Half way across the country, one Carlos Beltran, Center Fielder for the Houston Astros, just finished up putting a historic postseason, the likes of which we had never seen before and have not seen since. He tied the record with 8 home runs, set the record with 21 runs scored, and had an OPS of 1.557, all while hitting over .400. All of this was done in just two rounds, as his Astros were eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS.
Iremember the night the Mets all but acquired Beltran. I sat anxiously clutching my radio, listening to WFAN. If Beltran was not signed by the Astros by midnight, he could not resign with them until May 1, all but assuring he would come to the Mets, the team that was vigorously courting him. And then the announcement came that Beltran was free to sign with other teams. That team ended up being the Mets, the start of a new era that included Pedro Martinez and the two bright young stars. 7 years, $119 million.
Six and a half years later, the inevitable has finally arrived. Carlos Beltran's days as a Met are finished, off to the Golden City to begin a serious playoff push. In my lifetime, no Met career has been more hotly contested than that of Mr. Beltran. He has been a hero and a goat, a favorite and a favorite target. He's experienced the best of times and the worst of times, sometimes unfairly, sometimes with good reason. To call it a roller coaster would be far too simplistic and an understatement.
Beltran may be the most misunderstood player in recent Mets memory. Labeled by many as "soft" for his almost constant battles with injuries, it seems Mets fans could never forgive him for many things, and most certainly could never forget. To the rational fan, he was beloved. He put up some great numbers, especially in 2006 and 2007, and provided a solid presence in the middle of the lineup with the Mets needed it and he's been a good clubhouse guy. To the message board fan, he was torn apart, labeled as the almost singular cause of our loss in 2006 and the one who would have rather gone to the Yankees.
In the end, that is what Beltran's career was. The rumor he wanted to sign with the cross town rivals for less money hung over his head like an ominous dark cloud. At the slightest bit of turmoil, that fact was brought out, like in any relationship. The Mets fan in this case was the angry girlfriend, and Beltran was the boyfriend who occasionally looked at the girl's hot friend, and the girlfriend never let him forget it. I don't hold this against Beltran, because all players would rather be Yankees. The money's good, and the postseason chances are great. He ended up in Flushing, and that's all that ever mattered to me.
The other thing that will forever hang over Beltran's head and define his 6 plus years in Queens is one pitch, one curveball, one called striked, one lost NLCS. The only real chance the Mets have had at a World Series win since 2000 lies squarely and unfairly on the shoulders of Mr. Beltran. The pitch, thrown by Adam Wainwright, was simply un-hittable. Had he swung, he most likely would have missed. At best, it would have been a weak ground ball. The prospects of a Mets win would not have improved with a swing, but as John Sterling would say, "You just can't predict baseball, Suzyn."
From Mets fan friends of mine, I've heard they wished Beltran had swung because it would have shown he cared. Somehow, taking that un-hittable curveball showed a lack of interest in the outcome of that game, no doubt the most important in his career. I say that I don't care about that, I care about results. Had he swung and missed or gotten out I would feel no better today than I do now. But that's the Mets fan, the most illogical creature on this planet. And they've never let Beltran forget it.
It's sad to know that Beltran's career here did not produce any record of greatness like it could have. Injuries did their part to slow him down, along with the team, and the pieces never quite fit right enough to bring a title to Shea Stadium and now Citi Field. This is no fault of Carlos Beltran. Carlos Beltran, like David Wright and Jose Reyes, is only one man and can only do so much to help the team win. The overall pieces never came into the place the way they could have.
I will always look back fondly on his time with the Mets. I do no see him as the man who cashed in and whose softness got in the way of his performance. When I think of Carlos Beltran, I will think of the diving catch he attempted in San Diego back in 2005, leading to the collision with Mike Cameron, and I will remember how he valiantly played through the broken bones in his face. Maybe it's just me, but that doesn't sound like a soft player. Carlos Beltran was not a soft player, he was not a prima donna.
If he's guilty of anything, it's signing with the New York Mets. He gave this team his all, and I'll always remember him for that. Thank You Carlos Beltran. "El Esta Aqui" no more.
