Renteria Will Be Welcomed By Cardinals
By Joe Strauss Of The Post-Dispatch
June 06, 2005
Questions linger within the Cardinals clubhouse about what drove
Edgar
Renteria to the Boston Red Sox last December. His former teammates
aren't sure
what the Cardinals offered to keep him, only that it was in a different
neighborhood from the four-year, $40 million offer Renteria accepted to
jump to
the American League.
But little question exists over how he should be received as the
World Series
combatants begin a three-game series tonight at Busch Stadium.
"Our fans are the best fans in baseball. I'm pretty sure they're
going to
give him a big standing ovation," said first baseman Albert Pujols, who
has kept
in regular contact with Renteria since he left the club.
"There'll be a lot of support for him, I think. I would be
shocked and
surprised if they boo him. I don't think it's going to happen. He's one
of the
best shortstops in the game. You look at the numbers that he's put up
in the
past. I'm happy he's hitting right now. I'm looking forward to seeing
him."
Added manager Tony La Russa, "He was a great player for our club.
He's a
great person. I don't see why he wouldn't be well-received."
Pitcher Matt Morris said he remembers Renteria as "a link for our
team"
between position players and pitchers, young players and veterans and
personalities from different cultures. "He used to always say that he
wasn't
that great at speaking English but he was the link. He could say
anything to
anybody. I'm looking forward to seeing him."
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