To Boo, Or Not To Boo? The Beltran "Debate"

I haven't quite figured out yet if there is a serious debate among fans as to whether or not they will boo Carlos Beltran tonight, or if a lot of it is media driven.

Either way, it's dumb.

The former Mets outfielder returns to Citi Field as the Cardinals take on the Mets in a four game series starting tonight.

If I asked ten random fans why they would consider booing Beltran, I would venture a guess that probably eight out of those ten would base their reasoning on something involving a strikeout in 2006.

Yes, Beltran stood there and watched strike three which ended the Mets hopes of reaching the World Series. It's been six years. Let's move on.

This goes for the media as well. It doesn't need to be mentioned in every article you write about him. We all saw it. We all remember it. We don't need to be reminded.

Stop judging a player based on ONE moment in his career.

If you're one of the fans who notes his major contract and injuries, well that describes most  of the Mets players. Highly over-paid and often times injured. Why pick on one guy in particular for it?

Beltran talked about the moment with WFAN, saying:

“If they want to remember that moment, that’s fine with me,” Beltran said. “For me, that was my best year in baseball. I don’t look at that moment as defining my career or defining my season.”

Neither should fans. Beltran went on to say:

“There were times I felt like, ‘What do I have to do in order to be one of their favorites?’...Fans choose who they want to cheer for. I’m a quiet player. You’re never going to see me out there showing a lot of emotion. I am who I am. When you try to be someone else then you’re being fake to yourself, and I don’t like to do that. I don’t know how it’s going to be (tonight). They’ll decide if they want to cheer or boo.”

Leader is defined as the following: a person who rules, guides, or inspires others.

Beltran took a lot of grief from the fans and the media about not being a leader. No where in the definition does it say that a leader must be vocal or in-your-face.

When Beltran steps to the plate for the first time tonight, take a moment to remember the good times, and cheer for the guy.

He may have ended the Mets run at the World Series in 2006 with that one strike out, but if it weren't for him, the Mets may not have been there in the first place.

He was an important part of the Mets. Cheer him on before that first at bat, then move on. 

Spring Training, Day One: Niese Gets A Nose Job

Photo: Adam Rubin's Twitter Account (@AdamRubinESPN 

Day one of Spring Training is now out of the way, and what was the biggest story of the day?

Jon Niese got a nose job. Yup, the schnoz is no more...sort of, and it's all thanks to Carlos Beltran.

Before being traded to the San Francisco Giants last summer, Beltran offered a lovely parting gift to Niese.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Niese said:

"He wanted me to have a new nose," Niese said about Beltran. "So he offered to pay for it. I was just like, 'All right.' Then it turned into seeing doctors and to getting it fixed."

The rhinoplasty did have an unintended side effect. Niese can now breathe easier.

Will his new nose help him on the mound? Who knows. If not, you know who to blame.

Side note: Did Niese offer to pay for the removal of that hideous mole on the side of Beltran's head?

Beltran To Mets Fans: Get Over It Already

Carlos Beltran spoke with reporters at Tuesday's B.A.T. dinner in New York, and some Mets fans might not like what he had to say.

Photo: Keith Allison

In regard to his infamous at-bat against the Cardinals in 2006:

"What happened in 2006, you have to turn the page. That’s over. We can’t bring 2006 back to 2012. It has been six years. If they want to continue to think about that moment, then that’s their problem. Like I said, I have turned the page. I have really moved on."

I couldn't agree with you more, Carlos.

Let's face it, New Yorkers know how to hold a grudge. But like he said, it's been six years. Move on, people.

Warning: If you didn't like what he said in the quote above, you're probably not going to care much for this next one.

When asked how he could go to the Cardinals, the same team that crushed the hopes and dreams of Mets fans everywhere in 2006, Beltran said:

"Actually, I’m not thinking about the fans, I’m thinking about myself."

So selfish.

Can you really blame the guy for wanting to play for St. Louis? This team always seems to be a constant threat in recent years. They're the reigning World Series champs. Anyone who says they would not take the opportunity to play for a team like that is lying.

I wish Beltran success in St. Louis, although I hope he fails miserably whenever the Cards play the Mets.

I've moved on from 2006. You should too.

The Ultimate Mets Lineup

The 2011 Mets are hovering around .500 right now, and they will probably finish the year around .500 too.  Fitting, given that this team has been oddly snakebitten.  Jose Reyes was in the middle of his best offensive season and is now on the disabled list for the second time with a recurring leg problem.  Daniel Murphy joins him on the DL after establishing himself as a starter with a breakout year.  Last year's breakout Ike Davis hasn't seen the field in months, and won't until next year.  Ace Johan Santana will be lucky to see game action in 2011, and may never be the same after shoulder surgery.  David Wright has been hitting well since missing time, leading one to wonder how he would have performed over a full season.  Ditto for the departed Carlos Beltran.

So I decided to perform a little experiment.  What if everyone on the 2011 Mets had performed at the peak of his career? What if every starter had his best historical season - forget that, how about taking every Mets star from the last decade, sticking them on the field and seeing how they would perform at their absolute apex.

The ultimate Mets fantasy team of the 2000s, instead of the also-ran 2011 edition.

Just How Much Could a Carlos Beltran Trade Return?

These next ten days are going to be very stressful for Sandy Alderson. He can blame Carlos Beltran for most, if not all, of that anxiety.

Not only is Beltran the biggest, most talented bat on the trade market, but he has become the Mets' most important player. Without Jose Reyes, Beltran has kept the Mets relevant (they are only 7.5 games back of the Wild Card), and over the last two days he has gotten on base seven out of ten times, with an enormous, game-tying home run to boot in Wednesday's victory.

One thing that will help Mr. Alderson is that with every day Carlos remains a Met, his value goes up because of his production. As the pennant race gets closer every day, each contending team is seeing Beltran as the final piece to the puzzle, and with that, is offering a nice prospect from their organization. With Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston and San Francisco rumored to be making the strongest pursuit, here are some of the high-end prospects the Mets may receive.