As this season’s roller coaster ride rolls on for the New York Yankees, there have not been many bright spots. But that’s not to say Yankees fans don’t have something to smile about. In particular, Carlos Beltran has somehow managed to turn back the clock. At the age of 39 he has been off to a hot start this season, helping the pinstripes win a few games and stay above water.
Did I mention that he is almost 40? Amazingly, his age has not stopped his productivity at all; Beltran has reached a few milestones this season, with home run number 400 and his 2,500th hit. As we see Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez struggle to stay healthy and swing a good bat, #36 has been rock solid.
Beltran has 13 home runs, 33 Runs Batted In (RBIs), and 52 hits this season. He is among the top 3 in almost every offensive category for the pinstripes. The question now is, how long can this last and will anyone step up and help him out? As we head towards the 60-games-played mark, the question becomes: Will Father Time (who is undefeated) get to him? For now, people need to enjoy the early season success of the future hall of famer. His bat alone has consistently kept New York in the Wild Card race.
It’s true that his fielding skills are declining, but at his age, that is expected. (Even greats like Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken Jr. struggled on defense during their later years). When Beltran sees a pitch he likes, pitchers suffer the impact. If the Yankees are in the hunt for the Wild Card come September, he could be their next Mr. October.
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