Cards Notes: Renteria Returns
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com
August 27, 2003
ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has a reputation as a stern fellow, the kind of guy not easily talked into things. But when it comes to his All-Star players, things change a little bit.
For the second time in a week, one of La Russa's stars talked his way into the starting lineup after originally being left out. Last Friday it was Albert Pujols, who had been suffering from a flu-like illness. Wednesday it was shortstop Edgar Renteria, starting once again after missing one game with a sore back.
When the batting order was first posted in the St. Louis clubhouse, Renteria was not in it. But he took ground balls at shortstop, then had a fine batting practice session, and convinced his manager that he should play.
"When I woke up, I said 'I'm going to play,'" Renteria said.
"I took my defense, took my ground balls, I said 'I feel good and I'm ready to go.' I felt a little better than I expected."
Renteria said it was more the defensive work than the swings that convinced him he was good to go. Either way, the manager was glad to insert him in the seventh spot in the lineup, bumping Miguel Cairo back to the bench.
"I wrote (the lineup) without him, and he took his ground balls and he said he wants to play," La Russa said. "I said, 'Let me watch you hit,' and he hit fine. So I'm gonna change it and he's gonna play."
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