Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:39 pm Posts: 19070 Location: Jersey City
The greatest misfortune for Benitez was closing for a contending team in NY at the same time Mariano Rivera was at his peak as a closer.
I can't think of a player in any sport in my lifetime who was better at his job than Rivera has been.
No Rivera, no Yankee dynasty and I'm convinced that's true despite the fact that many of his teammates will make the Hall of Fame.
_________________ "You come to play the game right. I don’t care what the situation is, I don’t care what the standings say, I don’t care about pitch counts. I only care about playing the game correctly."--Terry Collins
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Benitez "defenders" exist because he's treated like a cartoon character.
In 1999, he gave up 1 run in and struck out 11 in 9 innings of relief work in the NLDC and NLCS. Were any of those "big games"? We all have things to point at in 2000, but he didn't exactly explode that year either: 3 earned runs (2 unearned) in 9 innings that year in the playoffs.
Again, he wasn't great in 2000, but this idea that he would come in and immediately Rick Ankiel the ball to the backstop is kind of crazy.
I remember a BOATLOAD of games against the Braves where they'd just... obliterate him. Late season, Game 6 of 1999. As mentioned Game 1 of the 2000 WS. As the Mets tried a miracle comeback in 2001, he blew I think 2 saves down the stretch to the Braves.
Then we hear this crap about how Bobby V could never "beat" Atlanta. WELL NO DUH, his closer kept IMPLODING against the Braves.
Benitez had no problem with them in 1999 or 2000 reg season. 2001 was pretty bad.
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Frank looks good so far. Benitez is the primary reason statistics should not be the sole judge of a player's worth.
What else do we use to judge Francisco though? He's looked good through 2 games but his mediocre career numbers for a 32 year-old reliever combined with his inability to hold on to a closer job in the past make me really skeptical of him.
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:42 am Posts: 6416 Location: Delaware
With Francisco, it's important to remember the environments he's pitched in. 2 of the best HR parks in baseball. It's not an excuse but it's a mitigating factor.
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:42 am Posts: 6416 Location: Delaware
I'm not too worried about his velocity. This is unecessarily detailed but I've been watchng it closely on Brooks Baseball. -The first game, his first 3 fastballs were 91, his next 3 were 93. -Yesterday, only his first FB was 91 and after that he was mostly 93, hitting 94 a couple of times.
I was worried coming out of spring but it seems to be he might be gearing up progressively.
Hopefully we get a better return for him then we got for Benitez . The way he's going ... By june, I'm hoping for a top 50 prospect.
Francisco is not going anywhere. He is signed for 2 years. Why when a guy gets off to a good start you want to trade him? Also, if you haven't realized this team already has homegrown talent at the major league level. It sounds like you think the Mets are at square one in the rebuilding process. Before we start trading off pieces lets see what this team can do first.
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