He says it now, but will he mean it later?

[Edgy MD]

If I created a photo essay of Carlos Beltran's signature moments, the post would be about, well, 10 feet high.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: If I created a photo essay of Carlos Beltran's signature moments, the post would be about, well, 10 feet high.

It'd resemble Tal's Hill.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Memories are funny. What percentage of Mets fans think of the K against Wainwright first when Beltran's name is mentioned? I bet it's very high, and rightfully so. It was almost certainly the defining moment of that Mets era, and the impact that one at bat had was quite powerful. But that's not what I think of when I think of Carlos Beltran.

My father died suddenly on July 6, 2007. The wake was held the next night, and when it was over the family and several friends went back to the house my parents shared with my sister and her family. Now, Beltran was my dad's favorite Met at the time. He always liked the players with the combination of power and grace - Jaromir Jagr was his favorite Ranger at the time, and you often heard the same sort of comments about the way Jagr played the game that you heard about Beltran.

Anyway, we get back to the house, and the Mets game is still going. And going. Then, in the fourteenth inning Luke Scott hits a blast to center, and Beltran makes the greatest play of his Mets career, that stumbling catch going up Tal's Hill with two on and two out, and it saves the game. This was big - the Mets were in first place, three games up on the Braves at the time. Then, in the top of the seventeenth he drives in the go-ahead run, Wright plates an insurance run, and Wagner comes on for the save.

I still don't think Beltran's number should be retired, for almost exactly the reasons Vic states, and because I think there are other guys who deserve it more. But, I think about that night a lot. I cheered for him on Tuesday, and if they did retire his number I would definitely be there, on my feet and cheering again.

[youtube:10k31n6c]m5T_WGR0q8I[/youtube:10k31n6c]

[dgwphotography]

I think of the catch, too.

I just thought of it again this morning when I saw Carlos Gomez make almost the exact same catch on MLB Network...

[Zvon]

Swan Swan H wrote: Memories are funny. What percentage of Mets fans think of the K against Wainwright first when Beltran's name is mentioned? I bet it's very high, and rightfully so. It was almost certainly the defining moment of that Mets era, and the impact that one at bat had was quite powerful. But that's not what I think of when I think of Carlos Beltran. My father died suddenly on July 6, 2007. The wake was held the next night, and when it was over the family and several friends went back to the house my parents shared with my sister and her family. Now, Beltran was my dad's favorite Met at the time. He always liked the players with the combination of power and grace - Jaromir Jagr was his favorite Ranger at the time, and you often heard the same sort of comments about the way Jagr played the game that you heard about Beltran. Anyway, we get back to the house, and the Mets game is still going. And going. Then, in the fourteenth inning Luke Scott hits a blast to center, and Beltran makes the greatest play of his Mets career, that stumbling catch going up Tal's Hill with two on and two out, and it saves the game. This was big - the Mets were in first place, three games up on the Braves at the time. Then, in the top of the seventeenth he drives in the go-ahead run, Wright plates an insurance run, and Wagner comes on for the save. I still don't think Beltran's number should be retired, for almost exactly the reasons Vic states, and because I think there are other guys who deserve it more. But, I think about that night a lot. I cheered for him on Tuesday, and if they did retire his number I would definitely be there, on my feet and cheering again. [youtube]m5T_WGR0q8I[/youtube]

Great post. I remember the catch in Shea in front of the yellow NIKON section of the outfield wall. I can't find the catch online. Most graceful robbery I have ever seen. Still, the taking of the third strike always rears its ugly head in my ugly head.