5 Questions: Braves SS Edgar Renteria
By Rick Hummel
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
July 09, 2006
Former Cardinals shortstop Edgar Renteria will be making his fifth All-Star Game appearance next week in Pittsburgh. One came with Florida, three with the Cardinals (2000, 2003 and 2004), and now he will represent the Atlanta Braves. He failed to make the All-Star team last year when he made 30 errors while playing for Boston.
Thirty also is Renteria's age, as he enters his 11th big league season. Renteria is hitting above .300 this year; he has done that three previous times in his career, including his signature season of 2003, when he batted .330 for the Cardinals and drove in 100 runs as their shortstop. On Monday in Atlanta, he hit the 100th home run of his career against the Cardinals.
Renteria answers five questions from the Post-Dispatch:
How do you feel about being back in the All-Star Game after not being chosen last year?
"I'm more happy than ever before. People were booing me and saying I was an old man and I couldn't play anymore. From the first day of spring training, I worked hard like I always do and tried to show everybody that I can still play the game. People think I'm old because I've been playing for a little bit of time. That's what people think. I can't do anything about that."
What do you think about your former team, the Red Sox, and the defensive record they set by playing in 17 consecutive errorless games?
"They're playing great. Everything is going right for them. Alex Gonzalez (his replacement in Florida and Boston) is the best defensive shortstop in the game right now. He's unbelievable."
After the New York Mets and maybe the Cardinals, and excluding the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh, does it seem as if the other 12 teams in the National League are about the same and they all have a chance for the playoffs?
"Everybody's going for the wild card. You never know. You saw what Houston did last year, and they got to the World Series, so it's good to win the wild card. But my goal always is the World Series, whether we win the division or the wild card."
After being with three teams in three years, would you like to stay in Atlanta, and where has your favorite place to play been?
"(Atlanta) is a nice place. I've got two more years on my contract. I feel good. I feel happy. This is a good town to play the game. The weather here is about the same as Miami and St. Louis. But Boston ... I was freezing too much. To live, I would say Florida is my favorite, but with the Cardinals I had more fun. I played more years there and I had a lot of success with postseason play and everything. I always root for them. I'm their No. 1 fan. Believe it."
You've had the game-winning hit in the 1997 World Series for Florida. You made the last out of the 2004 World Series while with the Cardinals and you made the last out of the division series with the White Sox when you were with Boston last year. What do you make of that?
"I got lucky. And I got unlucky. But, really, I'm lucky, because people remember me."
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