28
2011
Beltran: I Have To Think About The Team
An article by Hojo's Mojo
A video update courtesy of MetsBlog and SNY.tv.
Updated 12:45 PM
“I have to think about my health and how to be in the field for the team,” Beltran said. “I believe the best decision is for me to play right field. It’s going to be less active, and I am looking forward to saving my knees for the long run. I know if I am healthy and I can play more time in the field, I can help this team offensively, even in the outfield. I know it will be a different transition for me to make but I feel I will be able to do that.”
Beltran made it official and spoke with reporters before the game. Angel Pagan is now the center fielder for the New York Mets, and Carlos Beltran is now the right fielder.
Beltran also said he expects to be ready for Opening Day, but will DH in the early going of spring training.
Pagan, who idolizes Beltran, was as humble as always and by Beltran’s side.
Give Terry Collins props for handling this perfectly.
Photo credit to MetsBlog.com
Updated 11:15 AM
As more and more details come out, I will keep updating this thread. We have now learned that it was Carlos Beltran who initiated the meeting with manager Terry Collins this morning. This was clearly his decision and you may remember when Spring Training started, Beltran promised he would give the Mets an honest decision.
“I still believe I can play centerfield,” Beltran said. “But I need time, I need more time. This will make it easier for Angel. It will take it off of his mind and let him make the transition. I don’t want to have everyone worrying about it,” he said. “It is easier for everyone.”
A selfless act from a team-first guy, and one of the classiest players ever to don a Mets uniform.
Original Post 10:15 AM
According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Carlos Beltran has accepted a move to rightfield following a meeting with manager Terry Collins this morning. Here are reactions from David Wright:
“Any time you get a guy that’s accomplished what Carlos has accomplished, and done the kind of things that Carlos has done in this game, to be that guy that really sees the big picture and sees what’s best for this team and does something like that, it makes you want to go out there and really play united and play as a team,” third baseman David Wright said.
“That’s probably takes a lot coming from a guy that’s really accomplished what he’s accomplished. Carlos wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t feel comfortable doing it. I just think it’s a very selfless act. Like I said, baseball players have a lot of pride. To be able to kind of swallow that pride and look at what’s best for the team and make that decision, says a lot about what Carlos is trying to accomplish here.”
Beltran was seen hobbling around this morning with his knee wrapped according to Steve Popper.
An official announcement is expected before noon.
Thankfully, this will end all the mindless garbage out there about how selfish a player Beltran is.
When he was in his prime, Beltran was one of the best centerfielders I ever saw, and one of the most graceful as well. As a Met he had some great defensive moments, especially a couple of brilliant game saving catches in Houston against the Astros.
It’s great that he made his decision early so that way he can get as many reps in rightfield as he can.
About the Author: Rob Johnson
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 26 | 17 | .605 | - |
| Nationals | 25 | 17 | .595 | 0.5 |
| Marlins | 23 | 19 | .548 | 2.5 |
| Mets | 22 | 20 | .524 | 3.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 22 | .488 | 5.0 |
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Great move! Now as Mets fans, let’s cut him some slack as he becomes familiar with rightfield and the differences in angles and the path of the ball. We may see some unfamiliarity with the position from him. We need to chalk those up to a learning experience and support him rather than cut him down. This is a time to be patient with a player who has been great for us in the past.
Carlos Beltran is the best all around position player we have ever had. He is as low maintenance as any elite superstar who had ever played this game. (perhaps tied with Vlad, Aaron or Piazza) He has been nothing but pure class off and on the field since he arrived here.
He donates his time and assets to build something that will be around long after he has gone and all he has gotten for it is grief.
The Mets misdiagnosed his injury, he said nothing. His teammate didn’t even remove the bat from home plate and caused all kind of flack when he didn’t slide. He said nothing. He needed surgery, the Mets sought to embarass him, then sought to embarass him again about a voluntary team outing. He quietly defended himself against their low class immaturity. Many “Met Fans” sought to blame a postseason loss on one AB. He still said nothing. Some low rent individuals claimed that his “selfishness” would prevent him from stepping over to RF, this despite the fact that he has never shown even one iota of selfishness in his entire career and I’ll bet you anything, He’ll still say nothing.
This makes me happy. I think he’ll handle the position well after Spring Training – and I think that the Mets could potentially have a better defensive outfield than last year. I have always respected Beltran as a ballplayer and I think the arguments about him being selfish really don’t have basis behind them.
I drafted Beltran for my fantasy team this year, lol. Should be amusing to see how he pans out.
My heart is broken, but he never fails to do the right thing and think of others before himself.
Well played all around I think.
It seemed to be a foregone conclusion that he would have to move to RF, but they showed deference to a player of his stature, and let it seem that he made the decision. And he was smart to do it early, to but the matter to rest (and end the speculation).
so no more conflict between the sides, a good thing, and if gets Beltran brownie pionts!
Oh, and a lot easier to spot rest him, just having to rotate in another corner OF.
Two things: 1. Class move by Beltran. 2. Why the hell isn’t Digital Domain set up like Citi?
Maybe cause when digital domain was built it was set up like Shea?
Great move by Beltran and a great move for the team. Everybody wins. I expect solid seasons from Pagan and Beltran. How remarkable is it that since last season ended we’ve been making logical decisions, smart signings, and no soap opera BS from the Omar years?
What a selfish thing to do – lol……………..Where is POMES????????
Classy guy – always!
He’s always been a class act. Good for him. I hope that if his time as a Met is coming to an end, we Met fans all show him the respect and gratitude we showed Piazza when he returned.
He’s certainly earned a ton more than the crap a lot of people have given him.
Wow,
Greg Pomes writes article Feb 18 with headline “It’s Up To Carlos Beltran To Do What’s Right For The Team And Himself”
..and he finishes with “I’ve accused Beltran of being selfish and not caring about the team, putting himself and his pride first. I stand by that. Beltran can prove me wrong by helping himself and the team out by just agreeing to move to right field.”
http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/02/its-up-to-carlos-beltran-to-do-whats-right-for-the-team-and-himself.html
Now, today, Carlos Beltran moves to RF….BUT……here’s what greg pomes says now:
Greg Pomes@StevePopper he’s only doing this because it’s his walk year. He knows he’s done at CF & doesn’t want teams to see how bad that knee is.
Ladies and Gentlemen – greg pomes.
Man, who gives a rat’s ass what that moron thinks?
He has no spine, Pomes wouldn’t know baseball or class if he fell over.
NEVER will have the spine to come and comment NEVER.
Pomes says the most outlandish crap on this site and he is also the only bloggere here that never responds to comments left for him. Whether I agree with them or not I respect all the bloggers on this site because they respond to us. Not Pomes!
What an incredible weasel move by Pomes. Weasel boy calls a class act like Beltran selfish, then when he shows for the umpteenth time how unselfish he is, weasel boy then claims it’s not the team Beltran was thinking of, it was himself.
Weasel boy never backs a statement or opinion with any facts. The next fact weasel boy puts in an article will be his first.
Tell us weasel boy, how selfish was it of Beltran to play hurt as long as he did on that knee?
Pomes is a complete tool. He is the definition of an internet troll.
He says something that he KNOWS is BS, that he has NO argument for, then goes and hides his head while everyone (EVERYONE) calls him on his sh**.
He sure is lucky he was one of the other MMO writer’s college roommate or whatever, because he has no right to be read by so many people via this (for the most part) quality blog.
I’m just glad one of the editors told him to back off on his blatant racism.
How about we all agree to not talk about him? I get the feeling he jsut says crap like this for attention.
Point blank, how about he agrees not to write anymore? Even Steve Popper thinks he’s ridiculous.
Or do what I do: Don’t read it.
In all fairness, D, you were the first one to comment on his last drivel about “more of the same from the Mets.”
I agree that it’s probably best we all ignore him until he gets bored and goes away, but sometimes it’s just damned hard not to yell back when the village idiot is on a tear…
True that. I even check out his twitter when I want to feel good about myself.
But, I don’t let his silliness get to me. There is no point in calling out a dishonest person on the internet.
There is no point in calling out a dishonest person on the internet.
BUT I THOUGHT THAT’S WHY AL GORE INVENTED IT!!!!!!
Class move on Beltran’s part. Doing what’s best for the team, what a concept! If only that kind of selflessness would rub off on one of his teammates. Okay, not gonna name names here. I think it’s pretty self explanatory, right?
Glad to see we are all Beltran fans and agree on his decision making.
Not only to read what he is doing but how us fans are standing behind him. Will be sad day when he does leave.
Could we please get back to reality for one second here folks? Sure he made the right decision, what was best for the team. Yes it is selfless of him to move. Yes Pomes is an idiot. But Beltran can’t play RF sitting on a cloud you know. His knees are still going to take plenty of wear and tear this season, and the question truly is: will he be able to hold up to the rigors of playing RF? I get this sneaky feeling that his knees are not in very good shape. It is more likely than not that he spends considerable time on the DL this season. What’s plan B?
Lucas Duda or Nick Evans or FMart if he doesn’t smash like a piece of fine china before June, maybe Captain Kirk, a Scott Hairston/Willie Harris platoon?
Not the greatest options ever, but it’s nice to know that at least for OF we have a Plan B, C, D, E…
You named the current cast of characters, but they all have issues. Duda and Evans cannot handle RF defensively. Evans is strictly a 1B, Dude’s very slow. Captain Kirk is not as advanced as those two, and needs a full year at AAA. Hairston/Harris are great 4th and 5th OF’s, but not every day players. Clearly FMart is the best plan B, because he could be the future RF’er anyway, and he should be ready at this point. But like you pointed out, he is as brittle as fiddle faddle.
he may not spend lots of time on the DL, but he may need regular days off. maybe he can only go 5 games a week? So they need to have a 4th OF that can actually play, to get regular time (starting) not just a couple games per month.
Beltran has fired the first shot in his campaign for a new contract in 2012. What better way to look to prospective ballclubs than to think of the “team” first, Carlos second. Yeah, right….
What difference does it make if in the meantime the Mets reap the rewards of it?
I find it funny when people players for thinking of themselves. I know at my job, I look out to make myself a better performer so that my job would be lucrative for me.
What is the big deal if he wants to think of himself at all, it is his life still, no?
When has Carlos ever put himself ahead of the team? When he played hurt? When he never said anything about the Mets misdiagnosing of his injury? When he came back at the end of the 2009 season? When he came back at the end of the 2010 season? When he quietly defended himself against the Mets when he finally HAD to have surgery in January? A surgery very likely made necessary by the failure if the Met medical staff. Did he put himself ahead of the team when they tried to embarrass him in Wash DC while he was working on his combination school/baseball school? Something he has put millions into that will be benefitting someone else’s children. Give us all a break, Beltran has put the team ahead of himself every second he’s been here except for the many times he was carrying it. Sophisticated fans in NY. Yeah right.
BOOSH!
+like, a million
Quite boosh. Quite boosh, indeed.
I’m very pleased by this move. Now lets suppose that Beltran has a good healthy year would you be ready to give out a four year deal for him to play right. This is not conditional on the financial station of the team right now.
no matter what he does this year, you waive goodbye and say thank you.
My thanks go to Carlos Beltran for all his contributions over the years to the Mets. His value to the team has been immeasurable, both offensively and in the field. Like so many of the great players, he made it all look easy. As a Mets fan, I’ve been privileged to witness Carlos in the Big Apple for half his major league life. What a terrific player he has been, and it ain’t over yet!! Go Carlos!!!
I hear you Des. We were VERY privileged to see Carlos in a Met uniform. Remember the late 70′s? 41 HR’s from a gold glove CFer. Plus the kind of guy you love rooting for. Hope he can continue his incredible career.
Love Beltran but wow that brace looks mean.