Beltran fires back..

Last spring in training camp, the Phillies shortstop - Jimmy Rollins - said something that pissed off most Mets fans. He said the Phillies were the team to beat in 2007. The worst part about it is, he was right. The Philadelphia Phillies won the division and went on to the post season, only to be swept. This year, its the Mets who are the team to beat. Who says? Carlos Beltran says.

When Carlos Beltran was asked about the division, he had this to say:

“With (Santana), I have no doubt we’re going to win our division. I have no doubt about that…So, this year, tell Jimmy Rollins we are the team to beat.”

Now tell me, who expected Carlos Beltran to say something like this? Not me. Usually, Carlos Beltran never talks with the media... that was Paul Lo Duca's job last year. It looks like Beltran is finally showing some leadership, and voicing his opinion. Now if only he could back it up like Jimmy Rollins did.

Lets take a look at the stats for Rollins and Beltran for the '06 and '07 seasons.
Rollins:
AVG-Runs-HR-3B-Hits-RBI-SB-OBP-SLG
2006: .277 127 25 9 191 83 36 .334 .478
2007: .296 139 30 20 212 94 41 .344 .531

Beltran:
AVG-Runs-HR-3B-Hits-RBI-SB-OBP-SLG
2006: .275 127 41 1 140 116 18 .388 .594
2007: .276 93 33 3 153 112 23 .353 .525

Now if Carlos Beltran had the same increase in numbers as Jimmy Rollins had his season stats for 2008 would look like this...

2008: .295 105 38 14 174 123 28 .363 .578

Now if Beltran had the same exact increase in numbers as Rollins, that is what his stats would look like at the end of this season. That would be an amazing season for Beltran, 38 homers and 123 RBI? This probably won't happen but maybe and hopefully, Beltran can back up his words and deliver another division championship and another World Series Championship back to Shea for the last time.