Tito Comes To Renteria's Defense
By Jeff Horrigan
The Boston Herald
May 22, 2005
Frustrated Fenway Park fans soundly booed Edgar Renteria on
Friday night,
when he twice grounded out with the bases loaded, but Red Sox manager
Terry
Francona predicted that the shortstop will soon make them forget about
his
sluggish first few months with the team.
Renteria, who entered last night's game against the Atlanta
Braves batting
only .247, didn't let the reaction affect the way he played in the
field. He
made two strong defensive plays in the ninth inning on Friday night
that saved
closer Keith Foulke from another potential blown save, including the
start of a
game-ending double play on Julio Franco's hard grounder up the middle.
``The way it affected him was he played the (heck) out of
shortstop,''
Francona said. ``He positioned himself right. He knows how to play.
He'll be all
right.''
Renteria batted .305 or better in two of his final three seasons
with the St.
Louis Cardinals but his average has been above .258 for only one day
this
season. After seeing him sign a four-year, $40 million contract as a
free agent,
Sox fans clearly expected more.
``These people are dying for him to do good,'' Francona said.
``They don't
show up wanting to boo. I think it's a reaction and I understand it.
It's not
malicious. Does it make a guy press a little bit? It might. I hope not,
but that
's just the way it is.
``On the flip side, when you do well here, there's no place like
it.''
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