“A few pieces here or there definitely go a long way, you know?”
Arenado sang a similar tune when the Rockies pushed for back-to-back playoff appearances in 2017 and 2018. When things started falling apart in 2019, Arenado wanted the Rockies to add to their roster.
Arenado and Rockies fans never quite got what they needed as Colorado tossed away a tremendous young core without ever winning a playoff series. In 2018, Dick Monfort’s cheapness cost Colorado their first-ever NL West title.
But Arenado should know as well as anyone that all 162 games matter, as that 2018 season was decided by a tie-breaking Game 163. Now at 51-46, 2.5 games back of first in the NL Central and holding down the last wildcard playoff spot, the Cardinals head to Toronto this week to face the 53-43 Blue Jays.
The Redbirds will be without both Arenado and his biggest help, fellow MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt against the playoff-bound Bluebirds. The two All-Stars are sitting out a pair of games due to Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination rules, which require a person to have received a second COVID-19 vaccine dose — or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — at least 14 days before entry into the country.
Arenado will lose $384,416 and Goldschmidt $241,758 for not taking the trip north of the border. But more importantly to the Cardinals, they’re at risk of losing games without their two best players due to each’s selfishness in not getting a scientifically proven safe COVID-19 vaccination.
“It’s just a personal choice, and I’m not trying to do a political stand here or be a spokesperson for this or that,” Arenado told MLB.com. “I’m just choosing to do what’s best for me and my family, and I mean no harm. But it’s unfortunate that I’ve got to miss two games.”
Arenado starts by saying I, and his explanation is based on himself and himself alone. While there’s an entirely different conversation to be had here about the star third baseman’s selfishness in this medical decision, putting his family and teammates at risk of catching a deadly virus, let’s focus on baseball. In his quote, there’s a whole lot of I, me and not anything about his team there. The same team whose front office he just called out, begging to add better players around him.
So which is it, Sandblaster? Does your team need the help or not, because nobody can help the Cards win this week as you could. You’ve already said you would consider getting the vaccine for a World Series matchup, but one game clear of not playing in October at all, your season could come down to this week.
I’m all for players caring and wanting to win; hats off to those who do. But you can’t say that you’re doing everything you can to win when you’re sitting out two key games over a simple medical procedure over 220 million Americans have undergone.
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