Bury My Heart in Beltre's Home Run
Posted Aug. 26 at 11:12 am by Laura Onstot
www.mariners.com
With a nab, nab, slam! Adrian Beltre was the undisputed player of the game in last night's eleven-inning bout with the Twins. His performance, a couple of cat-like line drive snatches at third and a one pitch bomb to left at the bottom of the eleventh to end the game 4-2, was the kind that makes you wonder: "why the hell aren't these guys good?"
But in the middle of all that, Cairo missed a couple of those same drives at first and lost control of a toss that let Minnesota get an unearned trip to third. Then there was an embarrassing through-the-legs error at home by Burke. So there you have it, mystery solved.
Still, a walk-off homer in extra innings is an easy way to shine up what was almost a really disappointing game and the few fans still in the stands when Beltre knocked it out of the park were happy to give him a raucous ovation.
Topics: Mariners
Comments
"why the hell aren't these guys good?"
well, look at beltre: sure, he notches the occasional walk-off dong and plays sensational D, but he's hitting .250. that sucks for what we're paying him. now that sexson's not here to kick around, let's boot around this overpaid underperformer.
Posted Aug. 26 at 3:44 pm by SeelyI think this is exactly what's wrong isn't it? Most of the players are more than capable of an impressive performance—last night was Beltre's turn—but when they screw up, it looks like a Little League blooper reel. (Balls bouncing through legs, etc.)
Posted Aug. 26 at 4:08 pm by LauraI think the problem is that most of the players aren't capable. At most positions, the Mariners just suck. As for Beltre, his batting average isn't impressive, but Dave Cameron made a pretty convincing argument that his power numbers and value on defense compensate—i.e. that his +/- or run differential or whatever is pretty good and that he pencils out to a decent bargain under his current contract.
http://ussmariner.com/2007/09/10/the-value-of-adrian-beltre/
Granted, all this was with last year's numbers, which were better, but overall the Beltre deal is probably better than people make it out to be.
Posted Aug. 26 at 4:36 pm by DamonBeltre only looks good when viewed through the Mariner prism. What the M's paid for maybe wasn't the .330, 45HR, 130 RBI guy he was in his last year as a Dodger, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect .290, 30 HR & 110 RBI out of him, and he's fallen short of that standard.
Posted Aug. 26 at 5:54 pm by Seely