Thursday, June 22, 2006
The Ghost of Carlos Beltran
As of this moment Carlos Beltran has 19 home runs, 55 RBI, 12 stolen bases and is batting .286.
Besides starting off with a bunch of numbers that you could have found in seconds yourself, there is a good, purposeful reason for these numbers. Tonight, in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Royals’ lineup combined for only 6 more home runs than Beltran has had all year.
Only Mark Grudzielanek is batting higher than Beltran’s mediocre .286 and only newly acquired Joey Gathright has an equal amount of stolen bases.
After Reggie Sanders’ 37 RBI, nobody comes within 20 RBI of Beltran’s 55.
True, why compare Beltran to anybody on Kansas City?
Well, the first reason is of course because he was a former player there—a player some say the Royals couldn’t afford.
The truth is, the Royals could afford Beltran, and you don’t need to have your hands in the Glass’s piggy-bank to prove so.
For the past three years, the Royals have paid Mike Sweeney $11 million. Last year Beltran made $11,571,429 according to baseballreference.com. This year he may be making more money at $13.5 million, but he’s giving the Mets all five tools he’s capable of bringing—hitting for power and average, stealing bases, covering acres in the Shea Stadium centerfield and driving in runs.
For the past month all Mike Sweeney has been able to do is comment on the Jason Grimsley episode.
Of course failing to sign Beltran was the Royals’ second mistake, their first came when they traded him in a three team deal that sent their All-Star centerfielder to the Houston Astros in exchange for Mark Teahen, then in the minor leagues, and John Buck, their current catcher.
After being traded Beltran had hit 23 hr, 53 RBI, and stole 28 bases without being caught for Houston.
Combined, Beltran ended 2004 fifth in the major league in runs (121), tenth in total bases (328), fourth in stolen bases with 42 (did I mention he didn’t get caught once?), fourth in extra base hits with 83, first in power/speed number with 39.9 (ahead of Bobby Abreu, 34.3, and Alex Rodriguez, 31.5).
Beltran almost succeeding in bringing Houston to the World Series with 8 home runs, 14 RBI, a .435 batting average and 6 stolen bases (giving him a total of 48 stolen bases without being caught).
There’s no real problem with either Teahen or Buck, with the exception that they aren’t producing nearly as much offence combined as Beltran would.
Recently in an interview with mlb.com Teahen was asked if he thought some people forget he's 24 and don't give him the credit he deserves becuase he's linked to such a big deal.
"I do think that happens sometimes," Teahen said. "But I don't worry about it all that much.
They are being paid peanuts compared to Beltran, and peanuts can’t win games or put fans in the stands, although fans can buy peanuts when they’re in the stands.
Last week at the end of an article in the Kansas City Star by Bob Dutton in the “etc.” section, Dutton snuck in quip about Beltran, saying: “Carlos Beltran had a hit and RBI in eight straight games last week. He was batting .471 with four homers and 16 RBIs in that span, all Mets victories. This isn’t fair, but we’ll tell you anyway. Over the last seven days, the Royals are hitting 57-241 with three homers, 21 RBIs and two victories.”
This just further proves just how much the Royals and their fans should miss Carlos Beltran.
As of this moment Carlos Beltran has 19 home runs, 55 RBI, 12 stolen bases and is batting .286.
Besides starting off with a bunch of numbers that you could have found in seconds yourself, there is a good, purposeful reason for these numbers. Tonight, in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Royals’ lineup combined for only 6 more home runs than Beltran has had all year.
Only Mark Grudzielanek is batting higher than Beltran’s mediocre .286 and only newly acquired Joey Gathright has an equal amount of stolen bases.
After Reggie Sanders’ 37 RBI, nobody comes within 20 RBI of Beltran’s 55.
True, why compare Beltran to anybody on Kansas City?
Well, the first reason is of course because he was a former player there—a player some say the Royals couldn’t afford.
The truth is, the Royals could afford Beltran, and you don’t need to have your hands in the Glass’s piggy-bank to prove so.
For the past three years, the Royals have paid Mike Sweeney $11 million. Last year Beltran made $11,571,429 according to baseballreference.com. This year he may be making more money at $13.5 million, but he’s giving the Mets all five tools he’s capable of bringing—hitting for power and average, stealing bases, covering acres in the Shea Stadium centerfield and driving in runs.
For the past month all Mike Sweeney has been able to do is comment on the Jason Grimsley episode.
Of course failing to sign Beltran was the Royals’ second mistake, their first came when they traded him in a three team deal that sent their All-Star centerfielder to the Houston Astros in exchange for Mark Teahen, then in the minor leagues, and John Buck, their current catcher.
After being traded Beltran had hit 23 hr, 53 RBI, and stole 28 bases without being caught for Houston.
Combined, Beltran ended 2004 fifth in the major league in runs (121), tenth in total bases (328), fourth in stolen bases with 42 (did I mention he didn’t get caught once?), fourth in extra base hits with 83, first in power/speed number with 39.9 (ahead of Bobby Abreu, 34.3, and Alex Rodriguez, 31.5).
Beltran almost succeeding in bringing Houston to the World Series with 8 home runs, 14 RBI, a .435 batting average and 6 stolen bases (giving him a total of 48 stolen bases without being caught).
There’s no real problem with either Teahen or Buck, with the exception that they aren’t producing nearly as much offence combined as Beltran would.
Recently in an interview with mlb.com Teahen was asked if he thought some people forget he's 24 and don't give him the credit he deserves becuase he's linked to such a big deal.
"I do think that happens sometimes," Teahen said. "But I don't worry about it all that much.
They are being paid peanuts compared to Beltran, and peanuts can’t win games or put fans in the stands, although fans can buy peanuts when they’re in the stands.
Last week at the end of an article in the Kansas City Star by Bob Dutton in the “etc.” section, Dutton snuck in quip about Beltran, saying: “Carlos Beltran had a hit and RBI in eight straight games last week. He was batting .471 with four homers and 16 RBIs in that span, all Mets victories. This isn’t fair, but we’ll tell you anyway. Over the last seven days, the Royals are hitting 57-241 with three homers, 21 RBIs and two victories.”
This just further proves just how much the Royals and their fans should miss Carlos Beltran.
# posted by Justin Townsend @ 12:17 PM 
