Renteria Is Ready To Play
By Hal Pilger Copley News Service
03/08/2004
JUPITER, Fla. - The man simply is one of the best overall shortstops in the game, a lethal force at the plate as well as in the field.
And at the age of 28, he is certain to command the kind of long-term contract that will reward him accordingly, whether it is signed in St. Louis or somewhere else.
But right now, with spring training in full bloom, Edgar Renteria isn't thinking about being in the final season of his five-year, $26 million contract, and he isn't contemplating what his next long-term deal will deliver.
He's just concentrating on what he will deliver as one of the top Cardinals players when the regular season gets under way next month.
"I think about getting ready for the season," insists Renteria, who says he has told his agent he doesn't want his spring training regimen interrupted by details of contract negotiations.
"I don't think about my contract right now. I think we've got time to talk about it. Right now we have to do what we need to get ready for the season. "As for the contract, I think it's coming, no? So I don't have to worry about this and I can concentrate on my game. And my agent, he's got to work on it.
"In the first games, you know, you don't feel comfortable, so that's what spring training's all about," Renteria said. "In spring training you have to work. That's what you have to do.
"I like to take a lot of pitches and go from there."
Where Renteria went last season is a lofty place few shortstops can even dream about. The man manager Tony La Russa calls "The Captain" finished fourth among National League hitters with his robust .330 batting average. He drove in 100 runs to shatter the Cardinals RBI record for a shortstop, 82, which he had shared with 1920s player Doc Lavan. In addition, he totaled 13 home runs, 96 runs scored, 194 hits and 34 stolen bases.
And not only did Renteria collect a third Silver Slugger Award, he also earned his second consecutive Gold Glove.
But while the personal accomplishments and accolades were wonderful, Renteria says they didn't make up for the team's inability to achieve its goal."
"Yeah, last year was great for me, but certainly not for the team," said Renteria, referring to the Cardinals' third-place finish and failure to reach postseason play. "We wanted to go to the World Series.
"But this is a new season. We have to think about this year and this spring training. We have to go from here."
The native of Columbia may still speak in slightly broken English and probably still feels more comfortable conversing in Spanish. But his teammates know Edgar Rentaria's actions speak much louder than any words, in any language.
He's become a leader by example - an example of what consistent, hard work can accomplish.
A few years back, some members of the Cardinals coaching corps felt Renteria wasn't producing at the level he should be producing and might have become a bit lackadaisical.
A clutch performer even as a major league youngster - remember his 11th-inning, World Series-winning single for the Florida Marlins in 1997? -the proud player made it a point to prove to everyone how hard he could work and how well he could play.
Those efforts effectively ended trade rumors by making even his harshest critics aware of what a tremendous talent the Cardinals had in Renteria. Now every team in both leagues knows.
It seems that the tougher the pressure situation, the better he produces. Renteria batted .317 with runners in scoring position last season and an amazing .500 with the bases loaded. He struck out only 54 times in 587 at-bats.
If he were playing baseball in New York, people would be saying, "Derek who?"
The point is, he is playing baseball in St. Louis, and if Cardinals executives are smart, they'll see to it that he continues to play baseball in St. Louis.
Once Albert Pujols' $100-million deal was wrapped up, the Cardinals brass indicated re-signing Renteria to a long-term contract was their next priority.
As well it should be. They can't afford to let him get away, any more than they could have afforded to let Pujols play elsewhere in a few years. He's that important to the team.
Renteria continues to work hard in spring training and says he's not worrying about his contract negotiations.
Well, the St. Louis Cardinals should be.
And if you don't think sensational shortstops can make that much of a difference, think back to 1982.
The Cardinals haven't won the World Series since. I wouldn't want to bet on their winning it anytime soon if Renteria is allowed to leave after this season.
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