Monday's Bunts and Boots--Renteria, Groove, and Mickey

In the age of the internet and all-sports radio, we unfortunately have to accept more "false alarms" than ever before. It seems there is always some media outlet "breaking" the story of a trade or a free agent signing, only to have the deal denied by everyone involved, from the anxious agent to the ever cautious general manager. Another example of this apparently happened on Monday afternoon, when WFAN Radio in New York reported that the Giants had signed free agent Edgar Renteria to a two-year contract worth $18 million dollars. Within hours of the report, Renteria's agent had denied the story, saying that talks between him and the Giants were continuing, but nowhere near the point of fruition.

If we give WFAN the benefit of the doubt on the accuracy of this report, it's natural to ask the following question: why in the world would the Giants sign Renteria to such a deal? He's now 33, no longer a plus as a hitter either in terms of power or on-base skills, and has become a below-average defensive shortstop. Among other shortcomings, he can no longer make the throw from deep in the hole, a necessity for most shortstops. Renteria doesn't figure to make the Giants a contender in 2009; given their many offensive holes, they're probably one or two seasons away--at the least--from contending with the likes of the Dodgers and the D-Backs in the NL West. Signing Renteria, a player in serious decline, for a rebuilding team makes little to no sense. I don't get it...

While Renteria's fate remains unresolved, we can say with far more certainty that Don Baylor, one of my old-time favorite ballplayers, has returned to the coaching sidelines as a hitting instructor. "Groove," who last coached for the Mariners in 2005, will end his two-year layoff by returning to the Rockies, where he once served as the franchise's inaugural manager. Baylor received his share of criticism for his managerial work in Colorado and Chicago, but few have doubted the leadership, presence, and general baseball smarts he brings to the coaching community. As just one example of Baylor's fine work, Groove once served as a batting coach with the Braves, where he was credited with greatly improving Chipper Jones' performance from the right side of the plate. Now that he's back in the Rocky Mountains, Baylor will have a chance to work with prodigies like Garrett Atkins, TroyTulowitzki, and Brad Hawpe, and possibly uber-prospect Ian Stewart.

Baylor was one of five new coaches the Rockies added on Monday. The group includes former Brave and Cardinal Brian Jordan, ex-Oriole second baseman Rich Dauer, and former Dodgers and Pirates skipper Jim Tracy, who will act as the bench coach. With Baylor and Tracy now on the staff, the Rockies have two potential successors to Clint Hurdle, should they endure another disappointing summer in 2009...

Speaking of former players, dozens of ex-major leaguers, Negro Leaguers, and lifelong friends attended a special remembrance of the late Mickey Vernon on Saturday at Widener University in the Philadelphia area. For over two hours, those in attendance watched a stream of video clips and live personal accounts of the beloved Vernon, who passed away in the fall after suffering a stroke. The event sounded less like a sad eulogy and more like an uplifting celebration of Vernon, who was considered one of the game's great gentlemen, a truly affable man whose list of friends vastly outnumbered his 90 years. Although he won't be around to provide his own humble reaction, Mickey stands perhaps his best chance of election to the Hall of Fame next month. He is one of a handful of pre-World War II players being considered by the Hall's Veterans Committee on December 8.

We'll be crossing our fingers for you that day, Mickey.