Arenado’s “tarp play” still No. 1

When I got home from Thursday afternoon’s game at Coors Field, I fired up a YouTube video featuring Nolan Arenado’s greatest defensive plays.

I wanted to compare Arenado’s sensational play in the second inning Thursday to the other sublime moments in his career. I quickly realized that it’s impossible to rank them. There are simply too many dives in the dirt, bare-handed grabs and lasers across the diamond to consider them all.

Still, the “tarp play” on April 14, 2015, stands above all others. This is what I wrote at the time:

Thursday’s play against the Cardinals wasn’t as spectacular, but the athleticism, instincts and creativity made everyone in the press box — including beat writer Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch — shake their head in amazement.

In case you missed it, the Cardinals’ Kolten Wong lofted a popup down the left-field line with one out and speedster Harrison Bader tagging up at third base. Arenado, fighting the sun, made an over-the-shoulder, basket catch. A nano-second after the ball landed in his glove, Arenado jumped, spun and lofted a no-look throw to home plate. It was akin to Tom Brady throwing a perfect pass into the back of the end zone.

Arenado’s throw arrived in time but it short-hopped catcher Dom Nuñez, who caught the ball but failed to hold on when Bader collided with him.

“I got an out. That was good. But I wish I’d gotten the double play,” Arenado said. “Sometimes those plays work out, and sometimes they don’t.”

True to his perfectionism, Arenado was slightly miffed that he didn’t make a foolproof throw.

“I’m just trying to get the ball out really quickly … I wish I had set my feet more,” he said. “I knew (Bader) was tagging up. I just wish I could have put more on there to get the ball into Dom’s chest. I thought we had him. I was fired up. And then I turned from fired up to disappointed. It was just too close.”

It was left to Nuñez to put the play, and the third baseman, into proper context.

“It’s like he sees the future,” Nuñez said. “You take for granted all the plays he makes. A lot of guys think it’s routine. But it’s really not. The stuff that he does out there is unbelievable.”

Footnotes.

All-star outfielder David Dahl, out of action since Aug. 3 with a high right ankle sprain, confirmed Friday that he won’t return this season…. Lefthander Kyle Freeland (strained left groin) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Saturday and it’s looking like he will be able to pitch in a game before the end of the season. …. It’s doubtful that right-hander German Marquez (arm inflammation) will pitch again this season.