Renteria Is NL Co-Player Of Week
Cards shortstop shares award with Prior
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com
September 22, 2003
ST. LOUIS -- Edgar Renteria may or may not garner a few votes for the National League Most Valuable Player award. But someone has definitely noticed what he's doing. The Cardinals shortstop was named co-winner of NL Pepsi Player of the Week honors, along with Cubs ace Mark Prior.
Renteria did it all at the plate, going 12-for-24 with a remarkable seven doubles, 12 RBIs and seven runs scored. The Gold Glove shortstop helped key a Cards win over the Astros on Sunday with a game-tying two-run double. He also played a central role in St. Louis' 13-0 drubbing of the Brewers on Thursday, going 4-for-4 with a career-high five RBIs.
"I think it's obvious to everybody that this guy is a real tough out," said manager Tony La Russa. "That was true before he got here. He's just added to it."
A season ago, Renteria tied the Cardinals' single-season record for RBIs as a shortstop, with 82. He has simply obliterated that record in 2003, driving in 98 runs entering the season's final week.
If he drives in two more runs, he will become the first NL shortstop with 100 RBIs since Hubie Brooks in 1985. Should he tally 11 more hits in addition to two RBIs, he would join Honus Wagner as the only shortstops in the history of the league with 200 hits and 100 RBIs in a season. Renteria is not a leading candidate for MVP honors, but he is likely to garner some votes in the year-end balloting.
Coming off a sweep at the hands of the Astros in Houston last weekend, the Cardinals needed a strong week to stay alive in the NL Central race. They went 5-2 on the week, including taking two of three against Houston, remaining within four games of first place.
Renteria was named the Pepsi Player of the Week once before -- in June of 1998, his final year as a Florida Marlin. He and Prior, who rung up 27 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings for the week, will each receive a Tourneau luxury Swiss timepiece in recognition of their achievements.
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