Looks like Benitez could be on way across town. The Yankees have agreed to trade for Benitez and even absorb the rest of his contract. All that's left is for the Mets and Yankees to decide the prospects they will get in return. So is this good or bad for the Yanks?
I say it's good. I know Benitez gets a lot of heat but he is one of the best closers in the game. Plus if you go back and look at all his big blown saves like his debacle where he walk four batters one game this year, or his World Series blown save, or his blown save against the Yanks when he was an Oriole and you'll see that it seems most of his big blown saves are against the Yankees. I think they might just have his number and now he won't have to face those guys.
Of course he's not even going to be the closer, he'll be the setup man for Rivera.
This works out for everybody. The Mets get prospects for dumping him; and everybody else who hates the Yankees can be thankful that he'll blow games for the Yankees instead of against them.
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Ben Franklin, 1759
Originally posted by GrimisThis works out for everybody. The Mets get prospects for dumping him; and everybody else who hates the Yankees can be thankful that he'll blow games for the Yankees instead of against them.
Now if only they'll trade for Alfonseca.
EDIT: I forgot to fix my Sig in my profile. That should be better.
Originally posted by QuezzyI know Benitez gets a lot of heat but he is one of the best closers in the game.
I would agree that Benitez is one of the 200 best closers in the game, including, of course, the Atlantic League. Please tell me you can think of 10-15 closers you would rather have. I can.
This hasn't even happened yet and I hate it. If we wanted a shitty choke-artist/former closer setting up Rivera, why didn't we keep Juan Acevedo? He could still be sucking on the Yanks for about 1/6 of the price. Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Closers (when healthy) I would rather have than Benitez, in no particular order:
...and he would be a tie on my list with about 10 others, whom I probably wouldn't want either.
The memories of my family outings are still a source of strength to me. I remember we'd all pile into the car - I forget what kind it was - and drive and drive. I'm not sure where we'd go, but I think there were some trees there. The smell of something was strong in the air as we played whatever sport we played. I remember a bigger, older guy we called "Dad." We'd eat some stuff, or not, and then I think we went home. I guess some things never leave you.
If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."
Originally posted by Quezzy I know Benitez gets a lot of heat but he is one of the best closers in the game.
First off, he's not one of the best. But, even if he was, he is only going to be used as a setup man unless Mariano gets injured. I'm not sure he's any better as a setup man than Stanton or Weathers both of whom they could've had for less and they needed a lefty anyway which Benitez is not. I don't know if they Yankees gave up anything good for him, so if they didn't it's about an even deal.
From my fantasy baseball view, it is a great trade. It makes Benitez fantasy value worthless and I don't own Benitez.
From the Mets view, they are doing a great job of dumping all their overpaid, underperforming veterans. My only objection is getting rid of Burnitz, which is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. He was their best hitter on pace for a 30 HR, 100 RBI season. They may have gotten back a good young closer from LA...time will tell.
I realize that the Yankee bullpen has been sucking profusely this year, but I refuse to believe that it's gotten so bad that Armando Goddamn Benitez is considered an improvement.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3110184 Votes are counted before teams get manhandled in the playoffs. Very deserving on both fronts. Keeping those youngsters together and playing solid ball is never easy, so both should be commended.