Poor Conditions Keep Renteria Sitting
By Dan O'Neill Of The Post-Dispatch
May 15, 2004
If Mr. Miyagi of Karate Kid fame was explaining the condition of Cardinals shortstop Edgar Renteria, he might put it this way: "Back's on, back's off."
Renteria's muscle-knotting back stiffened up on Thursday, forcing him to abandon a Cardinals loss to the Atlanta Braves. Renteria said he felt better on Friday, but on a chilly, damp evening at Busch Stadium, with a field that had been soaked with rain all day, Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa elected to keep his Silver Slugger and Gold Glove shortstop on hold.
"If a guy is sore, you don't play it, you don't chance it," said La Russa, who inserted Hector Luna at short and batted him seventh. "I think Edgar's all right, but you have to be careful today with the field and the conditions."
Luna had two hits and two RBIs in a 6-3 win. He also played well in the field.
The back has been an on-again, off-again proposition for Renteria over the past week. He came out of a game early in Montreal on Friday and then sat the following day before returning for duty. Less than a week later, his back is at it again. He had the same back problems last season as well.
There are big picture issues involved for those who want to consider them. Renteria is in the final year of his contract and lingering back prob lems would not improve his bargaining position, or make it easier for the club to formulate a commitment. Of more immediate concern, is this season and Renteria's hope of helping the Cardinals run down a Central Division title.
Batting .298 with 15 RBIs coming into Friday, Renteria has been heating up of late, going five for 10 in the Atlanta series and batting .409 over the past six games. He said he is not worried about his back being a continuing deterrent.
"It's OK," he said. "I don't think it is going to be a problem all year, or anything. It felt fine before the game (on Thursday), but then, during the game, it gets tighter and tighter. But I just think there is a knot in there and it has to work itself out. I think it will just take a little time and it will be fine."
While Luna has played a number of positions, including second base, third base and left field, La Russa believes he has a future as a major-league shortstop.
"He'd have to hit a ton to play third base," La Russa said. "He does a nice job at second and he would have to learn the position more. But he really has a nice carry with his arm. That's one of the first things you notice about him, he has a good arm."
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