Cedeno proving he belongs at shortstop
PITTSBURGH – There was a time earlier this season when it appeared Ronny Cedeno’s time as the Pirates’ shortstop had expired. He started only once at shortstop in the span of 10 games from June 16-25. He had fallen so far out of favor that he ceded his starting job to Bobby Crosby, who is now out of baseball after being traded to Arizona and then released by the Diamondbacks.
During that time, Cedeno also had an open-air run-in with former bench coach Gary Varsho. Cedeno moped through an early fielding drill at PNC Park and Varsho dressed him down in front of teammates, other coaches and some media members who were working in the press box.
It was the low point of Cedeno’s time with the Pirates that begin last July when he was acquired from Seattle as part of a seven-player trade that sent Jack Wilson and Ian Snell to the Mariners. Yet, Pirates manager John Russell believes it became the turning point for Cedeno.
“We put Ronny back in the lineup and he started playing like he had something to prove,” Russell said. “He’s been playing that way ever since. He’s really done a good job for us since then.”
Cedeno has indeed been a bright spot for the Pirates. Of course, bright spots are all relative since this has been the ugliest and most embarrassing of the Pirates’ 18 consecutive losing seasons.
Cedeno is hitting .247 with six home runs, 33 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 124 games. While that doesn’t put him in the conversation with Troy Tulowitzki as to who it is the best shortstop in the National League, it has satisfied the Pirates.
What has the Pirates encouraged is that Cedeno has hit .271 in 52 games since the All-Star break. He has also contributed some key hits such as the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning of Friday night’s 3-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.
While Cedeno will never approach Wilson’s steadiness in the field, the Pirates feel he has gotten better as the season has gone on.
No one has ever questioned Cedeno’s physical ability since he debuted with the Chicago Cubs as a 22-year-old in 1995. He has pop in his bat, above-average speed and a strong arm.
The biggest question has concerned Cedeno’s head. More than one scout has suggested over the years that Cedeno might suffer from ADD and he admits that he sometimes quits paying attention during games.
“The toughest part of the game for me is the focus,” Cedeno said. “Sometimes, the ball will be hit and it will be by me before I realize it. I’m working hard on that, though. I’m doing a better job of concentrating.”
If Cedeno needs a reason to stay focused for the final 15 days of the season, here is one: a strong finish will give him a leg up on being the starting shortstop again in 2011.
Herald-Standard sports correspondent John Perrotto is editor-in-chief of BaseballProspectus.com.