12.16.04
Beltre to the Mariners
According to ESPN, Adrian Beltre has signed with the Seattle Mariners. This makes me very, very sad.
Yeah, I know, Beltre has had only one great season, but for some reason, I am positive that what we saw in 2004 is the real Adrian Beltre. He didn’t have youth or inexperience or appendicitis to deal with, and he proved to be a great hitter. Of course, now that Beltre is leaving the Dodgers, he will be even better. Just ask Dave Stewart. Or Sid Fernandez. Or Bob Welch. Or Paul Konerko. Or John Wetteland. Or Henry Rodriguez. Or Pedro Martinez. And now I will cry.
Of course, the entire Dodger history isn’t filled with players who left to become huge stars somewhere else. We also have the examples of huge stars who came to the Dodgers and sucked it up. Like Darryl Strawberry. Or Eric Davis. Or Bobby Bonilla. And I’m crying again.
I really like Adrian Beltre, and I can’t bring myself to hope he breaks the string. I hope every season is like last season for him, even though it will keep making me cry. Mark my words, though, Adrian Beltre: 2005 American League MVP.
Steven Gardner said,
December 16, 2004 at 6:46 pm
Jeff, I share some of your pain, though mine is tempered by the fact that I’ll actually get to see Beltre play, since I live a half-hour boat ride away from Safeco Field. Your comments suggest there is great hope for the Mariners this year.
As for the Dodgers, it’s looking like another disappointing winter. Tim Hudson got traded to the Braves. Let’s hope the GM can come up with another magic round of trades during spring training, that Gagne continues to be a monster, that Shawn Green rediscovers his mash, that Kent plays well (or will he join Strawberry, Davis, Bonilla, DeShields, Goltz, Niedenfeuer, etc.?), and that the rest of the NL West sucks. Can Kent play third?