Sep 08
David Lennon of Newsday reports that 3 Mets players failed to accompany the team to Walter Reed Hospital yesterday: Carlos Beltran, Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez. Given each of these players already tenuous situation with the organization this is at the very least an interesting development. Was it a political statement? Was it simply indifference? Stay tuned.
UPDATE: 4:25pm Steve Popper reports the reasons why these 3 people missed the event, sort of.
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90 comments
TRS86
9/8/2010-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
Or flat out disrespect and laziness. To me the Mets would be better off with out any of the 3 for next year. Yeah that’s a lot of money to eat but it could be very important to the success of next year and years to come to rid the clubhouse of those 3.
fongy2
9/8/2010-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
Agreed!!!…..ENOUGH already with the soap opera!…
stickguy
9/8/2010-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
no way they cut beltran. He would have to come to ST barely ambulatory and comepeltely worthless, and even then he would just end up spending the year on the DL (which I actually think is possible).
beltran is also the only one that could actually add value, if he can have a rebound year closer to his career standards.
The other 2 have to go, no negotiation, even if it is a straight release. And it is about more than money at this point. Consider it an investment in fan relations damage control. Do it just before the season tix renewals go out!
TRS86
9/8/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
Not saying cut him. Eating a little cash to trade him is a different story.
njstuckintx
9/8/2010-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
Maybe they were all in the same car and Ollie got lost or Castillo’s right leg wasn’t long enough to push down on the accelerator or beltran’s knee locked up and he couldn’t shift or something.
stickguy
9/8/2010-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
who knows why. More than likely, the real answer is much less interesting ro exotic than the consipracy theories!
Now, I could see Ollie and slappy doing it as a kind of statement, to make sure they are released at minimum in the off season (and please, grant the wish).
I don’t really see Beltran as that type of guy. He also is not getting cut, and wants to set himself up for another contract, and getting a negative rep doesn’t seem likely to help toward that.
maybe he was getting treatment on th knee? TOld to stay off his feet for a day? Who knows.
And ollie probably just got lost.
TRS86
9/8/2010-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Don’t you think it’s too convenient that it’s those 3?
stickguy
9/8/2010-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
ollie and slappy yeah, but I just don’t see beltran.
Now, if the team told them not to come, it is a whole different story.
TRS86
9/8/2010-10:56am at 10:56 am (UTC -4)
Beltran has been rumored to be pissed at the Mets for sometime now dating back to last year.
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
Yeah….And Lord knows he has every right to be pissed at
them given the 100 Million+ in checks he’s cash for his THREE All-Star seasons while not having to be the main
man in the line-up, voice in the clubhouse or face of the
organization!….Unreal!!!….Only The Mets…..
Prismo
9/8/2010-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
Copied from my twitter: If an American hockey player is playing in Russia, is he expected to visit Russian soldiers? (in my opinion, he is not)
I realize I’m taking the unpopular stance on this, but I see no reason for Ollie and Castillo to be shunned for not visiting the US soldiers. Beltran’s borderline being born in Puerto Rico…I’m not sure if they really view themselves as Americans. The smart move for the players would’ve been to go, but I’m not offended that they didn’t.
stickguy
9/8/2010-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
certainly a different way to look at it.
and can you imagine the uproar if the Mets were overseas someplace, and all the US born players skipped something like this?
Ceetar
9/8/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
there would be an uproar in America by certain people if they did so in another country. said people were in an uproar because Obama bowed to the (japanese?) leader.
You just can’t win with political situations, which this was.
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
Or Saudi leader!….BUT at least he was following traditional
Muslim customs….Err….Wait…..Nevermind.
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
Ever see the widely-published pics of W Bush holding hands with the Saudi King?
The Bush family has been tight with the Saudi royals for many decades.
Yet Obama is what upsets you when it comes to Saudis?
TRS86
9/8/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Lets not turn this into a democrat – republican debate. Fact is that there was a team function and they did not attend. We can debate if they should have or not or if they had an excuse.
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
I’m not upset my friend!….It is funny though that
the “Bush sucked” So it’s o.k. that Bam sucks argument
makes things better….Well, funny to me anyway.
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
Guys—
Bush AND Obama SUCK.
That is all I try to point out—BOTH parties sell all of us out, and the true numbskulls are the people who think either major party did not do all they could to help put the kids in harm’s way in Asia, and to help the big banks steal countless billions in the recent economic meltdown.
The Dems and the Repubs are equal partners in all that is wrong.
Bush AND Obama worship the Saudis. The Bushes just have made a hell of a lot more money off of it. So far.
Please don’t mistake my comments for being pro-Obama. I am pro-people voting for just about any 3rd party at this point. No chance for change any other way.
OK, enough politics, but for once I DID NOT START IT!!
TRS86
9/8/2010-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
It’s not about nationality of the person. They play in the US and are able to do that because of those soldiers. That being said, a team is a team. I would expect Wright and Pelfrey to visit in Mexico if the team was going.
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
No, playing baseball in the US has LESS than nothing to do with the US military presence in Asia.
Seriously man, if you believe that…..
TRS86
9/8/2010-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
Was that to me?
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
Well Prismo, if only all Americans were as intelligent and open-minded as you, there sure as hell would be a lot less brutalized brave kids in beds at Walter Reed.
Thanks for this refreshing and extremely intelligent and progressive comment.
Beltran/Slappy/Ollie definitely should have gone, as regardless of their politics or origins, kids lying in beds there have been through hell, and not one of the kids in Walter Reed’s beds is responsible for the US being in Iraq or Afghanistan. Every Met has been blessed with an amazing and amazingly free life.
The kids deserve respect, for sure, but America is supposed to be about freedom of thought and action for everyone.
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
Not all “kids”…..Although it sounds good to support anti-war
arguments etc….
Ceetar
9/8/2010-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
Who cares? No one’s obligated to ‘support the troops’, ‘bless America’, donate to charity, sign autographs or do anything besides the job they’re paid to do.
Have _you_ visited/supported/carepackaged the troops?
Ignoring the fact that we don’t know why they didn’t go, whether they had family in town, etc, it’s just not something I concern myself about (especially non-American citizens). This is purely a political situation that has no place with baseball.Think well of the players that did it if you like, but no one is a bad person because they didn’t choose to do so.
I don’t hate Pujols (more) for supporting Glenn Beck. I don’t dislike K-Rod (or others) if/when they’re fanatical christians. It didn’t bother me that Delgado didn’t stand, once, for god bless America. I don’t despise a player because he’ll only sign autographs for specific companies/charities he’s affiliated with.
Prismo
9/8/2010-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
100% agree Ceetar. I don’t even really have anything to add!
TRS86
9/8/2010-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
It bothers me because this was a team event and they chose to not be part of it.
Prismo
9/8/2010-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
I don’t know TRS…does it really bother you only because it was a team event?
What if there’s a team event of “bowling night” and a couple players decide not to show up. Would that piss you off?
TRS86
9/8/2010-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
To a lesser degree but yeah. I guess that’s the coach in me.
To me it’s a sign of disrespect to the team. Obviously based on Wright’s comments some teammates felt the same way.
Prismo
9/8/2010-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
If that’s truly your thinking, then I can understand your point of view.
Ceetar
9/8/2010-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
David Wright certainly has a beef, but I’m not sure we do. Take any group of 25 people (40 people?) and ask them to be anywhere together outside of work on fairly short notice and I think merely 3 people missing is nothing. Family/friends in town? previous engagement? migraine headache?
TRS86
9/8/2010-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
So if your declared captain of the Mets has a problem that’s ok but we as Mets fans should not?
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
+ Many.
But I do think less of Pujols for being at that asinine money-grubber’s rally.
Prismo
9/8/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
Haha..I think less of him as a person too. But not any less of him as a ballplayer. Would still obviously take him on my team with open arms.
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
Agreed with every word!
And the open-mindedness of you and Ceetar and others here is truly refreshing; just another thing which sets this place apart.
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
And THAT’s certainly open-minded!
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Glenn Beck may be, in all seriousness, the most ridiculous person who has become rich and famous in US history.
Ceetar
9/8/2010-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
Have you heard of Paris Hilton?
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
My votes for Omar!!!!
Prismo
9/8/2010-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
LOL. winner winner
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
LOL! Yes, but she would be a totally unknown Herpes patient without her last name and several-generations-old fortune.
Beck, thanks to the incredible intellectual generosity of many Americans, has made it on his own!
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
And THAT my friend IS the American dream!….
They all (including my Grandparents) rush in….
BUT no one rushes out!….
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
Agreed my friend!
My great-grandparents and grandparents sacrificed tremendously to come here, and while I always wish American could continue to improve, I sure as hell am glad that my family escaped Russia and Germany when they did.
I love the US and my freedom.
wannybackstra
9/8/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Non-story to me. A rare time I agree with Ceetar in that here’s no obligation to do this stuff.
Anyway, who knows why they didn’t go. Maybe they had therapy, etc.
However, Beltran is not borderline American. Puerto Ricans are members of the US military so I highly doubt Beltran’s absence had anything to do with not being American. He could have been there, if for no other reason, to support the Puerto Rican members of the US military.
Prismo
9/8/2010-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
Thanks for the clarification. I admit to not knowing much about this Puerto Rico/US stuff.
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, Puerto Rico in many ways is a state in all but name.
When my biz ships things to Puerto Rico, we use Priority Mail, etc, precisely as if the item was being sent to California or Rhode Island or a military base overseas (to keep the military tone alive here.)
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
I love P.R. BUT like all other U.S. territories, for the most
part they reap the benefits of America w/o having to feed
to same beast all of us do.
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-7:19pm at 7:19 pm (UTC -4)
Do yourself a favor and read up on what benefits P.R. is reaping Fongy. Then do yourself a favor and find out what beast Puerto Rico is not feeding. Then do yourself a favor and comment.
Clearly you have no idea what you are talking about.
kingman 26
9/8/2010-9:25pm at 9:25 pm (UTC -4)
Mr N—Never have I been more with you than I am on this issue.
metsfan4decades
9/8/2010-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
I’m in agreement here. I think this is much to do about nothing…
Pagan, who obviously was not born in this country, choose to go and picked the most seriously injured man there to talk to right off the bat – for 20 minutes.
I have no idea what the reason was that these 3 in particular didn’t go. Could have been any number of reasons, other than the conclusions being jumped to that it was some kind of ‘statement’.
GravediggerHebner
9/8/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
I have 3 distinct points of view on this:
1 – my own just as a human being on earth which is I don’t give a hoot. These players should be able to decide as individuals whether they want to participate or not. It’s a free country and the irony that these soldiers are at least theoretically fighting for that freedom is inescapable. The citizens and the soldiers should appreciate that irony equally;
2 – my point of view as a Mets fan is I am very displeased with 2 of the 3 players and would very much like to see them gone so any log I can throw on the fire of their departure, deserved or not, I willingly do;
3 – I am an author at a blog that craves hits and sought to get some in posting this. I would love it if I picked up a paper or turned on the news only to see stories of people picking up trash along the side of the road, or donating their time, money and energy to positive causes, with people of different religions and cultures working together for a better world, but the fact of the matter is that stuff doesn’t sell and anyway I am not one of those people who is picking up trash, donating my time an money, or working toward a better world so if I used those things as an excuse to ignore this story I would be a humongous hypocrite.
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
“These players should be able to decide as individuals whether they want to participate or not. It’s a free country and the irony that these soldiers are at least theoretically fighting for that freedom is inescapable. The citizens and the soldiers should appreciate that irony equally;”
BINGO!!
Why are the soldiers fighting for freedom? So certain people can be criticized for thinking independently?
GravediggerHebner
9/8/2010-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
“Why are the soldiers fighting for freedom? So certain people can be criticized for thinking independently?”
According to some very well known and widely publicized pundits, yes.
Ceetar
9/8/2010-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
to be fair, criticizing people for exercising freedom is also protected by that freedom.
As is criticizing people who are criticizing people for exercising freedom is also protected by that freedom.
kingman 26
9/8/2010-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
Hmmm, good points by both of you!
GravediggerHebner
9/8/2010-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
Very good point.
Hopefully to add a little humor to this serious topic I will add that sometimes I think the United States of America should change it’s name to the United States of a dog chasing it’s tail.
Now I’m off to see what Ted Berg’s different point of view
is on something.
njstuckintx
9/8/2010-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
Would K-rod not be considered the 4th Met to be punching their tickets out of town?
Thank you. Try the veal.
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
Ver good!…Truth be told , as someone who once had a Venezuelan
father-in-law, they can make it easy to want to throw the first punch.
Just sayin’……
Ceetar
9/8/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
Oh, K-Rod was definitely provoked. the FIL is hardly innocent in this and probably deserved what he got. doesn’t change Frankie’s anger and aggression issues though.
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
Didn’t mean to imply that it did my friend!…
Was actually tryin’ to add some humor through truth….
Swing and a miss…..Strike one on me!
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
Very good thread Heb…..BUT in the end, they should have gone.
What would be their loss??…..AND it might open their eyes…..
OR….Even confirm feelings/beliefs they may already have.
For them(The Players) a couple hours out of one day, spent with
their team in THAT setting should be something that is a positive.
Lastly, for whatever your feelings, beliefs and political stances are
a visit there is largely inspirational. Sure, they have the choice…..
BUT really…SHAME ON THEM!!!
TRS86
9/8/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. Of course they have a choice of not going but there with choices comes responsibility. Their are rewards and consequences for each action. I hope their reward was worth the potential consequences.
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
OK let me just add for those that may not be aware that Puerto Rico is a common-wealth of the United States. Being so all Puerto Ricans have that rare privilege of being granted US citizenship. Regardless of where your born at birth you are a US citizen.
As far as why said players didn’t go to Walter Reed I’d wait before I start suggesting they all did it because of their disgust with the team.
It may turn out all 3 had a unique and valid reason why not to go or maybe they didn’t go because they were mad at the Mets. The point being all we know is they didn’t go. Let’s find out why.
Maybe they don’t like hospitals, maybe they lost a loved one in the service and visiting the soldiers hit too close to home. Maybe they already went without the team. There can be any number of reasons.
fongy2
9/8/2010-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
Regardless…..It’s weak!
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
Fair enough your opinion has been noted.
stickguy
9/8/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
to circle back, it is a non story if 3 random mets were unable to make it (say, DIckey, Ike and Blanco). No one would care.
It is just because of the specific 3 that people want to find the hidden reason. Americans just love a conspricacy theory, right Knog?
To me, I don’t care if they went to smoke crack with Marion Barry instead. Just so long as slappy and Ollie are no where near this team when next ST rolls around.
Beltran I am ambivilant toward.
TRS86
9/8/2010-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
Actually I disagree. If it was Wright, Reyes and Tejada I would have an issue. Regardless of the players. I guess if it was Wright and Reyes it could be even more telling. Again it’s a team function and from what we know they chose not to attend. Perhaps they had valid reasons and all this is for nothing. If not then I feel the discussion has merit.
TRS86
9/8/2010-1:20pm at 1:20 pm (UTC -4)
Lennon points out a few things.
“Lets just say #Mets management was very, very angry about it RT ”
Also brings up my point on how it’s a team chemistry issue because teammates are upset about it.
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t forget the media is all about lies and agendas right TRS?
TRS86
9/8/2010-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
What does that have to do with what he pointed out? Also, I never said all, but how and when can you tell?
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
I enjoy how you pick and choose what in the media is agenda based and what isn’t that’s all.
TRS86
9/8/2010-1:49pm at 1:49 pm (UTC -4)
Why couldn’t I agree with his statement regardless if it is agenda based or not?
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
Think about what you just said and then think about times in the past when a reporter made a statement you didn’t agree with and your reasoning was because the reporter had an agenda.
TRS86
9/8/2010-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
Hmmm, that would be uh… Rubin right?
Again, what does any of that have to do with me agreeing with his statement? Regardless of his bias or his agenda I can agree or disagree with his statement. Just because I agree or disagree with the statement does not make it more true or untrue.
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
I see OK so you don’t see the flaw in using the argument that the media lies and agenda based only when it fits your needs?
No Prob
TRS86
9/8/2010-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
What does that have to do with my comment?
Again regardless if I believe the media lies sometimes, has agendas sometimes, etc, what does that have to do with me agreeing with a statement made by a member of the media? My agreeing does not make that statement true does it? Or do I have more power than I realized. I would think it’s up to you as to what parts you believe in the media and what you do not.
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-2:11pm at 2:11 pm (UTC -4)
You don’t see how in this case you choose not to go anti the reporters comments because you choose to find them interesting when at other times when you don’t believe a reporter you have used the reasoning of it being that the media lies and is agenda based?
Your media slant on them being about lies and agendas is used when you find it convenient to what you wish it to be.
TRS86
9/8/2010-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
Again NJ I can’t see how my agreeing with the comment or disagreeing with the comment makes it anymore or less true or any more or less agenda based.
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
Clearly you don’t.
TRS86
9/8/2010-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
Right, because they are completely unrelated. Unless I am the deciding factor in determining if an article is true or false or biased or unbiased. If so then we are all in trouble.
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
OK TRS n/p.
TRS86
9/8/2010-2:41pm at 2:41 pm (UTC -4)
Good, glad you understand. Now next…
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-2:42pm at 2:42 pm (UTC -4)
I just choose to not further discuss something you clearly refuse to see.
TRS86
9/8/2010-2:43pm at 2:43 pm (UTC -4)
Damn, I thought you finally understood where I was coming from. Oh well. At least you give.
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
How could I, when you don’t even know where your coming from?
TRS86
9/8/2010-2:55pm at 2:55 pm (UTC -4)
Sure I do NJ. Again, I just don’t see the correlation to what I chose to agree or disagree with and what is true or untrue. Seems pretty cut and dry to me. If you feel that I use that to my advantage so be it, still has nothing to do with the validity of the media’s statement.
Mr North Jersey
9/8/2010-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
Who’s on 1st? I don’t know…. 3rd base!
TRS86
9/8/2010-3:14pm at 3:14 pm (UTC -4)
Exactly.
TRS86
9/8/2010-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting comments going on through Lennon’s Twitter account.
” DPLennon
Exactly RT @SassyAmerGirl: Teams do things together for reason, team-building, etc. When 3 don’t show-up, its slap in face to teammates. “
TRS86
9/8/2010-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
I wonder if this comment has anything to do with Wright’s comments on the 3 amigo’s?
“I think different players have different ways of dealing with losing. There’s probably some guys, including myself, that probably take it too hard. And there’s probably other guys that don’t take it hard enough. I think probably the ideal spot is somewhere in the middle of the two. It’s important that the guys that want to be here, those are the guys that we want. Because the guys that want to be here are the guys that show that emotion and really, I think, are going to do everything that we can to win.”
GravediggerHebner
9/8/2010-1:58pm at 1:58 pm (UTC -4)
It’s David Wright’s veiled plea for David Eckstein.