Whether he knows it or not, Houston's key acquisition can hit for power and average and is sure to be the offseason target of many.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published October 16, 2004
HOUSTON - He said it with such sincerity, you really wanted to believe Carlos Beltran when he insisted he does not try to hit home runs.
But when the Astros centerfielder explained with a straight face he does not consider himself a power hitter, well, a line had to be drawn.
Beltran has six playoff home runs, including first-inning jobs in the first two games of the National League Championship Series. He has two more than anyone else in the postseason. He hit 38 in the regular season.
Not a power hitter? Come on.
"No, not really," Beltran said Friday. "I just want to hit line drives and make good contact. When you have a good plan and hit the ball hard, good things happen and you take it."
All the way to the bank.
Beltran, 27, acquired from the Royals in June, got the bulk of the credit for Houston's amazing run to the playoffs. He hit 23 home runs with 53 RBIs in 70 games for the Astros and gave the team a much-needed left-handed jolt.
And after his postseason show - .448 with 12 RBIs and a 1.138 slugging percentage - the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Beltran is expected to be the game's most sought after free agent, commanding, it is speculated, as much as $75-million in a five-year deal.
"The word is out," Astros manager Phil Garner said. "I think the world now knows he's one of the greatest players in the game. There isn't anything he can't do. He can beat you with his legs on the bases, in the outfield with his defense and he can certainly beat you with base hits and home runs. He's the total package."
"I wish," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said, "they didn't have him."
Beltran's four home runs in the division series against the Braves included two in the deciding Game 5. He already holds Houston's career record for postseason homers.
He stole 42 bases during the season, including third base 16 times without being thrown out. He has had at least 10 outfield assists in four consecutive seasons, and this season, with 104 RBIs, became the first player to have 50 in both leagues in the same year.
The ultimate compliment: Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan, who will start Game 3 today at Minute Maid Park, said figuring the best way to pitch to Beltran is a topic of clubhouse conversation.
"Carlos is a great hitter," Suppan said. "I played with him for four years in Kansas City. He is much better now than he was then. And he was good then."
"I'm feeling really good at the plate," Beltran said. "There's no better feeling than when you go out there and perform. And being able to play well in the playoffs and have success, it's been great."
Where Beltran's success will take him is the stuff for which sports talk radio lives. And the native of Manati, Puerto Rico, helped it along with his proclaimed admiration for Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
"When I see an owner that cares about winning, I like that," Beltran said. "He's a guy that cares about his team and cares about his players."
But Beltran also appreciates that Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker kept the team together, despite rumors to the contrary, after it fell to 60-61 on Aug. 20, 11 days before the trade deadline.
Beltran said the playoffs made his heart grow more fond of Houston.
"As a player you want to be in this situation every year," he said. "I'm going to look for the best team. I just want to win. I just want to be in the same situation I am now.
"Money means a lot because I'm in this situation and I want to be set for my career. But it doesn't mean much to make a lot of money and be in a place where I'm not happy. Right now I have an opportunity to choose where I want to be and I have to be careful."
The Cardinals will be careful too. Beltran said he got fewer pitches to hit after his home run in Game 2. And with St. Louis leading two games to none in the best-of-seven series, the Cardinals do not want Beltran to beat them.
"There's nothing I can do about that," Beltran said of being pitched around. "But I always have to be aggressive. If they don't pitch to me, I have to get to first base however I can and take advantage of my speed and steal bases."
Geez, maybe he's not trying to just hit home runs after all.
