Lance Berkman is already seeing the potential of some boos in Minute Maid Park, if anyone shows up, due to his offseason training and resurgence in St. Louis. Now how could we double those boos? Oh, I know! By having him defend the most hated man in Houston baseball, Carlos Beltran. Lisa at Astros-holic Synoymous points out an interview done with Berkman earlier this offseason where he did just that:
↵↵↵What is interesting to me is not just that he confirmed on the record a whole lot of stuff I had said about the Astros Organization (patting self on back here) but he said something I had never heard a player say - that Carlos Beltran actually WANTED to re-sign to with Houston. PREFERRED to stay in Houston. His not being re-signed was on Drayton (not Timmy-poo) not submitting any offer until the last second and then refusing the no-trade until Carlos had already signed with the Mets. It's not that I hadn't heard/read essentially that before, but coming from Lance, I almost believe it - I would have liked to ask how it was that Carlos wrote a book called "My First Year In Pinstripes" even BEFORE negotiations began if he really wanted to stay in Houston. Interesting also, that Lance believed Carlos when Carlos told him he loved Houston and wanted to stay. Either Carlos is a great liar or Lance is a guy who takes what he hears at face value. Or Carlos changed his mind.
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He also pre-answered some of the questions about the better training in St. Louis with expected answers regarding how he had to get in better shape to save his career. But yeah, I'm guessing this won't make him the most popular returning player tonight.
↵Maybe if he were Willy Taveras...
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