Notes: Renteria Hitting His Stride
Cardinals shortstop shakes off slow start
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com
July 04, 2004
ST. LOUIS -- As the Cardinals have marched up the standings and passed one team goal after another -- first place, 10 games over .500, 15 games over .500 -- Edgar Renteria has been making a climb of his own. A lifetime .289 hitter who has topped .300 each of the past two seasons, Renteria has coaxed his 2004 average up from a substandard .257 to the high .280s -- and climbing.
That's partly because he's hitting in better luck, partly because his back isn't bothering him anymore, and partly because he's made it a point to be more patient. The combination has turned Renteria into the kind of force that he was in 2003, when he earned a Silver Slugger award as the National League's top offensive shortstop.
"When I was hitting .250, I was hitting everything hard, but I didn't get base hits when I hit the ball hard," said Renteria. "Now I feel better when I hit the ball. When you're hitting good, you feel much better. Now I feel more comfortable. I'm taking walks. Two weeks, three weeks ago, I couldn't take a walk."
At the start of the day on June 11, following a frustrating series in Chicago, Renteria was at . 257, with his on-base percentage barely above .300. Since then he's been on a 27-for-71 (.380) tear, with eight walks and six doubles. He's struck out exactly three times in that span.
Renteria battled some back problems early in the season, but he's feeling better now. He refuses to make excuses, but it's hard to ignore the coincidence.
"I think it depends on what the aches and pains are," said manager Tony La Russa. "The back is something that [when it's sore] you swing restricted and play restricted. But he's a good example. He went to the post."
La Russa has been using Renteria more often in the No. 2 spot in the batting order lately, as opposed to his usual sixth spot. According to Renteria, that's also helped him relax a bit. He's working deeper counts, trying to get on base for Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen.
"When I hit second, I know I'm gonna get strikes because Albert is behind me," he said. "They don't want runners in scoring position for him. That's why I have to be more patient."
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