Red Sox Hub Daily Digest Thursday, August 11th 2005
E(6)DGAH!!!


40 Million Reasons Sox Made A Rent-Error-ia At Shortstop.
"Shortstop Edgar Renteria admits he is embarrassed by his 22 errors, finding it difficult to reconcile that many miscues with his solid defensive play in the past, which has earned him two Gold Gloves.
'That's not me,' said Renteria yesterday.
The stat sheet doesn't agree, of course. Entering last night's game, Renteria had committed those 22 errors in 105 games. A year ago, Renteria was charged with only half as many errors -- 11 -- in 149 games, part of the reason the Red Sox handed him a four-year free-agent contract worth $40 million in the ofseason.
There isn't one good reason to explain his alarming total of errors. Some have been bobbles, some throws and Tuesday night he was charged with dropping a ball on a forceout when replays showed he probably had possession of the baseball long enough. There was cold weather as an excuse, and even he says he still is getting used to the Fenway Park field.
'I'm not used to it yet,' said Renteria.
But he hasn't thrown in the towel, he says.
'I know I'm not going to win a Gold Glove, but I have to try to make all the plays I can. That (the 22 errors) is not going to bother me. What's real important is winning games,' said Renteria, who hasn't made this many errors since racking up 24 in 2001."

Hub Take: Edgah is a historically strong 2nd half player, and is particularly strong in September, clutch in October. The Sox were beaten to the punch on some other offseason signings and definitely overpaid this guy, but Renteria was signed for his intangibles rather than top tier production. He plays the game the right way. Did the Red Sox sign a 28 year old shortstop entering the prime of his career, as they thought, or a slowing 34 year old infielder, as he has appeared to be this season? It may be $40 million worth of pressure, which should lessen over time (let's hope), or it may be the beginning of a career decline. Time to check that birth certificate.

Hopefully, Theo and the Red Sox will reap the "intangible rewards" of Edgar in September and beyond in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. We have seen flashes, but overall, no brilliance. They have $40 million reasons to cross their fingers.

# posted by Boston Nation @ 8/11/2005