Money Isn’t the Only Objective for Beltran

Carlos Beltran, who will be a free agent after the season, said money would not necessarily rule his decision on where to play in 2005.

“Money means a lot because now I’m in this situation, I want to be set for my career,” the Houston center fielder said before the Astros lost to the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-4, in Game 2 of the National League championship series Thursday night at Busch Stadium.

“But it doesn’t mean much to make a lot of money and be in a place where I’m not happy. Right now I have the opportunity to choose where I want to be, and I have to be careful.”

The switch-hitter resisted attempts by a slew of reporters to voice a preference for teams in their cities.

“I hope there will be a lot of teams that make it difficult for me to choose,” Beltran said.

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The late homers given up by Cardinal relievers Ray King and Julian Tavarez in Game 1 didn’t annoy their teammates.

Considering St. Louis held a six-run lead going into the eighth, when King yielded Lance Berkman’s two-run homer, and still led by four runs going into the ninth, when Tavarez gave up a solo shot to pinch-hitter Mike Lamb, closer Jason Isringhausen said he was willing to give his teammates a free pass.

“Neither one wanted to go out and start walking people in that situation,” said Isringhausen, who relieved Tavarez to record the final out. “So they just threw strikes.”

Said Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa: “The worst thing you can do when you have a lead is walk guys.”

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Berkman is among a group of Astros who haven’t shaved since the team clinched its wild-card berth on the final day of the regular season.

“Mine doesn’t go down to my neck like the other guys,” said Berkman, comparing his facial hair to that of teammates Jeff Bagwell and Brad Ausmus, among others. “They look like they are wearing turtlenecks. It’s just woolly.”

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Bagwell, born in Boston and selected by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the June 1989 draft, said he would prefer to play his hometown team if the Astros reached the World Series. “In a perfect world, that would be a nice thing,” Bagwell said.

“But I don’t care; I want to get there. I’m a Red Sox fan, no doubt about it. But I want to win here first.”