Adrian Beltre: Texas Slugger's Performance vs. Tampa Bay Borders on Legendary

If you want to be a true legend, you have to have your best moments in the World Series. Even though Reggie Jackson hit three homers in a relative blowout, we'll remember that better than anything Adrian Beltre is doing in a close ALDS game.

Adam Kennedy hit three home runs for the Angels to help them clinch the 2002 ALCS, but we hardly view him as a legend. While the player may not be legendary, the performance certainly was.

Right now, we have three rounds of postseason play. So, we can't cheapen the accomplishments of the players who do things in the early rounds just because it doesn't mean as much.

Of course, you would rather have the big moments in the World Series, but three home runs in a potential ALDS clincher is huge. If this score holds, Beltre would have put the Rangers four games away from a second consecutive World Series appearance and done so nearly on his own.

When Beltre hit those homers, the game was close. These aren't mop-up blasts being hit off of a pitcher who's just trying to avoid walking people. These are pitchers in a close game, trying to fight off elimination. They certainly aren't grooving anything.

Just how legendary this performance ends up being does hinge on two things:

1) The Rangers must hold on and win this game, or at least the series. Great efforts in losses go down as just that: great efforts in losses. They are certainly not legendary.

2) Beltre needs to keep hitting. He can't simply hit three homers and then have his bat go dead in the later rounds. That will override anything good he's done.

But right now, this performance is nothing short of legendary. Beltre has already tied the playoff record for homers in a game and will have the chance to break it.

What it will lead to remains to be seen, but this performance needs to be mentioned with Beltre's name.

People are not shy about pointing out that Beltre's a "contract player." With that criticism, we must now mention that he's incredibly clutch.