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Things just keep going from bad to worse for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Picked by most to win the NL Central by a healthy margin, the Cards are off to their worst start in 50 years and sit in the basement of the division.
They are also nine games below the .500 mark for the first time since 2007, which was the last time they finished a season with a losing record.
Nolan Arenado in particular has been struggling mightily.
On Twitter, Cardinals writer Bernie Miklasz pointed out an important piece of information that may explain why Arenado is struggling so badly right now.
If Nolan Arenado seems stressed, no wonder. Not just his slump, either. He came to the #STLCards believing he’d have a yearly chance to compete for titles — unlike the Rockies. Right now the 2 worst teams in the NL are Colorado (.310) and St. Louis (.345.) Headwires, tangled.
— Bernie Miklasz (@miklasz) May 1, 2023
Arenado wanted to be traded from the Colorado Rockies after they failed to build a contending ballclub around him.
He ultimately was traded to St. Louis.
In each of his first two seasons in St. Louis, the Cardinals have reached the postseason, but have yet to win a playoff game.
And in a cruel twist of fate, the Cardinals now have the second-worst record in the entire National League, with Arenado’s former club in the Rockies behind them.
St. Louis is 10-19 and they already trail the Pittsburgh Pirates by 10 games in the NL Central.
While not confirmed, this could be a reason as to why Arenado is struggling so badly.
With him, Paul Goldschmidt, and Willson Contreras in the heart of St. Louis’ order, the lineup has vastly underachieved and is a big reason why the team finds themselves at the bottom of the NL Central and near the bottom of the National League.
