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Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

Centerfield May 14 2011 05:04 AM

And it breaks my heart that his great play lately may be paving the way for him to be in a different uniform, but I realize this is what's best for the team. Some assholes may remember him for the Wainwright curve, but I will remember this player. The one hitting frozen ropes all over the ballpark and running down fly balls like he was born to do it. He's gotten so many big hits, the eventual "Memories of..." thread is going to be 87 pages long. I love Reyes and Wright, but I think there is no question that the best player on this generation of Mets has been Beltran.

TransMonk May 14 2011 05:29 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

I still think Wright's been better over their time with the Mets, but that shouldn't take away from your broader point. Beltran is terrific and is IMO the best thing Omar ever did for the Mets. Honestly, him having a great year would be the best thing for the Mets. The chances of him being with the team in 2012 were slim-to-none anyway. At least his trade value is increasing everyday. His walk-off HRs of 2006 are some of my favorite post-Piazza moments. I will miss him when he's gone.

Edgy DC May 14 2011 06:05 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

I wouldn't get too caught up in the notion that great play will get him traded. Great play will win ballgames. Root, root, root!

Frayed Knot May 14 2011 07:04 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

His first year here was an off year for him for whatever reason so he didn't get off to a great start. And of course in the two most recent seasons he's been a hobbled version of himself which barely added up to one complete season. Add those to the fact that he was pre-written off for this year by many and it's logical to take the view that the team didn't and won't get their money's worth with him. But in the three seasons in between all he did was average .278/.372/.537 while totaling 101 HRs and 221 XBHs while playing a terrific CF - and during that time there was still only a slight slackening in the drumbeat that the team would somehow be better off without him. "Geez", I'd hear, "if only we could trick Boston into giving us Jacoby Ellsbury for him ... maybe if we added a couple prospects to the deal". Joe Benigno, in particular, never mentioned his name without also trying to figure a way to run him out of town. Even throwing in the strikeout against Wainwright (like that was the reason we lost) I've never been able to get my head around the depth of the anti-Beltran faction.

Edgy DC May 14 2011 07:52 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

The 2006 opening day booing and the warped rationalizations justifying it. That was a watermark. It's not often Met fans get that mirror placed in front of them.

holychicken May 14 2011 08:22 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

Beltran is one of those players that makes me hate the "typical Mets fan." Ever since striking out on that nasty curve, the "typical die hard mets fan" has been trying to find reasons to hate the guy. Now it is the "oh, he is in his contract year so he is actually trying now" which totally ignores the fact that he broke his face on Cameron's face and came back to finish the year when no one would have blamed him if he took the rest of the time off. I feel like he is a player who is always trying, just rarely very passionate about it (at least outwardly). I also think his very-good-at-everything-not-super-at-any-one-thing, other than defense which many fans can ignore easily, and the fact that he is not a flashy player makes him an easy target to dislike despite his skill set. I am not surprised that he is playing like he is, but if he keeps it up for the year (or at least is able to keep healthy and play reasonably well for the rest of the year), I might be surprised. In my time paying attention to the game, he is the player who has gotten the most bum deal from Mets fans.

batmagadanleadoff May 14 2011 08:31 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

Beltran is one of those players that makes me hate the "typical Mets fan." Here's Jason Fry in New York Magazine on that "typical Mets fan" you allude to: I can accept that Carlos Beltran is certain to be traded; he's getting old, his knees are iffy, and he's been treated horribly by the Mets' dumber fans. http://nymag.com/daily/sports/2011/05/w ... _jose.html The only thing that ever hindered Beltran was his health. He had the talent to win MVP's and he played like one for the Mets, body willing. He was hurt in 2005, too -- even though the Mets kept that under wraps for the most part. You can tell by the way his stolen base and attempt totals dropped precipitously that season.

themetfairy May 14 2011 08:34 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

Studious Metsimus is a fan.

Ceetar May 14 2011 08:57 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

This feels too much like a memories thread. Beltran's great. I'm so glad he's healthy and playing on my team. Also, it's kinda sad that he's completely owned the Cardinals in 2 NLCS', one off Babe Ruth's record for home runs against them in the playoffs, and lost both times. Yet another reason to hate Brad Lidge I suppose.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 14 2011 09:13 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

He's played his tuchus off through pain that would cripple a Spartan, he's done it well when he could stand to be on a field, and he's doing it again. I'd enjoy seeing him around a little while longer, but understand that probably shouldn't and won't happen; because of that, I think, it's a little easier for me to unequivocally enjoy his renaissance than it is for me in appreciating other rumored tradebait. Each vicious crack of the bat sounds like a happy yelp, each home run feels like a colossal, joyous "fuck you" shouted into the void... divorced from playoff aspirations or expectations or worry, it's truly satisfying to watch in a way it never quite has been. Also, I think the Beltran's-the-problem crowd is a lot smaller than we think it is.

Ashie62 May 14 2011 09:36 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

How about, Beltran is going to make the all star team.

Fman99 May 14 2011 11:00 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

I'm cuckoo for him like Cocoa Puffs.

Gwreck May 14 2011 11:06 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

Frayed Knot wrote: And of course in the two most recent seasons he's been a hobbled version of himself which barely added up to one complete season. Here's the thing though: even in 2009, when hurt, he turned in an OUTSTANDING season. He played 81 games and had .325/.415/.500 (!!). It was only half a season and he still gave us 4.4 WAR. Beltran will go down for me as one of my all-time favorite Mets whether he plays 50 more games or 500 more games with the team.

G-Fafif May 14 2011 11:58 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

iÉl Todavía Está Aquí!

Benjamin Grimm May 14 2011 12:13 PM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

Vanis takee!

Rockin' Doc May 14 2011 12:45 PM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

Carlos Beltran has always been a favorite of mine. He has been a hell of a player for the Mets when his health enabled him to play at full strength. I hope his knees hold out and allow him to keep having a strong season. I'm enjoying his play right now and I'll worry about his departure from the Mets when it occurs.

G-Fafif May 14 2011 01:13 PM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

Ashie62 wrote: How about, Beltran is going to make the all star team. Elected as recently as 2009. Like Chris Christie, except that guy gets talked about as an All-Star in his field more for some reason.

dgwphotography May 14 2011 01:16 PM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

When I think of Carlos Beltran, the curve ball is one of the last things I think of - the first thing I remember is the catch while running up Tal's hill...

Edgy DC May 14 2011 02:02 PM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

If Lenny Dykstra is a Met who played with passion, give me Beltran every time. "Passion" is just just a trait we arbitrarily assign to folks. If David Wright's dropoff in performance and uptick in strikeouts the last 2.175 years was done by a Latino, I suspect his passion would be an issue.

bmfc1 May 14 2011 03:02 PM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

dgwphotography wrote: When I think of Carlos Beltran, the curve ball is one of the last things I think of - the first thing I remember is the catch while running up Tal's hill... Great comment.

themetfairy May 14 2011 03:14 PM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

bmfc1 wrote: dgwphotography wrote: When I think of Carlos Beltran, the curve ball is one of the last things I think of - the first thing I remember is the catch while running up Tal's hill... Great comment. SNY showed a replay of that catch during today's broadcast.

G-Fafif May 14 2011 03:50 PM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

Posted this in KTE thread. Reposting since it seems more appropriate here. Carlos Beltran: King of the Hill Composed in the wee hours of July 8, 2007 A man built a park A man built a field A man said "quirky!" Is what I'll yield I'll make one wall close Make one wall far I'll make another wall stand Behind something bizarre Gonna have a hill Gonna put it where? Puttin' it in center Way the hell out there Nobody digs it Everyone complains But at least there's a roof In the event it rains Two teams played a game Two teams played forever What time would they finish? The teams said “whenever” Cut to the chase Get to the point Arrive in the fourteenth A victor to anoint Lamb on first Burke on third Joe Smith on the mound Now isn't this absurd? Houston had Scott I've heard that before They once had a Scott From the hardware store Not that Scott It wasn't Mike But with first and third What was there to like? One out was needed To keep things tied When Luke Scott connected We nearly died His ball is long His ball is deep His ball might end it That Houston creep Wait just a minute! Wait just a sec! His ball is headed To that pain in the neck It's heading for the hill It's heading there now It's gonna take a miracle Scott can take a bow The hill IS quirky The hill IS high I suspect the same Of the architect guy It's a Crosley tribute? Unique incline? The rest of us think It's just asinine Nobody could catch up Nobody could hope Unless CAR LOS BEL TRAN! Was workin' his lope Carlos ran long Carlos ran deep Carlos kept climbing Carlos went steep He lunged and he grabbed He secured it and soon He fell and held on Like he was Al Toon The Astros were stopped At the one-foot line Wanna play some more? The Mets said “fine” Minute Maid Park Is truly the pits I mean can you believe Where that silly hill sits? But hitting it to Beltran Is your mistake Boo him all you want Go jump in the lake He drove in the winner The 'pen did the rest Tal's Hill is the worst That catch was the best!

metsmarathon May 16 2011 08:31 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

carlos beltran broke another man's face with his own, only missed 4 games, and has been called soft for the majority of his tenure. fucking met fans.

metirish May 16 2011 08:55 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

A great player indeed , one that I think has never been fully embraced in NY and a lot of that probably stems from that business where Julio Franco was seen to forcibly make him take a curtain call. IIRC that was early in the memorable 2006 campaign and the fans were booing him with vigor that series.....against the Nats right? Several things it seems have conspired against him , the notion that he would have taken less to play for the Yankees tops that list in some fans minds, the Franco business , his quite personality hasn't endeared him either......it's all nonsense as he has had some of the best seasons ever by a Mets player but there you go.

RealityChuck May 16 2011 10:25 AM Re: Carlos Beltran is a Terrific Player

No arguments against Beltran. He's done a great job during his tenure and it's a shame that fans don't recognize that. He got off to a slow start, and, for some reason, too many people just never appreciated how good he's been.