Carlos Beltran has never been known to run his mouth, but he has channelled his innermost Jimmy Rollins, and proclaimed that the New York Mets are now the team to beat in the NL East. Rollins made headlines last season when he declared that his Phillies squad was the best team in the division, even though Philadelphia hadn't made the playoffs since 1993. Aided by a historic collapse from the Mets, Rollins' prediction came true, and Philadelphia managed to steal the division away from New York's grasp on the last day of the season.
Since then, the Mets have added Johan Santana -- without giving up Jose Reyes or David Wright -- and have reaffirmed themselves as the odds-on favorite to win the NL. Thanks to Beltran's bold prediction, the race in the NL East is personal once again. The Mets centerfielder directed his statement directly at the Philles star, saying, "With him [Santana] now, I have no doubt we are going to win the division. I have no doubt in that. So, to Jimmy Rollins: We are the team to beat."
The 2008 season cannot start soon enough.
1 comments:
Thank you Carlos for heaping tons of more pressure on your recent acquisition Johan Santana. Saying he's what will put you over the hump in the NL East will just make that jersey collar that much more tighter for your new teammate. My Phils couldn't be more thrilled to hear your comments. Now get healthy so you can be in the starting lineup when the Phillies continue their domination of your overrated team in 2008. Everyone talks about the Mets' collapse - the Phils had a lot to do with that, beating them eight straight. Game on, Carlos!
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