Renteria Not Out Of Favor
By Jeff Horrigan
The Boston Herald
October 09, 2005
Edgar Renteria's first season in Boston was an overall
disappointment in
virtually everyone's eyes, but Red Sox manager Terry Francona predicted
things
will be different when the former All-Star shortstop reports to spring
training
to begin the second season of a four-year, $40-million contract.
Renteria, 30, didn't fulfill many expectations at the plate and
in the field
after the team opted to sign him last winter rather than 2004 sparkplug
Orlando
Cabrera. Renteria hit .276 with eight home runs, 70 RBI and nine stolen
bases,
which was a drop from 2004 production with the St. Louis Cardinals
(.287, 10 HR,
72 RBI, 17 SB). He also led the major leagues this season with a
whopping 30
errors, often failing to make the routine play.
Francona disclosed yesterday that Renteria was dealing with a
groin injury
during the latter stages of the season. The injury was concealed from
the public
for competitive reasons.
``He had a lot of things nobody ever knew,'' Francona said. ``He
had a groin
(strain) the last few weeks that wasn't feeling very good. Sometimes
you fight
things competitively that can hurt you if the other team knows. We
tried to
protect him as much as we could. There was a lot of times we didn't run
him on
the bases when we probably could have.''
Francona said the introverted shortstop's adjustment period to a
new team
after six years in St. Louis played a role in his sluggish start.
``I think what we'll see (in 2006) is a guy who won't go through
an April
like he did,'' Francona said. ``That was a very difficult month for
him. Next
year, when he comes to spring training, he won't be introducing
himself. He'll
be welcoming people back as one of our leaders and that will ease the
burden a
lot.''
Said GM Theo Epstein: ``This wasn't one of Edgar's best seasons
and I think
he feels that obligation to come into camp in great shape and have a
terrific
season. . . . He did a lot to help us win this year but he'd admit it
wasn't one
of his best seasons, and I think he'll take the steps necessary to
improve upon
that.''
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