. But I think some of the adjustments I\u2019m trying to make and the adjustments that I\u2019ve talked with the hitting coaches already about, I think they\u2019re gonna pay dividends down the line here. I feel good about it and being in a lineup with these group of players is gonna be great. These guys can all really run, they can steal and Hopefully get in scoring position. And if I could do my job, I don\u2019t see why I can\u2019t be driving these guys in.<\/p>\n
What are some of the draws, you know away from baseball or that have kind of wanted you to come to Arizona?<\/p>\n
Close to home is always nice. I\u2019m from Orange County: that\u2019s great, it\u2019s only an hour away, easy for the family, Arizona has a lot of great places to eat. When I used to play there, we used to go crash a lot of great places, and then there\u2019s a lot of good golf too. But just like I said, it\u2019s close to home and the baseball team\u2019s great. Playing indoor, I think it\u2019s gonna feel great. First and foremost that\u2019s the most important thing on the baseball side. But you know, I\u2019ve had spring training there for you know almost 12 years or however long I was in Colorado including the minors. so I know the area really well and it\u2019ll feel like a second home in a sense because I\u2019ve just been there so many times.<\/p>\n
When you look back at the playoffs, is it fair to judge a player because of so few at-bats? How do you look back at your playoffs – and also acknowledging that you hit the heck out of that one ball against Zach Wheeler, that would have been a home run in numerous stadiums.<\/p>\n
Well, first off, thanks for reminding me about the ball that I hit really hard that didn\u2019t go out! But no, it\u2019s okay: I think about that all the time, so you\u2019re good. I played in Chase. That ball probably would go out of there, but
I don\u2019t know how many games I\u2019ve played in the playoffs. I\u2019ve had 20-something at bats. I would like to experience more, and I don\u2019t see why we can\u2019t do it with this team. I still want to play in the playoffs. I know my numbers aren\u2019t great, but that doesn\u2019t take away from the fact that I was prepared for it and that I\u2019ve always been prepared for it. Just haven\u2019t played the way I expect to. But I want that opportunity to do it again, and I don\u2019t see why this group can\u2019t do that, and that\u2019s kind of why I was really open to playing here. My expectations are still high. I don\u2019t see why I can\u2019t go out there in the playoffs and play well if we get the opportunity.<\/p>\n
As a vet, how would you describe your leadership style and perhaps how that has evolved throughout your career?<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not a very vocal person, I\u2019m pretty quiet. I try not to talk a whole lot. I feel like when I do, hopefully, I can reach people. But I try to show who I am, by the way, I work, and the way I go about my business. I think the older I\u2019ve gotten in this game, there\u2019s times where I probably should be more vocal. And I plan to do that, but I still got to get comfortable with the guys – the guys got to get to know me. I got to get to know them, and see how they click and how they go. So it\u2019s just going to take getting to know each other and then, obviously, putting in the work together. There\u2019s a brotherhood that comes with being teammates for this long and playing a long season. So we got to just come together. I plan on getting to know these guys and showing them the love that they deserve and get after it.<\/p>\n
Have you had a chance to connect with Torey Lavello yet, aAnd what are you looking forward to about working with him and this coaching staff?<\/p>\n
Yeah, I\u2019ve been able to talk to most of them. Talked to Torey last night. We had a great conversation. I talked to Dave McKay this morning. I talked to the hitting coaches yesterday, already sending a video, sharing some things that I felt last year that hurt me, and then talking about the things that made me great. We\u2019re already trying to get on that page, just so when Spring starts, we\u2019re already off and running. I\u2019m planning to go out there sometimes soon, just to get to see guys and get to know them, put faces with names and stuff. The conversations are great. There\u2019s an expectation there. There\u2019s a standard that they have. I\u2019ve always heard that and I\u2019m excited to be a part of it.<\/p>\n
What stood out to you about what the D-backs bring to baseball? What caught your eye in that regard, that made you want to be a part of this organization?<\/p>\n
I think they play really hard. They always have. There\u2019s a standard that you see when you play against them. It\u2019s very familiar., it\u2019s similar to when I first got traded to St. Louis, and the way the Diamondbacks play. It\u2019s just smart, hard-nosed baseball And I see that with the Diamondbacks. When you watch Carroll and Perdomo and Marte and all these guys play the game, they play hard. You can tell that they have a way about them, good or bad and I really respect that. I\u2019ve always respected that about them. They always seem prepared for games, no matter what their record is and that\u2019s something that you can admire. The more consistent you are doing that, I think it\u2019s just going to work out for you in the end. So like I said, it was a pretty easy decision and I\u2019m excited about it.<\/p>\n
This winter for you, what changed the most? Was it where you were in your career, or where you thought the Cardinals were headed?<\/p>\n
When I opted in in St. Louis, I thought this would be a place where I would end my career. But, you know, it\u2019s baseball and things change very fast. The scene where we were headed as the years have gone on, it\u2019s very evident that there\u2019s a step that they need to take, in letting these young guys go and finding out who they are and who their identity is. I think I\u2019m just kind of in the way of that in a sense. I always felt like that last year, you know. But I loved my time there. The conversations I had was very much \u201cWe want to let some of these young guys play\u201d, and not that I\u2019m in the way, but we need to see what we have. We know what we have with you, but at the same time, we need to move on. It was very respectful and I was very understanding of it, and that was all there is to it. Like I said, things change fast in this game. We just move on and I\u2019m excited for the new opportunity. It feels like a fresh start, and I just got to go out there and compete.<\/p>\n
When you made your list, what role did looking for a team that might help you rebound, might bring out the best in you play in to that?<\/p>\n
How the core group was, if they\u2019re dedicated to competing and winning. And Arizona is very much like that. I\u2019m very familiar with the NL West, from playing there for so long. I play in Chase Field a lot and having Arizona Spring training. So all those familiarities and being close to home, I feel like it was kind of a no-brainer for me.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s your relationship like with Torey Lovullo, and what do you know and like about him?<\/p>\n
Yeah, well, our relationship started off pretty rocky when the 2017 wildcard game, so it wasn\u2019t a huge fan of him or too many people over there! But, I respect Torey and all those guys, those coaches. They always seem very prepared. I always thought that even as a young player in Colorado, whenever I look in their dugout, all their coaches are very locked in. Dave McKay is very locked in. All these guys, I always have great respect for them, and the conversation I had with Torey was phenomenal. I\u2019m excited to play for him, and hopefully make them all very proud that they made the right move.<\/p>\n
You mentioned adjustments that you wanted to make offensively. Are you thinking some mechanical stuff or are you thinking approach-based stuff?<\/p>\n
I think it\u2019s mostly mechanical. Approach-based is important, but when you\u2019re not moving properly, it\u2019s hard to have the right approach. But I feel like the mechanical adjustments that I\u2019m trying to make, and I\u2019m going to make, are going to help me slow the game down, quiet my head, see the ball better, and hopefully create space for me to work out front again. And that\u2019s when I\u2019m at my best, when I\u2019m pulling the ball front the right way. So, I think those adjustments that I focus on are helping. This off-season has been a lot cleaner, it\u2019s felt really good. My expectations for myself are always going to be high; I have high expectations for myself on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n
As a player, what are some of the differences that you find between Florida spring training and Arizona spring training beyond the obvious travel?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s kind of tough. Florida is fantastic. It really is. I mean, as a veteran player, when you\u2019re a young player taking those bus rides, it\u2019s a little tougher. But you wake up in the morning, it\u2019s like 70-75 degrees in Florida. Arizona is pretty cold in the morning sometimes. But they\u2019re both great. They both have their positives, but I love both of them, they\u2019re both great. The Arizona environment is a lot of fun. Being in Scottsdale, it\u2019s lively. But Florida, when the weather is hot and warm, it\u2019s easy to get loose and kind of feel fresh.<\/p>\n
Do you happen to have any close friends or people that you know better on the Diamondbacks roster?<\/p>\n
No, I don\u2019t know too many of them. Just from playing against them, spending time with them. I spent a lot of time with Merrill in the WBC, got to know him a lot. Corbin Burnes, been playing against him for a long time. I admire Carroll, I admire Perdomo, and playing against Ketel Marte for a long time too. I mean, he was there when I was still in Colorado. I just admire the way these guys all play the game, their pitching staff, I have much respect for them. I always have, but I\u2019m excited to get to really know them on a personal level and go out and compete with them.<\/p>\n
What are some of the keys to maintaining such a high standard defensively throughout your career?<\/p>\n
I think it just starts in the off season of training, and my agility, and all those little things. I\u2019m someone that puts on cleats fairly early in the off season just because I want my feet and my body to get ready for it. At 34, I\u2019ll be turning 35, I still do it to this day and it still feels great. So it\u2019s something that I feel I need to do. My identity is in my defense and my identity is in driving runs in. So that\u2019s something that I want to upheld until I\u2019m done playing this game. So it\u2019s really simple, I think it all starts in the off season and training.<\/p>\n
How many teams were you open to going to this winter?<\/p>\n
I mean, probably like eight, ten-ish teams probably? It was less last year. It was like five or six last year.<\/p>\n
Did you at all bounce this idea off your former teammate Paul Goldschmidt about coming out here?<\/p>\n
No, I didn\u2019t. With the way this off season went, when this all came together, it happened very fast. I didn\u2019t feel comfortable seeking advice, I guess, because if I were to seek Goldie\u2019s advice a week ago, it would have been silent for a whole week, and then I\u2019d be, \u201cI don\u2019t even know why I texted Goldie about this because there\u2019s nothing going on.\u201d So I didn\u2019t really have time to find out information about it. Talking to Goldie throughout the years of when I played with him and seeing those players and talking to so many players, I kind of had an idea of how they are. Soit came fast, and when it came fast, it was just a no-brainer to say yes. I didn\u2019t really have a whole lot of time for that.<\/p>\n
Have you been able to have kind of a normal healthy off-season?<\/p>\n
Yeah, I have. The off-season\u2019s been fantastic. When I got hurt last year, when I was on the IL, I was working out differently than I have in the past. I went to go seek some answers and questions about why my body was feeling a certain way, why my arm wasn\u2019t great. I feel like I got some of those questions answered, and I\u2019ve kind of just carried that, you know. After the season ended this year, I didn\u2019t stop working out. I just stayed training and moving around constantly, just because as you get older, you have to. But at the same time, I feel when I missed that much time in those games last year, I feel like I had to kind of make sure that I didn\u2019t stop. I\u2019ve just been working in training, and this off-season\u2019s been great. My arm\u2019s been feeling great, and I\u2019m moving well, taking ground balls already. So, yeah, I\u2019m ahead in that regard. There\u2019s still some things, I got to get going with running the bases a little bit more and all those things. But overall, I feel really great. I feel ahead with where I\u2019m at in my training and my body.<\/p>\n
Watching you over the years, it\u2019s always felt like your competitiveness, your energy has kind of played a big part in your success and kind of who you are. With the Cardinals being where they were the last couple of years, how did that factor into your production and your results?<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not someone to point the, you know, put blame on anybody besides myself. I got caught in some bad habits. There were some things that I felt that I could have done a better job of that I didn\u2019t – from a swing, body standpoint, and all those things. But, it was tough losing. Playing in St. Louis when you see Bush Stadium not packed, that was a tough feeling out there. Because when I got traded there, beside the COVID part, it was packed and it was loud and it gets a lot of fun there. So the last couple of years when it wasn\u2019t like that, it was disappointing. It comes with the territory sometimes, it\u2019s part of the game. I appreciate those fans for even showing up when they did. It just kind of comes with the way the baseball is sometimes.<\/p>\n
But, besides that, I\u2019m excited – when you have a new chapter in front of you, it kind of gives you a little bit of energy, and I feel that again. I feel really anxious to get going in Arizona and get ready to play.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Yesterday, we heard from GM Mike Hazen about why he carried out the trade which brought third baseman…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":520689,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2404],"tags":[146,22,14273,4314,5,38,4],"class_list":{"0":"post-520688","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arizona-diamondbacks","8":"tag-arizona","9":"tag-arizona-diamondbacks","10":"tag-arizona-diamondbacks-news","11":"tag-arizonadiamondbacks","12":"tag-baseball","13":"tag-diamondbacks","14":"tag-mlb"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/115895988670265592","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=520688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520688\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/520689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=520688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=520688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=520688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}