Renteria Still Works On Skills
Shortstop aims to keep Gold Glove form with practice
By Jim Molony / MLB.com
March 5, 2003
VIERA, Fla. -- Montreal's Fernando Tatis hit one of those tricky high bouncers to the left of the pitcher's mound during the second inning of Tuesday's game against St. Louis at Space Coast Stadium. Cardinal pitcher Brett Tomko made a move to field the ball, but quickly got out of the way as St. Louis shortstop Edgar Renteria came flying in to make an outstanding play on the ball to barely throw out Tatis at first base.
After the dust settled, St. Louis third baseman Eduardo Perez turned to Tomko, a newcomer to the team, and told him in the future to stay out of the way.
"He was right," Tomko said, smiling. "With a guy like (Renteria) over there you just get out of the way and let him play."
The play was one of nine ground ball outs recorded by Tomko, and five of those were handled by Renteria in his five-inning stint during the 1-0 victory over the Expos. With Spring Training roughly at the halfway point, Renteria looks like he's ready to pick up where he left off last season, catching everything he gets a glove on and upholding his reputation as arguably the National League's best all-around shortstop.
Renteria hit .305 last year, his highest average since he hit .309 during his rookie year in 106 games. He set or matched career-highs in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, doubles, RBIs and total bases. He finished third in the league in hitting with runners in scoring position and his 57 strikeouts were a career low for the 27-year-old shortstop.
Renteria was one of the first on the field Wednesday and spent most of the pregame drills working on his glove work. With the game-time temperature at 90 and high humidity, it would have been an easy day to boot a ball or to forsake leaving his feet, especially with so many balls hit in his direction. But Renteria played his typical airtight defense, getting his uniform dirty in the process. It was just the kind of workout he was looking for.
"It was good to get so many (plays) today," Renteria said. "I like it when they hit the ball to me, it helps me. I'm trying to get ready and this helped a lot."
There isn't much that needs work with Renteria's game, and yet he continually strives to get even better. In the seven seasons since he broke into the league in 1996, Renteria's per season averages are impressive: .283, 10 HR, 91 R, .341 OBP, .388 slugging, 30 SBs. Though he's not a wall-banger in the A-Rod or Tejada class, Renteria's on-base plus slugging percentage last year was a not-too-shabby .803. This year, entering what is typically the peak two-year window of a shortstop's career, Renteria and the Cardinals are hoping for even bigger things in 2003.
"Even though he's a Gold Glove (winner), he still can get better defensively, and hopefully his offensive skill stays at the level," Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo said. "Once you get to that level, what a lot of guys don't learn is that you have to work just as hard to stay there. Edgar works as hard as anybody."
The problem with career years is that by definition, they only come once. Renteria is confident he can at least match last year's numbers if not surpass them.
"Definitely," Renteria said when asked if he could perform even better this season. "I'm in shape, I'm ready. I feel great. I think I can have the same year (as last) or a better year."
Oquendo said it is easy to forget how young Renteria is, since he's been around so long. People forget he came up with the Marlins as a 20-year-old youngster. The knowledge Renteria has acquired and skills he has honed over the years has helped him become a shortstop Oquendo wouldn't trade for any other in the NL.
"We have a very good lineup and he's one of the toughest guys in the lineup," Oquendo said. "He's a winner, he loves to compete, his knowledge of the game is outstanding, always prepared, knows how to run the bases and he's got the good defense.
"And he works real hard on his defensive skills. Even though he's still a young kid, he knows enough to realize that he needs to work on all levels of the game to stay where he is on top. He wants to stay on top."
Oquendo believes Renteria will be even better. So does hitting coach Mitchell Page.
"For sure he's only going to get better," Page said. "His best year hasn't been seen yet."
All the Cardinals have to do is just stay out of his way and let Renteria play.
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