Daily Archives: November 11, 2009
Carlos Beltran was a guest on WFAN this morning, working to promote his charity gala in San Juan on Nov. 21, which will raise money for his Foundation.
To listen to Beltran’s entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
During the interview, Beltran said his knee is feeling good.
“Last year for us was bad,” he said, noting that it was the first time he has ever seen a team forced to deal with that many injuries in one season.
Nevertheless, Beltran said, even as is, he believes the team has enough talent to compete with the Phillies.
Beltran said he has never and will never lobby the front office to acquire specific players.
He said there is no truth to rumors of a cultural divide in the Mets clubhouse.
“We have a great group of guys, and when things go wrong people pick on things,” he explained. “I don’t think that is the problem. The problem last year was a lot of people got injured, and we didn’t accomplish our goal.”
Beltran said he is happy being on the Mets.
“That first year was difficult for me,” he said, having come from Kansas City to New York. “Now, I love it.”
“It makes me push myself to the limit, and you have to play at a certain level, and that’s good, because the people here are very demanding, they’re passionate and I love the pressure. I honestly do.”
He says, it’s not that he didn’t like New York at first, he just wasn’t prepared, noting, “There was a learning process for me.”
Beltran said he only watched three games of the World Series. He hopes the Mets use what the Yankees did as motivation.
He talked to Jose Reyes two days ago. Beltran says Reyes is doing great, not feeling pain, and he will be ready for next season.
The radio host, joking around, asked Beltran if he is bothered by the amount of time Mike Pelfrey spends licking himself on the mound.
Beltran laughed, and said:
“You know what, he’s crazy. But, he’s a great guy. Brother, he works hard. I have never met a pitcher who works as hard as he works… But, everybody’s different. I make fun of him when he does that, though.”
In the end, Beltran said, each of the last three seasons are equally disappointing, because, “When you are not able to accomplish something you know and the team knows you can do, it’s frustrating.”
To learn more about the Carlos Beltran Foundation, go here; and to follow him on Twitter, click here.
To listen to Beltran’s entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
Tagged News |
Adam Wainwright told KSLG Radio in St. Louis that Matt Holliday will eventually re-sign with the Cardinals, adding:
“I think he’ll be back… I know Matt, I know his family, and I know he wants to back. It’s going to take a perfect situation to get him to leave.”
…hat tip to Rotoworld for the link and quote…
In a post to his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman explains why he believes the battle for Holliday will come down to the Mets and Cardinals.
Tagged News |
…the buzz from Colorado suggests infielder Garrett Atkins will be on a new team next season, because the Rockies will either non-tender him, making him a free agent, or they’ll trade him…
Despite hitting just .226 last season for the Rockies, Atkins hit .268 against left-handed pitching; he hit .357 against lefties in 2008; .286 in 2007; and .341 against lefties in 2006.
…he had been a very disciplined hitter earlier in his career… more intersting to the Mets, i bet, is that he has only been on the disabled list once in his seven-year caeer, missing 18 games in 2005 with a hamstring injury…
Last season, Atkins played first base and third; he played one game at second base in 2008; and three games in left field in 2004.
He will be 30 years old next month; he is eligible for salary arbitration this off season, during which he’ll be rewarded at least $7 million; and he can be a free agent after the season.
Tagged News |
Jason Beck, in a post to his blog for MLB.com, says that free-agent J.J. Putz could be interested in joining the Tigers.
Last winter, the Tigers were involved in trade discussions with the Mariners for Putz before he was traded to the Mets.
Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun says the Mets will keep an eye on Carlos Delgado‘s progress in Winter Ball.
Finally, Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Phillies are seriously considering Chone Figgins to replace Pedro Feliz at third base.
Figgins hit .298 with five home runs and 54 RBI with a .395 on base percentage with 101 walks and 42 stolen bases, but struck out 114 times.
Ken Davidoff of Newsday says Oliver Perez is in Arizona at the Athletes Performance Institute, “and he’ll receive visitors this winter in Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen and trainer Ray Ramirez.”
According to MLB.com, “The Athletes Performance Institute is a high-tech fitness boot camp for professionals,” with 
a focus on nutrition, metabolic testing, cardiovascular work, drills and media training.
In recent years, the Institute has done work with Curt Schilling, Justin Morneau, Carl Crawford, Kevin Youklis and Dustin Pedroia, among others.
…i like when i hear stories about players like ollie making this type of additional effort in the off-season… of course, i’m always skeptical… but, last off season, i read and heard a lot about how hard Luis Castillo had been working, at the team’s facility in the Dominican Republic, and, sure enough, he played in 142 games and hit .302… i would love to see a similar turn-around for perez, who obviously has the talent to be a tremendous pitcher… he just has no idea how to harness it… whether that is because of physical or mental instability, i have no idea, but hopefully the Athletes Performance Institute can figure it out…
Perez was 3–4 with a 6.82 ERA in just 14 starts in 2009.
He will earn $12 million each of the next two seasons, after which he will again be eligible for free agency.
By the way, Davidoff also provides quotes from Cardinals GM John Mozeliak about Matt Holliday; Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos on Roy Halladay; and Padres GM Jed Hoyer on Adrian Gonzalez; which you can read here.
Tagged News |According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Omar Minaya met last night with Scott Boras, who represents free agent outfielders Matt Holliday and Rick Ankiel, pitcher Jarrod Washburn and infielder Alex Cora.
…from what i can gather, the two sides will likely meet again today at some point, before the GM Meetings officially end…
Though teams can have direct dialogue with any agent, a player is not allowed to sign with a new team until Friday, Nov. 20, prior to which he can only ink a deal with his current club.
Boras told reporters yesterday that Holliday is a ‘franchise player,’ just like Mark Teixiera, who signed an eight-year, $180 million with the Yankees last off season.
“You have a franchise player at a young age and you have a chance to differentiate yourself from all others,” he said of Holliday. “We’ll see how many teams are really going to be involved in it.”
Sherman says, “Boras disputed the theory that Holliday does not want to play at Citi Field,” where he believes his client can hit more line drives, more doubles, score 100 runs and drive in 100 runs.
“Matt’s value is based on RBIs and runs scored, and runs produced,” Boras explained to reporters in Chicago.
According to Boras, Holliday is capable of turning a non-playoff team in to a World Series winner.
…gee, i wonder who that line was directed at…
…wow, i bet the Cardinals and Rockies must be really disappointed holliday didn’t use his magic powers to get them a World Series ring… or, do those super powers only work in return for $180 million… dude, he’s a very good player… he might be a great player… he’s not a miracle worker… settle down…
To read more about Boras and the Mets, and the teams plan for the starting rotation and at catcher, read Sherman’s report, here.
Tagged News | Newer posts →
