Around The Horn: Middle Infielders
Shortstop carousel is over as Renteria arrives
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
Januray 19, 2005
BOSTON -- Shortstop is a position so crucial that you always want to have a stabilizing force manning it. Last year, the Red Sox -- by no choice of their own -- were all over the place.
Defensive wizard Pokey Reese started the year at short because Nomar Garciaparra was injured and didn't return until June. Once Garciaparra was back, he wasn't completely healthy and trade rumors swirled around him. Finally, Orlando Cabrera came aboard in a July 31 deal involving Garciaparra, and the Sox were set the last two months of the season and into the postseason.
When the offseason began, there was speculation that the Red Sox would seek a short-term solution at shortstop to keep the position warm until top prospect Hanley Ramirez was ready to take over.
However, the Sox went with what they thought was a better alternative. On Dec. 17, they signed the top free agent shortstop on the market, inking Edgar Renteria to a four-year pact worth $40 million.
Why didn't the Sox just stick with Cabrera, who provided the club with energy, defense and clutch hitting after his arrival? Simply put, they thought Renteria was a notch above Cabrera, who wound up signing with the Angels.
Renteria's credentials speak for themselves. The four-time All-Star is a .289 hitter over nine seasons. He has the ability to hit the ball in the gap or over the wall. And he has stolen more than 15 bases every year he has been in the Major Leagues.
Manager Terry Francona is relieved that he won't have to deal with a carousel at shortstop in 2005.
"You hear his coaches and managers talk about how professional he is, what a good influence he is on everybody," said Francona. "We also know we have a shortstop for four years, and that's a position we were a little unsure of whether we wanted to go into it with a platoon situation or not sure who was playing. So to have a guy who's going to be a staple in your batting order for the next four years, it's nice to know that."
Defensively, Renteria makes a difficult position look easy.
The Red Sox also appear to be in good hands at second base, where Mark Bellhorn will start for the second straight season. When Bellhorn arrived at camp with the Red Sox last spring, there were no expectations. He was coming off a horrific 2003 season with the Cubs and Rockies, and the Red Sox were just hoping Bellhorn could be a threat off the bench.
Reese was penciled in as the starting second baseman. However, when Garciaparra was injured and Reese shifted over to short, Bellhorn got his chance and never let it go. He had a career year, scoring 93 runs and driving in 82, to go along with 37 doubles, 17 homers and 88 walks. The fact that he posted a team-record 177 strikeouts didn't seem to be all that consequential given everything he brought to the table.
Bellhorn came in with an undistinguished reputation on defense, but did a solid job all year at second base for the Sox.
With the December acquisition of Ramon Vazquez, the Sox landed a player who should be able to fill in admirably for both Renteria and Bellhorn.
Like Bellhorn, Vazquez is a switch-hitter. He is stronger from the left side, which makes him a good complement for Bellhorn, who is better left-handed.
Injuries have kept Vazquez off the field more than he would like the last two years, so the Sox are hoping he can make a return to health. Vazquez is a smart base runner who should be able to help the Sox in the late innings.
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