I've still got mixed feelings about Beltran. He certainly isn't the player or person he was the first time he was here. He isn't the great athlete with power and speed he is much much more mature and a better person. I'm glad Biggio had a good influence on his life but I can't help feeling that if he felt that grateful to Biggio, Bagwell and those other Astros of 13 years ago we might not have waited so long to get our first World Series. Instead Beltran went for the money and bright lights of NY instead of staying here and building on what he started with his mentor. All that said I'm glad he was here this past year and the difference he made on what is still a young team. One great things about sports is how important it is to hand down knowledge from one generation to the next and it's been great to see Beltran embrace that.
This is a good post and all is forgiven, at least for me, since he was so instrumental in helping us win this championship. Hindsight is 20/20 and I'm sure he wonders the same thing about whether or not he should've stayed in Houston. But what 20-something year old man wouldn't be easily persuaded by millions of dollars and bright lights in one of the biggest cities in the world? We all make dumb, rash decisions in our 20s. As you said, he sounds a lot wiser now.
It wasn't about the difference in money at all. The Astros wouldn't give him a no trade clause and he felt disrespected by that.
I doubt it. As great a career as he's had, his numbers aren't excessively impressive. Never really in contention for an MVP (finishing 4th in 2005 & 9th in 2002). Didn't hit any major milestone. Only one 8 WAR season. I see him as a HOFer, but think it will take a few ballots to get him there. Of course he won't face the same overcrowded ballots recent years have dealt with.
Hey, I don't really wanna ruin the moment for a good guy, but the 'grizzled vet' slot has opened up once more. Jayson Werth is available. Thoughts?
Which team will Beltran represent in the HOF -- Royals or Astros? Those two are the only candidates IMO.
Over 1500 rbi Over 1000 xbh Over 300 steals That alone is excessively impressive. Especially impressive when you consider all the time missed with injury. No MVP season but several, especially 2006, were mvp worthy. 3 gold gloves in center field His playoff numbers are incredible. 16 home runs! He was the best CF in baseball for about 10 years. Played most of his career in pitchers parks. Career numbers are easily good enough to get in first ballot.
It's amazing how much of an impact he has had on this city, both negative and positive, and he wasn't even here two full seasons. Certainly this year has endeared him to Astros fans for life now, and it had almost nothing to do with his bat.
It's not his choice; the HoF makes the determination, and there's 0.0 chance it'll be the Astros. In fact, the Cardinals would probably rank ahead of the Astros, given that was his only "meaningful" World Series appearance. He spent seven years with both the Royals & Mets and his best years were clearly in New York. They're the odds-on favorite.
Eh... Jim Edmonds was a better CF and he fell off the ballot after one year. Andruw Jones joins the ballot this year; his stay will likely be short and while I don't know if he was better, he wasn't too far behind. Beltran, I think, will have a bit of a perception issue - I think he'll be viewed as a gun-for-hire who bounced around a lot and was never the best player in baseball at any point in his career, other than his 2004 postseason. No significant statistical milestones; no signature moments...
