Renteria On Rebound
Sox beginning to wear well on newcomer
By Karen Guregian
The Boston Herald
April 18, 2005
One by one, the 2005 Red Sox' newcomers have started to settle in
and make
their presence felt, perhaps none more noticeably than Edgar Renteria.
The Sox shortstop had gotten off to a woeful start on the road,
particularly
at the plate. Only David Wells had busted out of the gates with a worse
stat
sheet.
Renteria had gone 4-for-24 in his first six games, stranding more
people than
a broken-down bus. He still leads the team in leaving men in scoring
position
(24).
The latter of course, has caused the typical grumbling: Why did
the Sox sign
this guy to a four-year deal worth $40 million? Why didn't they re-sign
Orlando
Cabrera for much less?
The answers have started to materialize.
During the current homestand, Renteria has gone 8-for-23 (.348),
with two
homers, a triple, two doubles, and four RBI in six games, including
some clutch
hits against the Yankees. Yesterday, he clobbered his second
round-tripper of
the season off Tampa Bay starter Scott Kazmir to lead off the third
inning. It
was an absolute bomb to the deepest part of the park, landing in the
triangle
side of the Sox' bullpen, just to the right of the 420 marker.
It was a shot we're more used to seeing coming off the bat of
Manny Ramirez
or David Ortiz, not a right-handed hitting infielder who was batting in
the two
hole yesterday.
``It was fastball outside. I stayed with it and hit it good,''
Renteria said
following the 3-1 win. ``It's a big park. I'm a little guy. I thought
it was a
double. . . . I guess I got lucky.''
What he's gotten is more comfortable with his new surroundings.
For Renteria,
especially, joining the Red Sox has required getting acclimated to
pitchers he's
never seen, and getting used to the Sox experience as a whole.
Hitting coach Ron Jackson has been working with him and has seen
Renteria
making his way through the trouble spots.
``It's human nature trying to do too much coming to a new team,''
Jackson
said. ``Plus, learning new pitchers, being in this league the first
time. I feel
like, the second half, he's really going to take off. But right now,
he's on a
good track.''
In other words, he's been able to take a deep breath and relax.
Some athletes
simply aren't able to do that here. It's obvious Renteria still doesn't
enjoy
the media posse - typically, he's the last one out after a game and
does his
best to avoid contact with reporters - but he's figured out how to
cope.
``I think guys have an understanding coming in, a little what
Boston's all
about, or what New York's all about, or what Philly's all about. I
think for the
most part, guys just go out and play,'' teammate Bill Mueller said.
``To us,
watching him, it's like a no-brainer. We don't think about (4-for-24).
It's a
seven-month season. It's not two weeks. It's such a long year. We know
he's
phenomenal, we know it's just a matter of time before (fans) see the
real Edgar
Renteria.''
Renteria has also made some terrific plays in the field during
the homestand.
The bottom line on why he was signed, however, had to do with him being
a finer
all-around player than Cabrera, meaning he was going to hit for more
average and
power.
Renteria admitted yesterday he's gotten a better feel for his new
baseball
home, especially when it comes to the people who will ultimately be his
toughest
critics.
``I'm more comfortable with the fans now,'' Renteria said.
``They've accepted
me pretty good. They cheer for me when I go up to hit. I feel more
comfortable.
The first time, you don't know how it's going to be. But I'm playing
more
relaxed.''
Welcome to Boston.
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