Edmonds turns hot streak into big season

ST. LOUIS -- Homestands like the one Jim Edmonds just blitzed through, batting .455 with four homers, five doubles and 13 RBIs in six games, are not all that uncommon for him.

What's unique about this season, though, is that the St. Louis Cardinals' center fielder has been putting up those type of numbers for a half-season. Edmonds has long been known for building a season through a progression of highs and lows, but now he's sustaining the production.

Edmonds' 300th homer Saturday night was his ninth long ball in 10 games. He tied his career best with three doubles on Sunday.

His' newfound consistency has perhaps been the most impressive thing about perhaps his best season, which featured a .313 average, 40 homers and 104 RBIs. For 47 games in a row and in all but one of the last 57 games, he's reached base safely by hit or walk.

On May 26, the Cardinals were 23-22 and he was batting .273 with 11 homers and 31 RBIs, a blah year on a blah team.

"I was ready to retire in June, to tell you the truth," Edmonds said. "I didn't feel too good and hitting .260 is tough."

Since July 26, he has hit .400.

"He's had some great spurts, you know," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "But for prolonged, just cranking out tough at-bat after at-bat, this has been outstanding."