Brian Walton
August 22, 2004
Exclusive Birdhouse Interview with Edgar Renteria
By Brian Walton
Back in 1996, Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Vin Scully tagged Edgar Renteria forever as “The Boy from Bar-ran-qui-lla” as can only be delivered in his familiar melodic tone. However, since then, Renteria, the Colombian native and St. Louis Cardinals’ shortstop, has become a man.
Look at some of his many accomplishments: 1997 World Series hero, two years’ running as both NL Gold Glover and Silver Slugger award winner, NL All-Star Game starter two years in a row and four-time All-Star selection.
With the bat last season, Renteria set the Cardinals’ single-season shortstop record with 100 RBI. Ending with 194 hits, he fell just short of becoming only the second shortstop in NL history with 200 hits and 100 RBI in the same season. (Honus Wagner way back in 1908 was the first.)
Now, that Boy from Barranquilla is a nine-year veteran and just had his 29th birthday. Edgar hopes to earn his second World Series ring with the 2004 Cardinals, but after that, his future is unsure. Cardinal fans hope that Scully will not be calling Renteria’s name every day in 2005, for example.
Renteria is a free agent after the season and is the Cardinals’ most important unsigned player. Going onto the open market would be very lucrative for Renteria. Benchmarks include Miguel Tejada’s deal with Baltimore of six years for $72 million and fellow free-agent to-be superstar shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who turned down a four-year, $60 million deal with the Red Sox a year ago. When the Sox lowered their offer to $48 million, or the same $12 million per that Tejada got, Nomar was “stunned” and “hurt”. If Renteria wants $12 million, it may be the Cardinal nation who are the ones left hurting.
While Edgar is still tentative with his English, it is far better than my Espanol. Therefore, we took it slowly for both of our benefit.
How has your double-play chemistry with Tony Womack evolved?
Tony has been around a long time now. We work hard every day and have been good together so far.
Was it smooth from the very start of Spring Training?
It was a little tough at the start because I was used to Fernando (former Cardinals’ second baseman Vina), playing with him for years. But, with Tony, it is going really good together. We know one another very well now. He makes everything easy for me.
With a player to your right as good as Scott Rolen is defensively, does that affect how you play your position?
Yes, it changes a little bit. Scott – what can I say about him? He has so much range. I don’t have to worry about him. I only have to worry about me and the ball hit into the middle. It is our third year. Sometimes, I expect to make a play on a ball in the hole and I expect to cut it and whoops, he’s got it. Well, that’s easy for me. I don’t have to make that play. So, Scott is so great. To me, he is the best player at third base in baseball.
There has been much written about you supposedly preferring to hit sixth rather than second in the batting order. Is that true or has that been over-emphasized in the press?
I don’t care. I would say, I will hit where the skipper puts me in the lineup. If they put me in the lineup and where they put me has a reason. I will not think about this. I will think about winning. If they want me in the second, I will go hit second. If they want me to lead off, I am going to hit there. I will say that I have no problem with it. Put me wherever you want and I will be ready to go.
Since Larry Walker arrived and took over the second spot, it looks like the new lineup will have you and Jim Edmonds alternate between fifth and sixth depending on whether you are facing a righty or a lefty. How do you like that?
I’ve been hitting good against lefties this year - like a hundred points better. If we have a better chance to win the game that way, then we do it sometimes. Like right now, when we have Larry Walker, he could hit third. But, you know, this lineup is so deep, it doesn’t matter. (Very deep, indeed. Cardinals Renteria, Scott Rolen and Albert Pujols rank 1-2-3 respectively in the National League in average against left-handed hitters. Against lefties, Renteria is actually 159 points better - .424 vs. .265.)
Last question. Your contract will be up soon. What is the situation now?
I have to forget about it until after the season. Right now, we have to win as many games as possible and get ready for the playoffs.
Postscript: In his first at-bat of Sunday’s game, less than 90 minutes after this interview, after an intentional walk to Jim Edmonds, Renteria came to the plate. He battled Pirates’ starter Ryan Vogelsong, fouling off ball after ball for 12 pitches. On offering number 13, Edgar slammed a three-run home run into the Cardinals’ bullpen to give the Cardinals a lead. Redbirds radio broadcaster Wayne Hagin told me it was the best at-bat he’d ever seen from Renteria. I’d have to agree. Do I know how to select my interviews or what?
