St. Louis Cardinals’ manager Mike Matheny wants to see Carlos Beltran fit – MLB News
The St. Louis Cardinals newly hired manager Mike Matheny has said that he would like to see Carlos Beltran healthy so as to take up the challenges coming his way soon. Beltran who was recently inducted in the team had knee surgery last year.
Having played both in the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets the last year, Beltran is being tipped to be a reasonable substitute for Albert Pujols, the former slugger of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Pujols who moved to the Los Angeles Angels was deemed to be the virtual backbone of the Cardinals as his departure has apparently left the offence a bit vulnerable. It is here that Carlos Beltran assumes a new role.
But for that, his staying healthy is key both for him and the team. Matheny, who had replaced Tony La Russa after the latter retired after the team’s amazing victory in the World Series, says that Beltran’s doctors are of the opinion that he looks good right
now. For Matheny, Spring Training will be an ideal time to see how fit the player is.
"Right now he says he feels great, and the doctors have confirmed that he looks good," Matheny said. "It's going to be a juggling act to see how he progresses through the spring. Spring is really a good test. That tells you a lot about how their bodies are
going to be able to hold up through the strain of a season. In a perfect world, I'd love to see him healthy. And when he's healthy, we have options."
Having appeared in 142 games, Beltran was seventh in the National League OBP with .385 and ninth with a .910 OPS. He hit a total of 22 home-runs with 84 RBIs to his credit in 520 at-bats in total.
The St. Louis Cardinals certainly have a long way to go once the new season begins. Given the fact that they thrashed the Texas Rangers last year to win the World Series, a few changes in the roster this year shall put some kind of pressure on them to retain
the status of the Champions.
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