The Cavalry Has Arrived: Carlos Beltran Can Clean Up

fter missing the entire first half due to off-season knee surgery, Carlos Beltran will make his long awaited return on Thursday, July 15 vs. the S.F. Giants.  According to Adam Rubin of   ESPNNewYork.com , manager Jerry Manuel intends to bat the center-fielder 4th upon his return.  The move, as Rubin states, could give a much needed boost to a struggle Mets offense:

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Beltran’s return will allow Manuel to slide struggling Ike Davis and Jason Bay down a slot apiece in the order. Davis is hitting .196 over his past 15 games. The rookie first baseman is hitting .254 with 10 homers and 39 RBIs overall this season after Saturday’s 4-0 loss to the Braves. Bay has suffered a power outage, with only six home runs in 85 games, after hitting 36 homers for the Red Sox last season.”

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In his career as a NY Met Carlos is boasting a .281 AVG. (720 for 2560) with 127 HR (6th on the Mets all-time leaders list) and 466 RBI. He is a 4 time All-Star (’05,’06,’07,’09), has received multiple gold glove awards (’06-’08), and was the recipient of 2 silver slugger awards (’06,’07).  As a team the Mets are currently getting very little production from their #4 hitters this season, where batters are hitting only .249 with a .329 OBP and a pedestrian .387 SLG%.  It’s interesting to note that the ‘power spot’ in New York’s line-up has produce the second lowest batting average and third lowest SLG% in the order aside from the pitcher’s slot.  I understand the the concern that immediately batting Beltran 4th doesn’t allow him much time to adjust coming off of rehab but for the Mets, things can’t get much worse in that part of the order:

There is some pressure on Beltran to step in and ‘clean things up’, but given his history, there’s reason for optimism.  Over the past 3 seasons...TO READ THE REST OF THIS POST AND OTHERS LIKE IT HEAD OVER TO METSZILLA.COM BY CLICKING HERE: http://www.metszilla.com/?p=4626