September 9, 2009, Carlos Beltran's return story for Metro NY Newspaper
Beltan back, Mets still lose
In a thoroughly forgettable season, it was going to be "The Moment."
One of the coterie of injured Mets had returned to a loud ovation after missing 10 weeks. Trailing by two runs in the seventh with the bases loaded and two out, this vital cog had turned on a Matt Lindstrom fastball and drove a bullet deep into the Queens night.
The sparse crowd was in full throat, prepared to drown out the planes flying overhead, rumbling 7 trains and the horde yards away at the U.S Open.
But in an instant, The Moment turned into just another disappointment as Cody Ross positioned himself in front of the right field wall to catch Carlos Beltran’s long fly ball out.
“He gave it a pretty good ride, a pretty good cut. He just got underneath it a little bit. (If) he pulled it a little more and got into that corner, we might have had a different ending to the game,” Jerry Manuel said.
On a day that saw the organization honor late longtime employee Jim Plummer with a room in the bowels of Citi Field, the Mets received good news with the returns of Beltran and John Maine. Beltran was in the starting lineup and hitting cleanup, while John Maine threw a bullpen session before last night’s 4-2 loss to the Marlins.
Beltran finished 1-for-4 and made a sliding catch in the outfield. Tim Redding (2-5) gave allowed four runs on two two-run homers (to Hanley Ramirez and Cameron Maybin) to take the loss. Brian Sanches (4-1) threw two shutout innings to earn the win.
Maine will start the Sunday night nationally broadcast series finale against the Phillies. Maine has compiled a 5-4 record with a 4.52 ERA in 11 starts.The duo, both expected to be key components to a successful season, instead missed nearly 2 ½ months; Beltran with a knee bruise and Maine with pain in his throwing shoulder.
“I’m excited about it, I really am. As difficult as this has been for us, it’s an ongoing process to get to a championship. How long is it going to take? Obviously, it’s going to take a lot longer than we anticipated, but it’s an ongoing process of getting ready for a championship season,” Manuel said about the prospects of being able to write his centerfielder’s name on the lineup card.
The initial arrangement for Beltran will be to play consecutive days, then have a scheduled day off.From there, dependent on how he feels, the centerfielder could play three in a row before having a day off.
“If I feel something, then I have to stop,” Beltran said, in response to a question about whether he would play his trademark game. “The bruise is still there, but I don’t feel anything. I have to be careful and be honest with the organization and the trainers. If I feel something, I have to let them know.”
The Gold Glover has only played in 63 games this season. Still, he leads the Mets in batting average (.336), is tied for third in home runs (eight), is fourth in RBI (40), sixth in runs scored (40) and tied for fourth in stolen bases (11). Beltran said that his doctors have told him that with rest the injury should “go away,” but noted that during the offseason that he will have to do additional exercises to strengthen his legs.
It had been rumored that Beltran might need microfracture surgery, and with 24 games remaining in the Mets’ Season From Hell, it is fair to wonder if shutting him down for the rest of the year would be a long term benefit for both the player and the organization. Beltran was clearly annoyed when both topics were suggested.
“I’m not thinking about microfracture. I’m thinking about tonight,” Beltran said. “I (did not) feel obligated (to return for the remainder of the season). It’s my job. I’m doing what I have to do. I went to rehab, rehabbed myself, and made improvements. It’s why I’m here. It’s my job.”
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 6:08 PM
