For Old Time’s Sake, Let Beltran Finish His Mets Career Playing Centerfield

10 Comments + Add Comment

• Annie Savoy July 24, 2011 at 11:54 am

  Kelly – Sounds like a nice idea, but don’t the Mets Management want some big money for him?
• bryan July 24, 2011 at 12:17 pm

  This is the dumbest idea I ever heard of!! Where trying to win and Carlos with those knees in center isn’t our bewt chance to win. Even Carlos knows that, why do u think he moved to right so easily???
  • Seligman July 24, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    Pagan sucks and only an idiot like you would think he’s an upgrade to beltran.
  • BrooklynsOwn July 24, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    It’s not a crazy idea, Carlos and those knees is probaly better than Pagan and that brain.
  • Hitman July 24, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    Yes, because Angel Pagan has doing so well in CF lately. Tell me, when have you EVER seen Beltran throw to the 1st baseman that wasn’t even there?
  • METS62FAN July 25, 2011 at 9:51 am

    I CAN ENVISION IT NOW, THIS SENTIMENTAL BS IS ALLOWED, HE TWISTS A KNEE & IS DOWN FOR HIS CAREER ON THE EVE OF A TRADE W/PHILLY FOR BROWN (SOON TO FOLLOW A GRIEVANCE FILED BY BORAS FOR PLAYER ABUSE & DAMAGES FOR POTENTIALLY LOST WAGES FOLLOWD BY CHAPTER 7 OR 11). CHALK UP ANOTHER DUMB BLUNDER TO NYM LUCK & PIISPOOR PLANNING. DISREGARD BELTRAN’S OWN WORDS, THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PLAY CF WITH ALL THE POUNDING ON EVERY FLYBALL TRYING TO B/U AS REQUIRED IN THE LARGEST CF IN THE DIVISION Re ACREAGE WHAT’S NEXT? IZZY TO GET A CRITICAL GAME START FOR OLDTIME SAKE? LUDICROUS!
• Des July 24, 2011 at 4:22 pm

  It’s a nice idea but will likely not happen. Baseball is a business, first and foremost. Unless Sandy and Terry think the switch to centerfield is an upgrade that’s also not likely to risk injury, the idea has no chance. The Mets want what they can get for Carlos more than the want symbolic gestures or fans’ approval.

  Here’s some evidence about how baseball is a hard nosed business. Phil Rizzuto is a Hall of Famer who was a wonderful player many years ago for the Yankees. He was voted top major league shortstop by The Sporting News four consecutive years. Rizzuto was voted the American League’s Most Valuable Player by a large margin in 1950, after having been the runner-up for the award behind Ted Williams in 1949. In 1950 he hit .324 with 200 hits and 92 walks, and scored 125 runs. At the same time he was a terrific shortstop.

  Rizzuto was released by the Yankees on August 25, 1956. Rizzuto often talked about the unusual circumstances of his release. Late in the 1956 season, the Yankees re-acquired Enos Slaughter, who had been with the team in 1954–55, and asked Rizzuto to meet with the front office to discuss adjustments to the upcoming postseason roster. They then asked Rizzuto to look over the list of Yankee players and suggest which ones might be cut to make room for Slaughter. For each name Rizzuto mentioned, a reason was given as to why that player needed to be kept. Finally, Rizzuto realized that the expendable name was his own.

  Baseball is a sport I love but I also recognize that for at least half a century, it is ruthless from a practical business standpoint. Carlos Beltran’s departure from the Mets will be dealt with by the front office in an efficient but impersonal way, just like Rizzuto’s exit was by the Yankees.
• tomterif July 24, 2011 at 5:58 pm

  Aside from the potential injury issue, it’s a great idea because Angel Pagan isn’t even in Beltran’s class as an outfield, even now. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pagan is traded by the deadline as well. He is NOT the centerfielder of the future for this team and if they can get a decent prospect for Angel I’d deal him in a heartbeat. Jason P. in center would be fine for the rest of the year. Let’s get a young centerfielder for Beltran, trade Pagan for anything and then bring Carlos back to play right next season.
• chuck July 24, 2011 at 9:19 pm

  Think not. How about a statue of him outside citi field with a bat frozen on his shoulders. Thats what he’ll be remembered for.
• Ed Leyro July 25, 2011 at 6:41 am

  If this is to be Beltran’s last week as a Met, I’d have no problem with him playing his last games with us in center field. It would be similar to the Mets having Todd Zeile as their catcher in his last game in 2004. It would only be for a game or two so it shouldn’t have a negative effect on the team. Let’s do it for Beltran, the greatest centerfielder in franchise history!