A Benitez Band-Aid?
Mar 12th, 2007 by Rob Bradford
The latest closer to enter into the Red Sox’s radar is, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, Armando Benitez. The 34-year-old reliever is scheduled to make $7.6 million this season, and is thought to be expendable because of the emergence of Londonderry, N.H. native Brian Wilson.
The Chronicle reported of Benitez’s first outing, Sunday:
Benitez, who was behind other relievers because of the tendinitis in both knees and a bout with the flu, twice threw to minor-leaguers before pitching Sunday. He worked the fifth inning and threw 17 pitches, retiring three of four Seattle batters. Willie Bloomquist flied out, Jeremy Reed grounded out, Jose Vidro singled and Raul Ibañez struck out on a high, full-count fastball that was clocked at 94 mph.
Mostly, scouts clocked Benitez in the high 80s and low 90s, a sign that he still has a good ways to go. Several of Benitez’s pitches were high and away, and one scout noticed his lower half didn’t seem totally right. Hamstring surgery in 2005 and an arthritic right knee in 2006 cut short Benitez’s only seasons in San Francisco.
Benitez said he expects to be available on Opening Day, no matter where he is.
This isn’t anything that appears to be imminent, but it does show the Red Sox continue to keep options open. The good news for the Sox is that the Giants appears to be willing to foot some of the bill when it comes to the reliever. The bad? Benitez’s arthritic knees and his declining swing-and-miss ratio.
Your thoughts?
19 reader comments to “A Benitez Band-Aid?”
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1Anonymous said:
For the love of God, NO!!!!!
Chris Nelson
Batavia, Ill. -
2Anonymous said:
I live in CT and saw a LOT of this guy on TV when he was with the Mets. Not a fan - tighter the game, the more he walks guys or leaves the ball up in the zone (think Ugeth Urbina - hols the 3 run leads, melts with the 1 runs leads). And if you’re going to give up prospects then package DelCarmen and/or Hansen and Snyder and dangle them at a team with serious starter issues (i.e. Twins, Mets, Cardinals, Tex Wash) for a solid K/bb set-up guy or closer, or package them all and try to get a legit closer like Putz.
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3Anonymous said:
I say enough of this nonsense - bite the bullet and give Cox a 3 week trial starting today and seeing how he does against real MLB hitters (i.e. have him start the games and go 1 inning so he can see legit 1-2-3 batters before the scrubs come in). I know they’re guy shy after more-or-less doing this intially with Hansen, but Cox isn’t Hansen. Every player responds differently.
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4cazeria said:
“For the love of God, NO!!!!!”
I had that exact reaction to seeing this blog entry.
I live in SF and have seen enough of him over the last few years. He is a JOKE out here. Even before his injury issues, he was ineffective and inconsisent. He is simply NOT the same pitcher he used to be.
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5Julian said:
This seems like another example where to popular image of the player lags a few years behind the evidence. It’s an easy mistake for a casual fan or observer to make; I hope the Sox front office is anything but casual about these kinds of decisions.
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6deversm said:
“The bad? Benitez’s arthritic knees and his declining swing-and-miss ratio.”
I respectfully disagree.
The bad? The thought of Benitez in a Red Sox uniform pitching any inning of consequence.
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7Jack said:
Ugh. I watched him as a Met, too. He’s a blowhard that melts under pressure.
Remember his baptism at Fenway on July 26th, 2003? He had been acquired by the Yankees 10 days earlier. It was my first game ever sitting on the Monster. Papi hit a walk-off double - a laser - that hit about 10 feet directly below my seat. Game over.
Just. Say. No.
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8Anonymous said:
Who did they use to scout Benitez - Borat? This has to be one of those rumors that people float on a slow newsday. What next, luring Foulke (he of the arthritic knees and sore elbow - like Armando) out of retirement?
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9Anonymous said:
Completing the “FOR THE LOVE OF GOD…NO” hat trick.
Ask Ralph Barbieri on KNBR. He’ll tell you the same.
- Another Sox transplant in SF.
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10EvansRF said:
I’ll be teh contrarian here…I’ll go with “Dear God No!”
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11Anonymous said:
No.
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12Anonymous said:
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
PLEASE GOD NO
If the Sox trade for Benitez, just shoot me now. I’ve never asked anything of you Rob, but will you do it? I don’t know if I have the heart. Benitez is worse than everyone in our pen.
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13s1c said:
The man explodes every year late in the season and playoffs. Are the Sox freaking nuts???
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14Anonymous said:
One of my few comforts over the past couple of seasons has been “Oh, well, at least we don’t have Benitez”. Oh, well, at least we don’t have Barry Bonds (yet).
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15Stephen said:
If you’re going to go for someone outside of the organization and will have to give up young talent in the deal anyway, why not go for Chad Cordero?
And I echo the “FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, NO!!” sentiment. -
16cavman said:
This reeks of desperation… I think we have someone in the bullpen now that will do at least as well.
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17Jeff said:
About Benitez…..just say no!
Jeff
Sox and Pinstripes
http://www.soxandpinstripes.com -
18Anonymous said:
I agree on Benitez, he seems like dead weight for the sox at this point. Speaking of dead weight, I wonder if anyone has considered for one second that there are homeless cats somewhere in North Andover that need to be saved.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WILL SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE KITTENS!
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19The Omnipotent Q said:
When I heard that, my thoughts went to Game 1 of the 2000 World Series.
Benitez is NOT a big game closer. Period.
The Giants can keep him, thank you.I’d rather take a chance on Joel Piniero.
