QUEENS, NY – Carlos Beltran stood on the podium last Sunday and let it be known why he is the newest member of Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Beltran told everyone that while he was a San Francisco Giant, he once saw the great Willie Mays and Willie McCovey in the clubhouse.
He stared at them in amazement and approached them to pick their brains about their craft. Beltran also went back to his Kansas City Royals roots and shared what the great George Brett said to him. Beltran was notorious for his work ethic and Brett once told him, “Greatness is built when nobody’s watching!”
When he signed with the N.Y. Yankees, me and Yankees community advisor Ray Negron had dinner with Carlos and his beautiful wife Jessica at Philippe in Midtown Manhattan. She told me that her husband is so obsessed with staying on top of his game that the morning after the 2013 World Series ended, where the St. Louis Cardinals lost to the Boston Red Sox in six games, she heard the sounds of baseballs being hit inside the batting cage of their home in Puerto Rico.
The season just concluded and the switch-hitting Carlos was doing his routine of taking 200 swings from each side of the plate preparing for next season. He acknowledged his wife during his speech by saying that Jessica’s finger prints were all over his 2026 plaque because of her support.
Currently Beltran works as a Special Assistant to the N.Y. Mets President of Baseball Operations, David Stearns. He recently declined to take over as the team manager after the firing of Carlos Mendoza.
Owner Steve Cohen needs to have a sit-down with the Mets Hall of Famer, and offer him the skipper’s job in 2027 on one condition, Full Autonomy! Let him hire his own coaches with guys who played the game, and manage with his heart. Beltran’s playing career was molded by the greats of the game. Cohen needs to realize that the ANALytical way is the wack way and having coaches with no MLB playing experience doesn’t ignite a fire. Mr. Cohen, your team is in last place. You can’t go any deeper than that, and at least with Carlos Ivan Beltran, there’ll be hope.
