Renteria Sore After Collision
By Tony Massarotti
The Boston Herald
August 04, 2005
Edgar Renteria has not made a trip to the disabled list in nearly
seven
seasons. So when the Red Sox shortstop describes himself as ``50-50''
for a
game, he is officially listed as probable.
And today, he's 50-50.
With the Red Sox leading the Kansas City Royals by a 3-2 score,
Renteria ran
back on a popup by Ruben Gotay in the second inning of the Sox'
eventual 8-5 win
at Fenway Park last night. The shortstop subsequently collided with
left fielder
Manny Ramirez, a $200 million collision that ultimately forced both
players from
the game.
Renteria, who came out of the game in the bottom of the seventh
inning, was
sore on the right side of his rib and torso. He said he will have a
better idea
this morning as to whether he will be able to play in this afternoon's
series
finale.
``I'm 50-50 right now,'' said Renteria, who speaks somewhat
limited English.
``My ribs and my stomach (are sore). I'll see how I'm feeling
(today).''
While Renteria is known for playing through the aches and pains
that many
baseball players encounter during the course of the regular season, the
Red Sox
typically are cautious with such matters. That fact - along with a
Boston bench
now deeper than at the start of the season - could result in manager
Terry
Francona giving a start to backup infielder Alex Cora.
Whatever today's decision, Renteria is not expected to miss much
time. Both
the players and manager expressed relief that no significant injuries
resulted
from the second-inning collision.
In his first season with the Sox after signing a four-year, $40
million deal
over the winter, Renteria this season has played in more games (99)
than any Sox
player but David Ortiz (104) and Johnny Damon (100). Since the start of
the 1999
season, Renteria has played an average of 149 games a season for one
very simple
reason.
``It's my job, you know?'' Renteria said. ``To me, it's my
responsibility to
play every day because that's the kind of player I am.''
Like most in attendance at Fenway last night, Sox players held
their breath
following the collision. After the game, however, their willingness to
joke
about the matter further suggested that a potential disaster was
avoided.
``Going out there you see two guys on the ground, so who do you
go to first?'
' said first baseman Kevin Millar. ``I picked Manny because he's worth
more.''
Ramirez, of course, is in the fifth year of an eight-year, $160
million
contract.
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