Losing him to the Cubs, I agree, would be the worst...however, losing him at all is a problem given the fact that there isn't anyone else left to sign.
eh.... there really wasn't anybody else that this team was gaga for anyways. JD Drew? Steve Finley? Neither of those guys gets me as excited as Carlos. He fits the bill as a relatively young CF who has already shined on the big stage for this team, and has captured the hearts of millions... almost single-handedly turining this place into a full-fledged baseball town.
The problem is that without him, I feel it is going to be a long, long season unless they can make a trade soon. I don't want to mortgage the next 10 years for him either. I'll take a season or two of losing, if it means we are back to a contender in the near future. I'm still hoping Beltran finds his way back here somehow, someway.
Reported on ESPN radio earlier this morning: Boras is meeting with the Mets on Monday and then Omar Minaya is meeting with Beltran in Puerto Rico on Tuesday. Doesn't sound good.
I have no problem with him meeting with the Mets. I am not worried about them at all, if what Beltran said in the past about winning is true. He has to know that all that money they threw at Pedro doesn't mean the Mets are going to be contenders all of the sudden. If the Cubs or Yankees don't sign Beltran, he's our's.
I'm interested to know what you guys think we are going to do if we do not sign Beltran. What are we working on?
Well McLane and Purpura will tell the fans that they tried as best they could, but in the end the budget restraints are what kept us from acquiring such a special player like Beltran. Then we'll get a spin where were told that young players like Burke and Lane (who is 28 years of age I think) are going to contribute and that the next player the Astros are interested in is Roger Clemens. And in no way I'm I being a smart-ass about my comments above.
You're aware of the theory behind a Soriano for Backe (thereabouts) trade with the Rangers, right? Assuming it's real and not the Astros who are trying to avoid seeming desperate for Beltran (showing that they have a Plan B, if indeed they do). Other than that, I'm not aware of anything else going on as a Plan C. I believe Purpura even gave credit to a potential upgrade at 2b, should Beltran fall through our hands. Soriano - Backe is much less than Beltran + Backe I agree with you - let's hope Plan A works out ok.
I think CB has at least a little pride and desire to win. No one in their right mind would go to Detroit unless they simply want a huge pay day.
At worst, we will know by the end of this week. I still feel pretty good about Beltran becoming a permanent member of the Killer B's. I just hope a contigency plan is in place in case it doesn't go our way. I don't think Backe for Soriano is the right answer. Where Soriano play? He's publicly stated that he doesn't want to play outfield. He is a defensive nightmare at 2nd. I honstly think that our up the middle infield defense hurt us last year once Everett went down. So many balls that ended up singles that should have been outs. Chris Burke and Adam Everett will be the defensive equivalent of the Vizquel/Alomar combo for the Indians in the mid 90's, IMO.
http://www.nypost.com/sports/37614.htm Boras is probably saying uh oh this morning! New York Post columnist Joel Sherman: "The Yankees, among others, have tried to suggest that Carlos Beltran, 27, is not a more accomplished player than Vladimir Guerrero was last offseason and, therefore, should not greatly exceed the five-year, $70 million deal Guerrero signed with the Angels at age 27."
Sounds to me like King George a/k/a The Boss is gettin g word out to his media minions justifying eschewing CB.
Logic prevails. If this doesn't work out...Tavares in CF?? Why not?? I keep hearing how this kid is the second coming...so let's throw him out there.
I'd like to get Tavares some more major league experience than 10 ABs before proclaiming him our opening day CF. Good glove, hits for average, steals bases. He's got very little power though, and his K/BB ratio in the minors is very poor for a leadoff-type hitter. If he developed some selectivity at the plate, he might be very good. Still lightyears behind Beltran, but a heck of a steal in the Jeroime Robertson trade. Hun really had a knack of getting good return for trading our junk players.
i agree..definitely not my first choice!! i think you know what my first choice is! but in the event we don't get beltran, i'm for getting tavares playing time out there in CF as soon as possible.
I do agree that Taveres isn't ready, yet. He did have an OBP of over .400 last season. Also he doesn't have little power, he has no power. That is probably not going to change. Some more walks would have been nice (16 BB / 194 PA at AA in 2004). He does get on base, though. He will compare to a Juan Pierre or Luis Castillo as far as offense goes. He is pretty good defensively. You wouldn't think someone with his size would have such a strong arm. I saw him throw out a runner leaving from second at home on a long single to left center. It made it on 1 bounce and beat the runner by a mile.
