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| Glavine's lessons for Beltran; by David Lennon, Newsday | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 24 2005, 02:51 AM (25 Views) | |
| Gategem | Sep 24 2005, 02:51 AM Post #1 |
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Member In Exile
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September 23, 2005 When Carlos Beltran was asked this week about his decision to come to New York, he recalled a conversation with another player who was once booed in this city, someone whom the fans refused to embrace, and even despised early on. That player was Astros teammate Roger Clemens, and the future Hall of Famer spoke of the Big Apple like he was talking about his extended family. The love, however, had to be earned. There were no free rides. Not for Cy Young winners, MVPs or newly minted multi-millionaires. "Roger told me, 'You know what, Carlos? Just play hard, work hard and take care of yourself,'" Beltran said. '"That's the best thing you can do. People will love you when you play hard and you do things right.' That was his advice." Beltran repeated those words, but they seemed to have lost their meaning to him the past six months. He did just what Clemens said, and yet the booing continues, with every groundout, with every shallow pop-up. Beltran was not naive enough to think that his $119-million contract would buy him happiness. But with six more years left on that deal, and a no-trade clause to keep him anchored in Flushing, he's also convinced that this situation, his personal purgatory, is only temporary. With speculation already stirring in some circles of a possible Beltran-for-Manny Ramirez swap this winter - one Mets official snapped, "No way," - Beltran still has no intention of pushing for his exit. Asked directly if he ever regrets signing with the Mets, Beltran shook his head, and then explained why. "Life is all about challenge," Beltran said. "That's what makes you a better person, a better human being. Coming to New York, I know that's going to make me a better player. Everything will be better." Beltran only needs to look across the clubhouse for the perfect example. While Beltran was still building his All-Star status in Kansas City, there was a Mets player who was booed regularly at Shea Stadium, disfigured by a face-shattering injury and, in his darkest moments, haunted by the fateful decision to sign here. Tom Glavine not only had to deal with the disappointment of failed expectations, but the repeated humiliation handed out by his former team, the Braves. Glavine lost 28 games in his first two seasons with the Mets, as well as his two front teeth in a taxi-cab accident, yet reinvented himself this year to once again become an effective, if not elite, pitcher in the National League. "Am I a stronger person? Absolutely," Glavine said. "I think I've learned much better to go out there and focus on the events of the game and less on what people around me think. There's no question I'm a better player for a lot of reasons right now than when I first got here. Adversity teaches you a lot about yourself, and being able to deal with that, helps you become a better, more complete player." Glavine's turnaround has been remarkable, and there's no reason to doubt that he can continue this success next season, at the age of 40. While there is a very technical aspect to Glavine's resurgence, he's mentally tougher, too. And for every Glavine, there are 10 more players who wilted under the pressure and ultimately surrendered. "I think for me, it was just a determination of knowing that I could do better," Glavine said. "You want to prove to yourself you can do it, and you want to prove to everybody here. Any of us who put on a uniform, we have pride in what we do, and we're going to be determined to try to turn things around. "It's all a comfort level. It gets easier. Everything you do gets easier. Obviously I don't know Carlos that well after a year. But I know he has a lot of pride in what he does, and I would not be the least bit surprised if beyond this year he plays the way everyone wants him to play and expects him to play." Beltran is a man of conviction, whether it's his religious faith or baseball, and there is no doubt in his voice when he insists that the lessons of this season, though personally frustrating, will not be lost. "This year has been a learning experience for me," Beltran said. "If I don't have a good day, and I'm being booed by the fans, you don't want to go through that, but that's part of the learning process. You better learn from it." The week ahead Mets would love to have Phils' problem The Mets, who will be in the market for a first baseman this winter, are no doubt jealous of Ryan Howard's immediate impact in Philadelphia. |
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| My name is ET | Sep 24 2005, 04:45 PM Post #2 |
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Beltran will be fine. I mean, Pedro came in here and was awesome, but remember he knows what the limelight is like in Boston, and also was an AL pitcher pitching in the NL. I have no worries for Carlos, hes a likeable guy, and will work hard and get better. That 3 run homer last night? A sign of things to come |
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| TheOne | Sep 26 2005, 08:07 PM Post #3 |
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I'm still better than you!
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I like what Glavine had to say, he's been through alot since signing with the mets, it's been a rough ride for him but he hasn't broken down under the pressure like a soft L, he's gotten past it and that's what Beltran needs to do starting next season!!! |
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