Jim Edmonds is still trying to gain acceptance from the Wrigley Field faithful, but he knows it’s an uphill battle after years of playing for St. Louis.
After going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in Friday’s comeback win over Colorado, Edmonds said he hopes the fans will come to his side “sooner or later.”
“Sometimes when I’m in the outfield I think I’m still wearing red and white,” he said with a smile. “No, it’s a good time. They can do whatever they want. I’ve only got four more months, and we’ll see what happens.”
Edmonds came into Friday’s game with three hits in 24 at-bats for the Cubs, and a .167 average overall. He was booed after grounding out in the second inning and committing an error in the third, but received a standing ovation after his first home run in the sixth.
By the seventh, after Edmonds hit his 398th career double to pull the Cubs to within a win, all seemed to be forgiven among the crowd of 39,686.
Edmonds said he opened his stance after talking to hitting coach Gerald Perry, reverting to the stance he used successfully for so many years in old Busch Stadium in St. Louis. He changed it in the new Busch, and at Petco Park in San Diego.
“Hopefully that will give me a little more positive feedback,” he said. “And we’ll see how it goes.”
Piniella has said repeatedly that Edmonds needs to start hitting, and speculation over Edmonds’ departure date had begun in the media. But he has blended in well in the Cubs’ clubhouse, and any concerns that his presence would become a distraction were quickly put to rest.
“I don’t listen to the media, I don’t read the papers, and I don’t watch TV too much,” Edmonds said. “I know I’m struggling and I know I have to pick it up. It’s no secret. It’s been going on 12 months now. So I’m just trying to keep my head above water and figure out what’s wrong.
“The guys here have been positive and Gerald has been awesome. It’s been a great experience so far. I hope I can turn it around and be a force in the lineup.”
Edmonds was rather reserved after Friday’s game, knowing that one good performance doesn’t really mean he’s out of his slump.
“I have to string about four or five of them together to show I can still be here,” he said. “And if I don’t, it doesn’t mean much.”
