It’s no surprise because the 34-year-old Renteria is considering retirement after an injury-plagued season. Still, the Giants had to make the decision only three days after Renteria’s tiebreaking three-run homer off Cliff Lee in the seventh inning Monday night helped San Francisco win the franchise’s first title since moving West in 1958.

“He was obviously a big reason we won, not just the last game but the whole playoff run,” said Bobby Evans, the Giants’ vice president of baseball operations. “Edgar played a huge role, whether in the clubhouse, on the field, or his leadership and his professionalism and his ability to string together some very good games and big hits for us.”

The shortstop said Wednesday he will rest for a while before determining his future.

“It’s always hard to think about retiring,” Renteria said after the team’s victory parade. “I want to rest. Whew, I feel great.”

A five-time All-Star, Renteria batted .412 (7 for 17) with two homers and six RBIs in the Series. He had all of three home runs and 22 RBIs during an injury-filled regular season that included three stints on the disabled list.

At the end, he played through a torn biceps muscle. He rarely was pain-free this year when he was on the field.

Renteria’s trips to the disabled list were because of a strained right groin (May 6-22 and May 25-June 16) and a strained left biceps (Aug. 11-Sept. 1). His 72 games were the fewest of his 15-year big league career. In fact, he had never been below 106 games before.

Renteria might just decide to go out on top — often something players hope for when leaving the game. He is a career .287 hitter with 135 home runs and 887 RBIs for the Marlins, Cardinals, Red Sox, Braves, Tigers and Giants.

In 1997, his 11th-inning single led Florida past Cleveland for the title. Renteria made the final out for St. Louis in Boston’s 2004 World Series win.

“He’s a guy we’re glad we brought here. Despite the injuries this year, he still found a way and he stuck it out to contribute,” Evans said. “He fought through it. He’s a great baseball man and a consummate professional. A World Series MVP says it all.”
 
Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson dead at 76

Sparky who?

Reds fans were taken aback when Sparky Anderson showed up for his first day as a big league manager, an unknown taking over baseball’s first professional team. Most had never heard of him.

By the time he was done, he was an icon. The sentence-twisting manager with the white hair and schoolboy nickname would win three World Series titles - including championships in both leagues - and make it to the Hall of Fame.

Anderson directed the Big Red Machine to back-to-back championships and won another in Detroit during a managing career that spanned three decades. He died Thursday from complications of dementia in Thousand Oaks, California, at age 76.

Anderson was the first manager to win World Series titles in both leagues and the only manager to lead two franchises in career wins.

“Sparky was, by far, the best manager I ever played for,” said former Reds star Pete Rose, the game’s career hits leader. “He understood people better than anyone I ever met. His players loved him, he loved his players, and he loved the game of baseball. There isn’t another person in baseball like Sparky Anderson.”

Anderson’s teams in Cincinnati — featuring Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Rose — won crowns in 1975 and 1976 and rank among the best of all time. Led by Kirk Gibson and Alan Trammell, Anderson won with the Tigers in 1984.

“He was a good guy,” former Tigers pitcher Jack Morris said, choking up over the news. “Baseball will have very few people like Sparky.”

Anderson never tried to overshadow his teams, giving his stars great leeway while trying to stay in the background. At Anderson’s request, there will be no funeral or memorial service.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called Anderson a gentleman and dear friend.

“I recall with great fondness the many hours we would spend together when his Tigers came to Milwaukee,” Selig said. “Sparky was a loyal friend, and whenever I would be dealing with difficult situations as commissioner, he would lift my spirits, telling me to keep my head up and that I was doing the right thing.”