Shortstop Fields Questions
By Globe Intern Luis Andres Henao
August 23, 2005
Edgar Renteria, the normally reserved Red Sox shortstop, has come
out of his
shell recently at least at the plate, with a three-run homer Sunday
afternoon
that propelled the Sox to a 5-1 victory over the Angels. Renteria also
took time
recently for a conversation with Globe intern Luis Andres Henao, a
fellow
Colombian, and talked about how he almost chose another sport and how
he adapted
to the Hub and Fenway. (The interview was conducted in Spanish)
Q. Maybe you can start by telling me how you got
into baseball.
A. In Barranquilla, on the coast of Colombia, we play a lot
of baseball.
Three of my older brothers played and I used to live close to the
ballpark, the
Tomas Arrieta. I grew up in that environment.
Q. But for a while you thought about playing soccer, didn't
you?
A. Yes, I played a lot of soccer. I played both sports and
took a chance
on baseball. Thank God it seems like I made the right choice, don't you
think?
(He laughs).
Q. Yes, I think so. But what was it that made you change
your mind?
A. My whole family always wanted me to play baseball. My
mom and my
sisters didn't like soccer because they thought it was too rough. I've
always
liked soccer, but when I turned 13 or 14, I decided to go for baseball
and I
just kept on going.
Q. When you go back to Colombia, do you get a chance to
toss around some
balls with friends?
A. Sometimes we play softball. I don't play baseball
anymore.
Q. During that season that you played for the Marlins, your
last-hit
at-bat won the World Series. How did you feel?
A. Very, very happy. It was just my second year. I was just
starting my
career.
Q. When you were playing baseball growing up in
Barranquilla, did you ever
imagine that you would win a World Series?
A. When you're a kid, you always dream about winning a
World Series. When
you play baseball in the streets, you always think what it would be
like. But
when I lived through it, it was so exciting. It was the best thing that
could
have ever happened to me.
Q. Now that you're playing for the Red Sox, how do you
feel?
A. I'm still getting used to Boston and to this league.
With my teammates
I feel more comfortable. It's all an adaptation process that takes time
but has
to be made. But up to now everything has gone well. I'm working hard
like always
and just trying to get to know the city and its people better.
Q. Tell me about the city.
A. I like how you live in Boston. It's calm but there's a
lot of freedom.
That's how you should live life.
Q. You've said before that Boston has the best fans. Why?
A. Boston fans are faithful. They live for their team.
That's the real fan
the one that lives for its team, the one that feels the pain when their
team
loses and the joy when their team wins. And even when the season is
lost, they
're still fans. Here, it took them 86 years to win but they always kept
on being
fans. After the team won last year, they're more interested in the team
and its
players than ever.
Q. You were there at the exact moment when the Red Sox won.
You made the
last out in the last inning and the Sox became champions. Do you think
that led
you to sign with Boston?
A. No, no, no. It wasn't because of that. If it were up to
me, we would
have won. I did everything possible to win because I like winning, and
last year
we had to lose. Boston played really well and they deserved to win.
Q. You mentioned earlier that you were settling into the
city and the
team. What is your relationship with your teammates? Who do you get
along with?
A . The only one that I don't get along with is David
[Ortiz, who is
within earshot, slams his locker, turns around, and they both laugh].
No, no,
the truth is that we have a very good relationship. It's cool. There's
a lot of
trust and respect, which is essential. All the other guys on the team
are
incredible. They're great teammates. They're there when you're down and
they
celebrate when you're up.
Q. Have you ever seen a Colombian flag at Fenway?
A. Yes, yes, a lot of them. Many Colombians have come to
the game. I see
the flag and I feel pride. If they're close to me, I try to throw them
a ball or
anything within reach. It fills me with pride to know that the flag of
our
country is at Fenway.
Q. How do you like playing at Fenway Park?
A. I really enjoy it. Fenway and the Chicago Cubs' stadium
have a special
tradition. They are the symbols of America's favorite pastime.
Q. What about some of the criticism from the fans?
A. I don't think any of that should affect me. My thing is
to play the
sport, to concentrate on what I'm doing. What happens outside of the
field is
not of my interest.
Q.How do you see the fans?
A. We have to respect every one of them. And there is a
mutual respect.
Our way of showing them respect is by playing hard because they buy a
ticket to
see us play.
Q. You're coming to a good moment, improving your defense
and hitting when
you're most needed. What do you see for the future?
A. Hopefully another World Series for my team that's all I
wish for right
now.
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