1
2011
The End Of The Carlos Beltran Era
An article by 
I was reading this pretty cool description of how Beltran’s huge decision went down yesterday in the Star-Ledger.
Around 7:15 a.m., Beltran poked his head into Collins’ office. He asked for Alderson, who was away attending a Marines charity event in California. Collins explained that the general manager was away. So Beltran broke the news to him alone. The decision caught Collins off-guard.
“I thought for sure he was going to want to try to play a couple in center field before he made the decision,” Collins said.
He was wrong. Beltran then asked if Collins wanted to accompany him as he informed Pagan. No, Collins said. This should be from you. So Beltran and Pagan sat together, the past and future center fielders of the Mets. Earlier in camp, Pagan had insisted he wanted Beltran to be 100 percent and retain his position in center.
Now, his excitement spilled over. “It’s a relief,” Pagan said, “knowing that you’re going to be in a certain position.”
Later in the day, they sat next to each other in the dugout. Pagan nodded and grinned when Beltran mentioned his defensive prowess.
“I feel that we have another great center fielder in baseball, right here, next to me,” Beltran said. “So I think it’s going to be fun for him. It’s going to be fun for me. Because I have to cover less ground. Now I let Pagan catch everything.”
How can something so unbelievably complicated and so full of potential land mines, come off so easily and without one freaking hitch? These are the Mets, nothing ever goes this easily. How did we get through this without the need for body bags and toe tags?
Think about all the weeks and months of non-stop belly-aching and bitching we’ve had to endure from SNY and WFAN this off season. Try and recall all the tweets and all the blog posts and all the podcasts that warned us of the doom and gloom that was coming to Mets camp this Spring. Helen of Troy may have had a face that launched a thousand ships, but Carlos Beltran had a knee that launched a thousand blog posts – almost all of them bad.
Unfortunately for all the pessimists and alarmists and agitators, there would be no boisterous blow-ups yesterday. There were no shots fired, no casualties, and no drama. Just the sounds of bats cracking and leather popping. All is exactly as it should be on March 1st, and for that I thank Carlos Beltran, Angel Pagan and Terry Collins.
Yesterday’s events should have made most Mets fans feel good. Our team actually behaved like a team for the first time in years. But of course there are those who seem to enjoy wallowing in their own self-inflicted drama and misery.
For those Mets fans, there’s never any joy in Mudville. The days of their baseball season are always dark and overcast and fraught with rain, and in their world of being a Mets fan, Mighty Casey always strikes out. Those are the same Mets fans that have never believed. Tug McGraw’s chants would have been wasted on them, and the only miracle they believe in comes in a jar and tastes like mayonnaise.
They are fueled by the talking heads on WFAN where Mike Francesa looked for Beltran’s ulterior motive, and SNY where Chris Carlin wondered why Carlos Beltran made his decision so hastily and without letting spring training play out a little longer. Really Chris?
I guess they’re just annoyed because their programming directors now have to find something else to fill the airwaves. Their favorite whipping boy Carlos Beltran, didn’t end up being the villain they all wanted us to believe he was.
It’s tough to be a great ballplayer and play in this city. From the moment they arrive they are chopped down piece by piece and bit by bit until there’s nothing left, but a shell of their former selves.
It’s a shame that in the last six years, one of the best offensive players the Mets have ever had, never got his due praise from the city he decided to call home.
In 2006, Beltran had one of the greatest seasons in franchise history. He blasted 41 home runs (a Mets record), collected 116 RBI (sixth all time) and scored 127 runs (another Mets record). His .594 SLG and .982 OPS led the Mets to the post season. In NLCS play, Beltran batted .298 and led the team in hits (8), home runs (3) and runs scored (8), while posting a.387 OBP, a .667 SLG and a 1.054 OPS. Sadly, too many fans have chosen to forget all of that, choosing instead to remember Beltran for one pitch. You know the one.
It’s a sad commentary.
Don’t look now, but a great ballplayer and a tremendous human being just passed through our town.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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Thanks for making me cry again Joe D. I’ve been pretty much speechless about this entire situation. I had no doubt he would handle it with grace and dignity like he always has. He’s already a legend in my mind. He made me fall in love with baseball, and for that he will always be my favorite. God Bless Carlos Beltran and may others learn how to be respectful and true to the game just like him. Now heres to 2011 – hes still a baseball player and still one of the best! Go get em Beltran baby!
Two humble center fielders are gracing the Mets roster right now. Kudos to both of them for their respect for the responsibility of the key outfield position, and for their respect for each other. We’re blessed.
As a footnote to the passing of the great Duke Snider, perhaps its helpful to remember that Dodgers fans gave Duke a hard time when he didn’t live up to their expectations. The Big Apple is a tough, sometimes loving, town.
The last time Mets had 2 CFers in same OF didn’t turn out too well..(see Mike Cameron) ..I’m inclined to follow the conspiracy/selfish theory especially considering Beltran’s track record of not involving the Mets in such minutiae as last January’s surgery or his unwillingness to play if not 100%. The fact that he realizes his knee is not healthy enough for him to be as productive as a CFer in his Free Agent walk yea and “wants” to move to RF for the sake of the team is, in my opinion, simply a smokescreen thrown up in his effort to generate enough of a second half after he’s traded to warrant another big MLB payday (FA Contract elsewhere)
The fact is he DID play many times when not 100% and that surgery he had last January was a direct result of the Mets inept Medical Staff. That was major surgery that should have been done at least 6 mons earlier or more, but didn’t.
So not sure what tract record you’re following.
Great article, I could not possibly agree more. A very large segment of our fan base is always complaining about guys who actually do produce while defending the latest free agent bust with the oft used excuse of “well who else were we going to get to play (LF, 2B, C, RF, SP, or bullpen)
Sophisticated fans. Yeah right.
Well said, Joe. I could not agree more.
I will never understand the mindset of the Beltran ‘haters’ and those that have labeled him selfish over the years. I predict Met fans across the board are going to miss him when he leaves and some will finally realize what we had, and possibly didn’t appreciate, while he was here.
Really really nice piece, Joe. Can’t wait to see those two together in the outfield, hopefully for the entire year!
Joe,
I think this is one of the best posts you have ever written. You have summed up all of the sentiments I have had towards Carlos in one nice and tighty piece. When the Mets acquired Carlos Beltran, I was thrilled, absolutely thrilled, and at the time, bringing him in with Pedro Martinez made it seem like a championship was right around the corner. We got close, real close, and in the end, we really have no right to complain.
I always knew Beltran to be a gamer, a team first type of player, even before his recent act of humbleness. For years fans have been questioning his dedication to this team, questioning is injuries to be more mental then actual physical ailments; well I can hold my head up high knowing that I was not one of these fans. I knew Carlos was the type of player/human being that wanted to do everything in his power to help this ball club win. He played with a bad knee, he played after that dreadfull collision with Mike Cameron, he played sick, tired, and even with the media and fans asking for his trade.
Could Carlos have had better numbers with the Mets, sure. Could Carlos have been the franchise’s savior hitting that wicked pitch from Wainright, sure. But No One should dare question this man’s will to and dedication to the New York Mets. Carlos stood in there and answered the tough media questions, he stepped up and tried to carry this team when David and Delgado slumped. He made those miraculous catches that most of us took for granted, we were spoiled.
I will be sad to see him depart this team. His attitude and spirit should be posterized for all future Mets players to embody.
I think it would be an amazing tribute to Carlos if the Mets fans showed their appreciation for thier All-Star Centerfielder by really sounding off at his first at-bat in Citi Field this year. I’m not talking the typical opening game cheer, I’m talking about the 2-3 minutes, pause the game, tip the cap kind of cheer where it is so loud, that baseball must be put on hold.
The man deserves it, and there is a high probability that he might be traded before the deadline, so we may not ever get another fitting moment to show our appreciation to a great man.
I can proudly say that I am a dedicated Carlos Beltran fan. (And as soon as his Mets jersey goes on sale, boom, I’m buying one of those)
Good Luck this Year Carlos, I will be rooting for you in every at-bat!
GO METS!!!
2 words,
well said.
Tremendous post, Joe!
I certainly don’t know where this beltran is not a team player crap started but as most crap that gets posted around here it was a pretty baseless accusation.
Beltran despite being injured has always been a pretty solid teammate and lets point out he was the one to slide in hard in retaliation for the phillies taking out tejada last year.
I mean if that wasn’t enough to convince anyone then not even this will convince you!
The only bad thing you can say about beltran is he is not a leader in the mold of a Rollins who mobilizes the forces and gets them to perform but he didn’t get signed for that he got signed to hit and field the ball which he has done with the exception of last year when he was hurt. He risked hurting his knee even further in 2009 playing on a bad knee and that alone should have showed his dedication to the team.
I’m glad that the CF ppositional alignment has been handled and I applaud Beltran for handing the reigns to hit protoge!
Just wish the other haters would acknowledge the fact that beltran has been nothing BUT team thoughout his stay here and the fact he isn’t a leader would not be a problem if someone else actually was!
May this benefit the Mets despite the hazards of RF.
Great art., Joe!
Great post and follow up up by everyone. Carlos is simply the BEST CF we have ever had.
This was a great post Joe, one of your finest moments in my opinion. Ignore tha haters who are always trying to ruin the season for all of us devoted Mets fans.
Really good post Joe – this should be the bar set for any other opinion piece. Well done!
After a day of reading the same old stuff on my Mets web surfing ritual, this post was the cream of the crop. I do believe that much of the negativity starts with the media and some fans just suck it all up instead of drawing their own conclusions about the team or players. I’ve been a big Beltran fan even before he became a Met, and it will be sad to see him go. I hope he has a big year and goes out on top.
No doubt Beltran has gotten a raw deal. It happened almost instantly when the media sarted accusing Minaya of targetting Latino ballplayers. Then you had idiots like Francesa and Beningo who had an obvious hatred of the guy right from the word go, pushing their agendas. I feel bad for the guy, and wish him the best going forward.
I was not all that thrilled with Beltran’s signing but I was proven dead wrong he has performed admirably during his tenure and I for one would be open to resigning him for a three year deal to play right.