I am literally still dealing with the loss. I haven’t watched a game since the news of the trade. I will though. And although many have asked and wondered – I AM STILL A METS FAN. But I am also A CARLOS BELTRAN FAN, no matter where he goes.

No I haven’t been honored enough to see him play live, and I may never get to see him play in a Mets uniform but I still hope to see him in person one day. Living in Oklahoma with no major league team its hard to get that chance without spending a ton of money and travel time.

Thank you for always thinking of me when it comes to Carlos Beltran. Thank you for the pictures, thank you for the sign. I am sorry I didn’t make it to the game. You have no idea how sorry I am. Oh gosh, here come the waterworks again.

Love and hugs Coop! ~ from CB15′s biggest fan

At some point they will again say foolish things about our best position player ever (and I include Darryl in my assessment).

http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx265/Ogre39666/Random%20Shit/Beltran-HatersGonnaHate.jpg

Beltran played in 151 games in 2005, missing only 11 games all year and six of those games missed was because of his near career ending collision with Mike Cameron. 157 games played in 2010 was well above the average for outfielders in the NL. He had 650 plate appearances but was treated as though it was more like 300.

Omar Minaya and everyone else knew there was already a developing issue with arthritis in one of his knees but signed him anyway. Yet the player gets blamed and targeted for simply agreeing to the contract he was offered.

That entire 2005 the hate brigade was formed by the faction who saw Beltran as the centerpiece to what would be known as Los Mets, the media crucified him and more haters jumped on the bandwagon.

Because of that knee and his collision plus the stress of that big contract and playing in New York his first season was less than stellar. He batted .266, one point lower than he did in 2004 his walk year, but got blasted anyway.

Meanwhile Jason Bay enjoys the sympathy and adoration of Mets Nation for two lousy years of production getting paid the same annual salary Beltran got in 2005. Go figure. Bay isn’t the focus of hate-infused talk shows ever day like Beltran was.

Bays concussion was deemed to be more sympathetic than Beltran’s concussion who was back to work in a week.

Beltran had 20 doubles in first half and was on pace for 40 2B and 22 HR at Shea Stadium which was unforgiving to line drive power hitters like Beltran so his homeruns dipped and his doubles spiked. It was hardly a terrible season in that department. After he came back from the collision he only hit 3 homeruns and 7 double the rest of the season. He wasn’t afforded the excuse bay got that he was coming back from a serious head trauma.

From Mets.com:

Beltran eventually left the field under his own power, but he was escorted. At one point, he was seated on a table in the trainers’ room, leaning back against the wall, occasionally shaking his head. Beltran later acknowledged he had little memory of the episode or its immediate aftermath. “After a collision like that,” he said, “I feel lucky.” He later said, “I’m dizzy,” as he walked slowly across the clubhouse.

Classic symptoms of a concussion is loss of memory, dizziness, loss of balance, but the crack medical team announced Beltran would be back in two days while Cameron was out for the season. When Beltran didn’t come back until six days, he was greeted by boos and more hate in the media for being soft.

Fast forward to 2006. Beltran hits a game winning homerun but refused to go out for a curtain call. Of course he did. He was happy for his teammates, but why should he go out and tip his little cap to a stadium full of undeserving, unsympathetic, ill-informed, unappreciative horde of clods? Beltran was visibly upset and on the verge of tears as Franco pleaded with him to go out and acknowledge the fans. How would you feel in his place when you gave it your all, played hurt, produced at the same level as before he was signed, and then get trashed daily for it and booed? If I were him I( would have walked out of the dugout, spit on the ground and gone back to the bench with my teammates. That’s what the fans of New York deserved that day.

Yesterday I never saw Beltran smile and laugh as much as he did in his press conference. The Giants fans are all thrilled to have him and a city has opened their arms for him. He’s finally somewhere where his talents will be appreciated and they don’t treat their stars like bird droppings.