Expectations of Eleven: Carlos Beltran

[ashie62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: soupcan wrote: I hear you but I'm having difficulty finding a scenario where Jose Reyes is a Met next season. That is what is really tightening my colon. I'm with you on that. I'd hate to see him leave, and that is looking like the more likely outcome.

There may be more than a few Mets leaving. Please stay David, please!

[Ceetar]

Here is a statement from Carlos Beltran:

I felt a little discomfort in my left knee last week. I spoke to the doctors today. They advised me to just give it a rest for a couple of days. I can hit and do everything, but back off the running part of it. I feel fine. I think I just overcompensated from all the work I did on the other knee and I just need to give it a little break.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Who told him to run with only one knee? Mackey Shillstone?

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Who told him to run with only one knee? Mackey Shillstone?

Jerry Manuel?

_Charlie_ Manuel?

Timo Perez?

[G-Fafif]

Here is another statement from Carlos Beltran:

Help! I am being held prisoner in a fortune cookie factory!

[Ceetar]

G-Fafif wrote: Here is another statement from Carlos Beltran: Help! I am being held prisoner in a fortune cookie factory!

I think I'd eat more fortune cookies if instead of lame fortunes we got baseball stats.

the new baseball card?

[G-Fafif]

Dr. Burkhardt sounds pessimistic.

[metirish]

G-Fafif wrote: Dr. Burkhardt sounds pessimistic.

Is he in consultation with Dr. Flood?

[G-Fafif]

metirish wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Dr. Burkhardt sounds pessimistic. Is he in consultation with Dr. Flood?

It's on one those multi-doctor practices.

[Guest El Segundo Escupidor]

Meanwhile, as we speak, Sherman's busily preparing a nice piece entitled "How Omar's gamble failed".

The article begins with a fleeting reference to the Madoff scandal: "Back before revelations of Madoff's machinations were known....." The first paragraph then recounts the optimism generated by the 2005 offseason, the acquisition of Pedro and how it "made the Mets relevant again."

The article goes on to chronicle how the Yankees were in "dire need" of a center-fielder at the time, and that Beltran was prepared to "don the Pinstripes for less money", but "cooler heads prevailed in the Bronx". There may also be some anecdote about Beltran and Jeter thrown in at this point.

Then there is some discussion about Beltran's collision with Cameron that resulted from "bad karma" after the Mets "bullied" Cameron into playing RF. An attempt to draw some irony with Beltran's move to RF this Spring Training is inserted here.

Finally, the article wraps-up by saying that Beltran will always be remembered for striking out looking to Adam Wainwright, while concluding "...and thanks to the Wilpons association with Mr Madoff, the Mets won't be able to assume another contract of that magnitude again in the foreseeable future."

Edited March 9, 2011 by Guest

[Edgy MD]

You could program a Joel Sherman Column Generator and put him out of business with that shit.

[metirish]

The Second Spitter wrote: Meanwhile, as we speak, Sherman's busily preparing a nice piece entitled "How Omar's gamble failed". The article begins with a fleeting reference to the Madoff scandal: "Back before revelations of Madoff's machinations were known....." The first paragraph then recounts the optimism generated by the 2005 offseason, the acquisition of Pedro and how it "made the Mets relevant again." The article goes on to chronicle how the Yankees were in "dire need" of a center-fielder at the time, and that Beltran was prepared to "don the Pinstripes for less money", but "cooler heads prevailed in the Bronx". There may also be some anecdote about Beltran and Jeter thrown in at this point. Then there is some discussion about Beltran's collision with Cameron that resulted from "bad karma" after the Mets "bullied" Cameron into playing RF. An attempt to draw some irony with Beltran's move to RF this Spring Training is inserted here. Finally, the article wraps-up by saying that Beltran will always be remembered for striking out looking to Adam Wainwright, while concluding "...and thanks to the Wilpons association with Mr Madoff, the Mets won't be able to assume another contract of that magnitude again in the foreseeable future."

Can you provide this service on a daily basis?

[Ceetar]

He went with "Phillies Championship Pedigre" this time actually.

Sherman wrote: Normally laid back, Beltran responded with a terse, �I don�t know, brother,� when asked if he was concerned this is his life in 2011, starts and stops due to his knees. A follow-up on the topic elicited another curt response: �Nothing I can do about it.� That describes a lot of Mets issues, such as the health of Beltran and Santana. There is not much to do but wait and hope time and rehab work, and that this is not a completely lost season for both. The Mets can do something about the Perez pantomime theater. They have real issues to address, real decisions to make, and Cleon Jones has a better chance of helping the 2011 Mets than Perez. The money already is wasted, the Mets should stop wasting their time, attention and energies to put on a show. Look, we all knew heading into spring the Mets were fragile. Opposed to say the Phillies, who are dealing with injuries to Chase Utley and Domonic Brown, the Mets do not have four aces and a championship pedigree to fall back upon. Their lone ace is hurt. Their confidence is shabby. They need fewer bad days. Read more (you're better off not): http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/hope_springs_infernal_around_the_VXnU5KdIENi2HvGTiwdtYK#ixzz1G754j3mZ

[Edgy MD]

Serious unlinkworthy douchemongery from John Harper as well.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Yay! Baseball activities!

[ashie62]

I must be behind. I thought he would be in the lineup Monday.

Beltran is looking like he may spend April in PSL.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

No lefty swinging yesterday, as it turns out.

Also...

Carlos Beltran had never heard of the Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day." But when it was briefly explained to him that the main character wakes up daily and relives the same day, Beltran could identify.

Never watched? That still leaves a gaping hole in your cultural knowledge, as far as I'm concerned.

But "never heard of"? Buddy, if ANYONE on this team needs a little Bill Murray...

[ashie62]

Per a tweet from Anthony DiComo..

Beltran got a cortisone shot in his left knee today.

[soupcan]

Ashie62 wrote: Beltran got a cortisone shot in his left knee today.

Oh, joy.

[Frayed Knot]

The Mets should just announce it on days when Beltran doesn't get a shot for his knee.

[Frayed Knot]

The word is that they're still aiming for the OD roster.

The plan at this point is to get him more ABs plus some OF time in the next few days but, at least for now, to do it in minor league games so if/when he needs to go on the DL it can be back-dated as far as they want and keep alive the option of activating him prior to 15 days into the season.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: The word is that they're still aiming for the OD roster. The plan at this point is to get him more ABs plus some OF time in the next few days but, at least for now, to do it in minor league games so if/when he needs to go on the DL it can be back-dated as far as they want and keep alive the option of activating him prior to 15 days into the season.

He supposedly did good yesterday, and it's already 10 day and I haven't heard anything zany about him not playing or his knee falling off. He's supposed to play in a minor league game today, but I thought that was this morning.

It sounds like they have a plan (imagine that?) and if he does all the steps he'll start OD. If not, DL. Personally, I don't see a scenario that he won't be ready Opening day but WILL be ready 4 days later that it's a big deal to retroactively DL him (i think it's 10 days of Spring that count or whatever right? like Reyes last year.)

[Edgy MD]

It's important to remember that jump starting Reyes without proper spring training prep work was an unmitigated disaster last year and remained so for the first five-six weeks of the season.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Nothing against him, but jeez I'll be happy when we no longer have to worry about this guy.

[metirish]

Beltran will play tomorrow and break camp with team says Collins via Rubin.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: It's important to remember that jump starting Reyes without proper spring training prep work was an unmitigated disaster last year and remained so for the first five-six weeks of the season.

There's a slight difference in that Reyes was basically laying on the couch immobile. And still managed to end up with stats near the top of the SS list.

I think a closer comparison is Beltran himself, although they gave him the full 30 days (and four days off at the end?) of rehab work, they babied him and it wasn't like he was playing in 30 spring training games before he was activated last year.

At least in this case he's been swinging and seeing live pitching, even if it was of a lesser quality than maybe he would've in the grapfruit league, but on the competitive balance, _no one_'s been playing major league games either. I think the slowest thing to come along is his defense, and getting up to speed with that shouldn't be as steep a learning curve.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

metirish wrote: Beltran will play tomorrow and break camp with team says Collins via Rubin.

I'll believe it when I see it.

I think the slowest thing to come along is his defense, and getting up to speed with that shouldn't be as steep a learning curve.

Right because right field at CitiField is a great place for a crippled guy to patrol.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: metirish wrote: Beltran will play tomorrow and break camp with team says Collins via Rubin. I'll believe it when I see it. I think the slowest thing to come along is his defense, and getting up to speed with that shouldn't be as steep a learning curve. Right because right field at CitiField is a great place for a crippled guy to patrol.

he's not crippled. It's about the percentage of balls hit to RF, regardless of park, that he has to run after. Yes, he'll need some time knowing how the bounces off the Mo's zone go, but that's not something he's gonna learn at Digital Domain or what not (although in the minor league games at field 7, he's actually better off right?)

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I'm pretty sure that's why they've had him playing in the minor-league games for the last few days.

[Ceetar]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I'm pretty sure that's why they've had him playing in the minor-league games for the last few days.

Also allowed them to get him 7-8 AB.