Carlos Beltran and David Ortiz, right, have been the leaders for their clubs during the World Series. Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / AFP
Carlos Beltran and David Ortiz, right, have been the leaders for their clubs during the World Series. Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / AFP

Elders earning their respect in this World Series



For David Ortiz, World Series pressure is nothing new.

For Carlos Beltran, it might be new, but apparently not daunting.

Perhaps it is the power of age. The oldest players in each of their respective line-ups seem to be the two most likely to deliver in the clutch.

Through the first three games of the World Series, Beltran, 36, the St Louis Cardinals right fielder, leads all hitters in the play-offs with 13 runs batted in. Ortiz, 37, the Boston Red Sox designated hitter and first baseman), has 12.

No one is even close.

“David is a game-changer,” said Boston’s veteran pitcher, Jake Peavy, during his pre-Game 3 press conference. “He’s as clutch as anybody I can remember playing with or against.”

The Dominican Republic native has been a Boston fixture since 2004, when his consecutive walk-off hits in Games 4 and 5 against the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series sparked the Sox to their historic comeback from an 0-3 deficit.

The Sox went on to win the 2004 World Series, as well as the 2007 title. In 79 post-season games, “Big Papi” has hit 17 home runs and driven in 59 runs.

This October, he hit two home runs against Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price in a Game 2 victory in the AL Division Series. His grand slam in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers brought the sluggish Red Sox back to life.

He also hit home runs in each of the first two games against St Louis, and almost had another grand slam. Beltran was the reason he did not. The Cards outfielder robbed Ortiz in Game 1, but bruised his ribs on the fence and was replaced. St Louis worried needlessly.

Beltran returned in Game 2 and contributed two hits, including a run-scoring single as the Cardinals rallied to win. The veteran from Puerto Rico, who has been with five teams, had to wait 16 years to play in his first Series, but he already had a reputation as a post-season force. In 47 play-off games with the Houston Astros, New York Mets and Cardinals, he has 16 home runs and 38 runs batted in.

This month, in the National League play-offs, he drove home six runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round, then set the tone against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a walk-off hit in the 13th inning of Game 1.

“There’s not a person in the clubhouse, position player or pitcher, who doesn’t look up to him,” said the Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly, who suggested Beltran’s shared “wisdom” will one day make him an ideal manager.

But first, Beltran – and Ortiz – may have more legend-building to do.

sports@thenational.ae

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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

The specs
 
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Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
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On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope 
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold 
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

Brief scores:

QPR 0

Watford 1

Capoue 45' 1

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Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.