Recap: Beltran on WFAN, talking Reyes, NY & Culture
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.
