In the latest Burning Questions, the Colorado Rockies' Nolan Arenado is getting sick of all the comparisons to other young stars.
Who was your favorite player growing up?
Arenado: There are so many good ones and I love Adrian Beltre, but I'll go with Matt Holliday. Just because I love his swing. I grew up wanting to stay through the baseball. My swing, my finish, I always tried to replicate it to be like his because he stayed through the ball so much. I don't hit like him, but to stay through like he does is something I really appreciate.
Who is your favorite player to watch today (not a teammate)?
Arenado: This is tough. I think Corey Seager is a good player, I like watching him play a lot. I'll go with Anthony Rizzo. He has a lot of power. I like how he drops on his back leg. He uses his legs really well, plays a good first base and I just love watching him play.
Who is your most underrated teammate?
Arenado: Its' probably DJ LeMahieu. I just think he's an underrated player in general and then he's an unbelievable teammate, an unbelievable player and he doesn't get any credit for what he does for our team and what he can do. He's the type of player that can help you win teammates.
What's the most annoying question you are asked by the media?
Arenado: Well lately, it has been about who I am going to play with in the World Baseball Classic. I've been getting that a lot and it's been driving me a little crazy because I don't have an answer. But when they do the comparisons of you to [Manny] Machado or Kris Bryant, stuff like that. It just gets annoying. You don't want to hear it anymore because it just doesn't matter. I have respect for them. It's not that I think I am way better, it's just that how do you answer those things without sounding bad?
One rule you would change?
Arenado: The pace of play, the foot in the box, I don't like. I don't think that is a very good rule. I like to take a breath and relax. Now if I take one little step out of the box I could get fined or get in trouble for that. I don't like that. You take a pitch and now you have to worry about keeping your foot in instead of just taking a pitch and getting ready for that next pitch.
Who is ultimately responsible for policing the game? Players, manager, umpires, league?
Arenado: Well, when it comes to on-field stuff, the players should be taking care of that. There are obviously different things that happen in a game, but the players should. I think the guys up top, the commissioner, they need to pay attention too, but I think it starts with the players.
How big of a problem are PEDs in today's game?
Areando: Obviously it's a pretty big problem, but they are doing a god job of cleaning it up. We're doing drug tests all the time now. They are doing the best they can but every year somebody is going to be coming out with something different. Somebody will try to cheat the game, and that's just how it goes, but I think MLB is doing a good job of trying to clean it up.
What is something that people don't know about you or have wrong about you?
Arenado: I'm pretty shy, I mind my business and I like to play pingpong all the time. Growing up it was just something I liked to do. And I know how to surf really well. Hey, I live in Southern California.