Read: Joe Posnanski on Carlos Beltran
In a trademark long, meandering post on his website today, the amazing Joe Posnanski writes about Carlos Beltran.
Posnanski discusses the pure talent and insecurity that marked Beltran’s early seasons and goes on to describe the way he’s come into his own on the Mets, writing:
This year, with the New York Mets, Carlos Beltran is on pace to hit .281/.371/.491 with 41 doubles, 26 homers, 117 runs scored, 114 RBIs, 22 steals (3 caught) and 90 walks. He should win a Gold Glove … he’s +17 according to the Dewan plus/minus. Since the beginning of August — so in the heart of the pennant race — he’s hitting .329/.391/.593 with 30 RBIs and 32 runs scored in 37 games. And he’s doing all this after having knee surgery in the off-season.
Only nobody is talking about Carlos Beltran as an MVP candidate. In fact, from what I can gather, many people are still disappointed in Carlos Beltran. He’s good, but he could be better. He’s well-rounded but overpaid. He’s put up some numbers but he left many on the table. The more things change, the more they stay the same. “I don’t think he’s right for New York,” one writer said to me. “I don’t think his personality fits in here.”
I suppose that will never really change for Carlos Beltran — he will keep on being incredible and he will keep on leaving people wanting.
I wrote a similarly appreciative piece on Beltran in July for SNY.tv, but Posnanski blows mine out of the water.
