Open Letter to Carlos Beltran

Recently, MetsBlog asked readers to send in letters to Carlos Beltran in an attempt to woo him to join the Mets. You can get more information on that at http://www.beltrantothemets.com/. The following is the simple letter that I sent in:

Dear Mr. Beltran,

I’d like you to consider the New York Mets this off-season when you make your decision on a new team. No team could possibly need you more than we do.

Mets fans are hungry for change and hungry to win. Our organization needs a new face, a new hero. We've recently hired Omar Minaya, Pedro Martinez and Kris Benson. We're hoping to sign Carlos Delgado as well (and perhaps Magglio Ordonez). Our new General Manager is putting every effort into making the Mets the franchise everyone wants to play for.

We are very serious about making the New York Mets a dynasty. We're dedicated to providing the finest facilities and best medical staff. We're planning to launch an entire television network (the Mets Network) that will focus 24 hours a day on our organization. We've already got plans to build a brand new stadium that somewhat resembles the legendary Ebbet’s Field, historical home of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Most importantly, Carlos, we want you to be the face of all of it. We want you to do the first interview on the Mets Network. We want you to be at the groundbreaking ceremony when the first shovel hits the soil where the new stadium will reside. We want you to teach our young prospects how to play, train and act. Kids like Jose Reyes, David Wright and Vic Diaz could use a mentor like you, on and off the field.

I could understand why you might want to join the New York Yankees, but as a Yankee you would just be another small piece to a large puzzle. In fact, they may not even remember you as one of the best centerfielders to wear pinstripes. They already had Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio. As a member of the Mets, you have a chance to be the best centerfielder we’ve ever had.

I can understand why you might want to return to Houston. They are a great franchise, but although they would disagree, we need you even more than they do, and we would appreciate you more than they could. The Astros already have their superstars: Jeff Bagwell, Roger Clemens, Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge. We want you to be our superstar.

Come to the Mets. Use you speed to take advantage of our large park. Showcase your skills in our big outfield. Our new team will be built around speed and defense, and that is why we need you here. Play along-side Mike Cameron, a former Gold Glove centerfielder that would be willing to move to a new position to have you and your talent on our team.

You already know what New York has to offer: A massive and diverse fan-base, with a strong and proud Hispanic community. You can live in the heart of Manhattan, or the suburbs of Westchester County. There is no better place to win in than New York. Mets fans are some of the most passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans in the world, and we want nothing other than for Carlos Beltran to be the Mets centerfielder in 2005.

Thanks for taking the time to listen,

Henry Lee

Hopefully these letters actually have some impact. It's a shot in the dark, but it's a shot.