Jilted Astros fans let Beltran feel their pain

HOUSTON - The crowds at Minute Maid Park when the Mets visit have gotten smaller over the years as the Astros have gotten lousier.

But the boos seem to be getting louder for Carlos Beltran. Every time he's announced. Every time he comes to bat.

It had been six years since Beltran led the Astros to within a game of the World Series with one of the best postseasons in baseball history. And six years since he broke their fans' hearts by signing with the Mets for $119 million as a free agent.

Is six years enough time to mend a broken heart? Apparently, it is not.

"First year, I was offended," Beltran said. "But now I just have to laugh. People are saying crazy things out there. I guess that's tough love. They feel that I left this organization, I didn't try to sign with them and all that. That's part of the past. I have to turn the page. They have to turn the page also."

But they haven't. There are other examples of this in sports. Alex Rodriguez still gets booed in Seattle. Brett Favre gets booed in Green Bay and will again this season. LeBron James will get fricasseed the first time he goes back to Cleveland.

But Beltran? He was only an Astro for 90 regular-season and 12 postseason games after getting traded from Kansas City on June 24, 2004.

He hit 23 home runs to help Houston make the playoffs, hit .455 with four home runs and nine RBIs in the Division Series vs. Atlanta and .417 with four home runs and five RBIs in a seven-game NLCS loss to St. Louis.

Then he turned down the Astros' offer - reported at the time to be for $102 million - and signed with the Mets.

Beltran says he remembers the good times in Houston. The fans remember too. They must. But they apparently remember the pain of rejection more.

"I have great memories here," Beltran said. "I had the chance to play with so many good players. Like Bagwell. Biggio, Berkman, Oswalt, Clemens, Pettitte, Brad Lidge. Those are a great group of guys. I have great memories here. Like I say, it's time to move on."

Of those players Beltran mentioned, none are with the Astros today. Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt were traded away in July as Houston finally came to grips with its status as a team that needs to be rebuilt. Now the Astros lineup is dotted with young players.

And Beltran is hardly the player he was in 2004; he went into last night batting .235 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 30 games. Knee woes have made him such an iffy proposition that manager Jerry Manuel has to check in with him regularly to see if he can play.

Last night's Mets lineup was delayed for an hour as Manuel waited for Beltran to go through batting practice.

"We had two lineups," Manuel said. "One with Carlos in and one with him not in it. I wanted to check with him to be sure he felt good enough. He said he feels good. I think he's starting to swing the bat a lot better. I think he's playing a better centerfield. Like to see if that can continue."

Beltran smiled when asked if he needed to rest last night.

"I don't need rest, man," he said. "I need to play. That's all I need."