Renteria Doing His Part
By R. Travis Haney
Online Athens
May 07, 2006
NEW YORK - The Braves might not be playing sparkling baseball to begin 2006, but there's no possible way to fault Edgar Renteria for the slow start.
Renteria played solid enough defense in the field, but it's his 22-game hitting streak, which was continued Sunday, that's instantly commanded attention.
The shortstop is hitting .351, tops on the team and third in the National League.
"We probably wouldn't be in double-figure wins without his presence," said John Smoltz, the victor in Sunday's important 13-3 win against the Mets. "We need to keep him on the field."
That's an allusion to the side strain that sidelined Renteria for two weeks in mid-April. He didn't miss a beat upon returning, though, to continue the streak.
Ten times during his career-long streak, Sunday included, Renteria has collected his hit in his first at-bat.
All this for a guy that was basically run out of Boston because he hit .276 with 30 errors, the most in the majors last season.
In December, the Red Sox traded the four-time All-Star for Braves third base prospect Andy Marte, who they then shipped to Cleveland for outfielder Coco Crisp. Boston also is paying $8 million of Renteria's contract over the next three years. It would also pick up his $3 million buyout if the Braves don't exercise his $11 million option for 2009.
Smoltz said getting Renteria, who's 30, made losing leadoff hitter Rafael Furcal to big bucks in free agency more manageable.
"When I heard we were getting him, it meant the world because of what we lost," Smoltz said. "He's been awesome."
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