Never Forget 69

Defending Beltran

Lou Di Falco — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:02:19 -0400

I wanted to comment on Steve Phillips remarks in regards to Carlos Beltran during last Sunday night's ESPN telecast between the Mets and Giants. There is no way I could espouse as eloquently and as brilliantly has SI.com's Joe Posnanski. So instead of me fumbling my way around Phillip's bashing of Beltran, I'll let Posnanski defend Beltran for me. Quite frankly, it's one of the best baseball articles I have read in a very long time. Read it here.

Another Looney Trade Proposal

Lou Di Falco — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:52:34 -0400

When the New York baseball season is over, as it is for the Mets and Yankees, wild rumors are bound to happen.

Such is the case as you, I’m sure, have already heard or read involving Carlos Beltran. I have been writing since the end of the season that David Wright simply cannot be traded. Mind you I never thought he would be. I just wanted to voice my opinion in contrast with the talking heads on sports talk radio that actually think that it’s a good idea. The same goes for Jose Reyes. No way should the Mets trade him either.

The rumor involving Carlos Beltran to the Yankees for Robinson Cano, Ian Kennedy, and others is simply ridiculous. I have not come to Beltran’s defense as much as I have Wright’s or Reyes’s. That’s simply because Wright was the most mentioned core player by some writers and talk show hosts that the Mets should trade.

Like Wright and Reyes, I do not believe the Mets should trade Beltran either. Carlos is the best all around center fielder in baseball. Who is currently better at the position today? And if traded, how would the Mets replace his production of 25 plus homeruns and 100 plus RBI? Also, where would they get the defensive player required to roam Citi Field’s outfield the way Beltran roamed Shea’s? Plus, Beltran did a wonderful job helping Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans learn to play left field.

Yes, the Mets need a second baseman but wouldn’t it be easier for them to sign an Orlando Hudson as long as they can figure out what to do with incumbent Luis Castillo? Trading for Cano would not solve the issue of what to do with Castillo. The Mets would have a very good second baseman in Cano but would need to find a center fielder. From the Yankee perspective, if they obtained Beltran, then they could sign Hudson to take Cano’s place. Well wouldn’t it make sense for the Mets to attempt to sign Hudson and keep Beltran? Why in the world would the Mets want to help the Yankees get better? It really does not make a lot of sense.

The number one reason why this trade would never happen, however, is simply because of image. Can you imagine what the Mets fan base would do if Beltran went to the Yankees and had an MVP season? The Mets brass would never hear the end of it. The same argument can also be made for the Yankees trading Robinson Cano. The last thing the Yankees would want is for Cano to be a perennial all star wearing a Mets uniform.

I’m not saying the Mets would not consider trading Carlos Beltran, especially over Wright and Reyes. Beltran is going to be 32 years old and as good as he is, the Mets could get a lot of talent for him. But the Mets would never trade Beltran to the Yankees. Not unless the talent coming back was absolutely overwhelming and included lots of young pitchers. That is something Brian Cashman is very unlikely to do. If Cashman was so unwilling to trade his young pitchers for Johan Santana, it’s extremely unlikely he would do so for Beltran.

A bit of common sense is all that is necessary to see the lunacy in the Mets and Yankees making such a deal. The last trade the Mets made with the Yankees was to send them Mike Stanton for Felix Heredia. Enough said.

The Quiet MVP

Lou Di Falco — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:28:40 -0400

Every time David Wright does something spectacular at Shea Stadium which is often, the chants of MVP come raining down from the stands. But there is another player on the Mets who could easily be cheered on similarly as well, Carlos Beltran.

Hey, I have an idea…

Lou Di Falco — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 10:00:15 -0400

A great beginning to the road trip, well almost… The dark cloud hanging over the Mets win in the wake of a fine 7 to 2 comeback win is the condition of Carlos Beltran’s hamstring. Fear not, for I have an idea. That’s what I’m here for.

Here’s what I would do if Beltran’s MRI comes back and suggests that Carlos needs a good couple of weeks if not a month to heal this thing. Listening to Keith Hernandez during the broadcast last night, this surely could be the case. Let’s face it, Endy Chevez had a nice game after he took over in center last evening but I don’t want to see him in there day after day for a month. If only there was someone in the organization who could step up while Carlos heals. If there was just some, say young player with great potential who happened to have center field experience even though he would eventually have to play left field here. If there was just one player who may have shown that during spring training was close to Major League ready and who is tearing up triple A right now. Hmm…hey, what about Lastings Milledge?

That’s right, Lastings Milledge. Through last night’s games for Norfolk, Milledge is hitting .400 for a team with the opposite record (4-11) of its parent club. In 50 at bats, Lastings has scored 11 runs, has 6 doubles and 4 RBI. In addition, he has stolen 4 bases and has scored 11 runs. His on base percentage is .530 with a slugging percentage of .630! Milledge is currently playing right field for the Tides. That is of course because Carlos Beltran owns the center field real estate in Shea Stadium then Jackie Robinson Stadium (wishful thinking) for the next six years. But the kid came up as a center fielder, it’s his natural position. I say give him a shot. He couldn’t be any worse than Endy Chevez. And good money says he’ll be better, a lot better.

The nay-sayers will insist that he needs more time at triple A, or that he’ll have to go down when Carlos Beltran is healthy and that may be hard for him to take. Poppycock I say! Just sit the kid down and tell him, “Look, it’s time to get your feet wet at the Major League level. “We need you to fill in and man center until Beltran is healthy. “When Carlos comes back you will be going back to Norfolk to get in your at bats”. And who knows, by then maybe there is another injury or Floyd or Nady are mired in horrendous slumps. Baseball is a funny game. Milledge will know at the outset that he does not have to be a savior and that his role is temporary. I don’t see what issue would be. This kid is ready, give him a shot. Let him keep center warm until Beltran is completely healthy.