Appreciating Bengie now
by Goofus on Apr 8, 2009 2:07 PM PDT
74 comments
A few months back, there was some discussion around who was the "heart of the team". There was disagreement on what the definition was, but if we're talking about someone who's a good teammate, gives 100% all the time and cares about the team and its fans, it has to be Bengie Molina.
My recent experience sitting near the Giants dugout sealed it for me. I observed him constantly talking to younger guys, especially Sandoval. I observed his true excitement when the team scored runs (even though it was an exhibition game). I observed him interacting with the fans numerous times; waiving to people and getting balls to give to kids.
The one moment that was most telling was upon returning to the dugout after scoring. He acknowledged the fans cheers, pointed at the "Giants" on his jersey and pointed back to the crowd. As if to say, "We're in this together."
I saw a lot of the same stuff yesterday.
He may be an inappropriate cleanup hitter, but that's not his fault. He may be the slowest player in the league, but so what? He may not be patient enough at the plate, but I don't ever mind seeing him at the plate in a "clutch" situation. He may not be the most skilled catcher, but he worked his ass off yesterday preventing wild pitches.
In the final year of his contract, this will surely be his last year as a Giant since the team has Pablo and Buster ready to get behind the dish.
It would be easy to not truly appreciate him until his final game or even after he's gone. I'm going to try and appreciate him all season long. In just two years, he's been a good Giant and is truly the "heart and soul of the team".
This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.
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Good write up, great pic. I agree with you.
Man I am super excited about our team this year. I will miss Benji after this season, and I hope he finishes out his time with the Giants with a bang.
by scout6 on Apr 8, 2009 2:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Why I spelled his name like the dog, I could not tell you. Must be all the excitement, could also be the whiskey.
by scout6 on Apr 8, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love Bengie.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 8, 2009 2:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Couldn't agree more
Great guy, great teammate, great ballplayer. We’re lucky to have him.
Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.
by delorean on Apr 8, 2009 2:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'd Still Trade Him
But indeed, he’s been a real good Giant and is fun to root for. He also joins Vizquel in the “Criticized veteran signings that turned out to be pretty good” category.
by mxmob33 on Apr 8, 2009 2:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This
Unless we are contending I would probably trade him if he is having a good season, theres gotta be a gm out there who doesn’t give a rats ass about obp and has bad catchers (besides Sabean)
Why does Sabean always look constipated?
by TexasRanger on Apr 8, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
becuase of the glut of catchers around who have .450 OBP’s? It’s not exactly an offensive poistion, and Benji has been far better than expected here..
by tyrannoman on Apr 9, 2009 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Apparently not appreciative enough to get his name right!
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
by Natto on Apr 8, 2009 2:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I have no idea what you’re talking about, looks good to me.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Kevin Frandsen should be with the big team.
by WalrusMan on Apr 8, 2009 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Goofus thinks otherwise!
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
by Natto on Apr 9, 2009 12:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wrecked.
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
by bgunn on Apr 8, 2009 2:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL Molina Brother Triple yesterday
Slow. It “runs” in the family.
co-dad of IshikaBOOM w/AfDC.
Ishikawa, let the boy hit against lefties.
by kennv on Apr 8, 2009 2:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Everybody loves Money!
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
by Natto on Apr 8, 2009 2:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I was amazed he was available for adoption so late in the draft, I had my fingers crossed
4 out of 5 doctors agree Rosterbation can cause blindness and delusions of grandeur.
by igotnothing on Apr 8, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
seriously I got a gem
Everybody loves money
by fwoty oz on Apr 9, 2009 12:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
you did, but why weren’t you the author of this fanpost, huh?
Sir Alex Omar Hinshaw: It's not right if it's not left.
by The Enchanter on Apr 10, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 8, 2009 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
How great would it be to get this on the big board at the park?!?
-- Born Yesterday
by thatdog on Apr 8, 2009 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
winner
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 8, 2009 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember when a lot of people bashed Sabean for signing Molina
Turned out pretty well, eh?
by jctGamer on Apr 8, 2009 2:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah, I mean
without bengie, we’d have no cleanup hitter! And that would suck, because we’d go directly from 3rd hittier to 5th and everyone scoring at the ball park (not to mention those home alone) would lose track.
Srsly… 7th best catcher by WPA in the national league last year! Woooot!
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
by zenbitz on Apr 8, 2009 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but none of that means it wasn’t a good signing, it was.
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness. - Emo Philips
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at second.
by marcello on Apr 8, 2009 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
atomically, I agree
3yr/16M wasn’t horrible – perhaps it’s even below market value.
One could argue that the last thing a 75 win team needs is a veteran catcher, but I’ll take the WINZ even on a poor team.
I still would have traded him in the off season for a 3B and started Fat Ichiro at C.
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
by zenbitz on Apr 8, 2009 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness. - Emo Philips
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at second.
by marcello on Apr 8, 2009 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
One could also argue that one thing a young team whose greatest strength is (young) pitching needs is in fact a veteran catcher. This is disregarding his influence on the young position players.
Hi, I am Johnny Disaster.
by Johnny Disaster on Apr 8, 2009 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is there any actual evidence that this makes a difference? I’m familiar with the argument, but it smells like the sort of thing that people say about baseball more because it sounds like it makes sense than because the evidence bears it out.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Adopted Giant: Fred "Ruthless Aggression" Lewis
by jcb9 on Apr 8, 2009 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s actually been worth $20.9M through just two years, so good contract.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Kevin Frandsen should be with the big team.
by WalrusMan on Apr 8, 2009 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s a very thoughtful man who writes some entertaining, insightful blogs also.
by WTF on Apr 8, 2009 2:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I’ve enjoyed reading his blog as well, when I remember it exists.
by Merope on Apr 8, 2009 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was just reading it the other day, it’s really well written. He’s one of my favorite Giants, definitely my favorite of the veterans. And he may be slow, but I have to admit I enjoy watching him “run” around the bases.
by neurofarm on Apr 8, 2009 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bengie Molina:
Good Giant.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
by EliminateMe on Apr 8, 2009 2:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Bengie Molina-
Exceeding expectations for two years and one game.
Good Giant and seems to be a genuinely nice guy. I love the story about his tryout. A scout had come down to see Yadier, and Bengie went out catch the BP. The scout looked over at him and said "you want to work out for me while you’re out here ? " So Bengie hits and fields in his tennis shoes. Ends up signing a MiLB Deal.
"Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don't move."-Leroy "Satchel" Paige
My adopted son Matt Downs . Utility Infielder with a Bat !
by nvsfg on Apr 8, 2009 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
BTW, Nice post ! Got to love all the “love” flowin for the G’s after one game. Optimism Day !!
"Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don't move."-Leroy "Satchel" Paige
My adopted son Matt Downs . Utility Infielder with a Bat !
by nvsfg on Apr 8, 2009 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A few months back, there was some discussion around who was the “heart of the team”.
You know, replace “heart” with some kind a fat joke, and this post makes sense!
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
by zenbitz on Apr 8, 2009 2:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
“Fat of the team”?
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
by Natto on Apr 8, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hearts and fat aren’t mutually exclusive. The two simply don’t tend to go with each other for long stretches of time.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Apr 8, 2009 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heart of the team? Big deal. I wanna know who’s the pancreas.
Disfrute Los Gigantes every day at www.leftymalo.com
by leftymalo on Apr 8, 2009 3:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Without the pancreas, you’re pretty much screwed.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 8, 2009 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Without him we’d all be bloated alcoholics. Think about it.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 8, 2009 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Women like it when you don’t have a pancreas that much?
"Catcher are base running. Hitters are offense."
Only [hella] games left until the end of Zito's contract.
Adoptive father of "Poncho" Villalona: This Angel don't fly. Nothing about him is light.
by thehavenot on Apr 8, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now it’s a real horror film.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 8, 2009 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
So does that make Aurilia the appendix of the team
That is, the useless part that most people don’t mind getting rid of?
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Apr 9, 2009 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Then Zito’s the mouth and throat, cuz he…
Never mind. Bengie’s awesome.
Stupid is as Ruben Rivera does...
by bkrhater on Apr 9, 2009 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t really think of anyone as the heart of the team, but if I had to name one, I’d probably go with Cain.
Adoptive parent of Noah Lowry. Because he was awesome once, and, goddammit, he shall be awesome once again!
I hope.
by Cookyman on Apr 8, 2009 6:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll appreciate him
Until he gets traded in July
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
If Dustin Pedroia played in Seattle, not many people would be talking about him.
by baetown415 on Apr 8, 2009 8:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Won’t happen if the team is in contention, which I hope they are.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
by Goofus on Apr 9, 2009 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seems like a good guy
But the conditioning, I think, we can blame him for. He’s a good player, but damn if it isn’t frustrating know that he can’t score from 2nd on a routine single to the OF.
Jonathan Sanchez. He's left-handed, like Barry Zito. His fastball breaks 80, unlike Zito.
by Aadik on Apr 8, 2009 9:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
One person I think doesn't like Bengie
Zito. They don’t seem to get along. I’ve seen many times where Zero would just ignore Bengie when walking from the bullpen back to the dugout prior to games. I see Bengie get frustrated during games that Zero pitches.
He should be batting sixth but I think Bengie has been and is an asset to the team.
by SFGuy on Apr 9, 2009 2:06 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
In fairness, it’s not like Bengie’s the only person in San Francisco to get frustrated with Zito.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
by Goofus on Apr 9, 2009 6:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Come on
Name one other person
Wall-E for Best Picture 2008
by Useful_Idiot on Apr 9, 2009 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't appreciate where Bengie called for that Fastball
It’s going to take me a while to get over last night.
But all in all, Bengie’s been a big asset considering the circumstances we signed him under.
by MonkeyChow on Apr 9, 2009 5:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I love Bengie as a Giant.
I love Bengie as a catcher.
I do not love Bengie as a clean up hitter, as his 6 men left on base last night shows.
by Cixelsyd on Apr 9, 2009 10:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
do you at least like like him as a clean up hitter?
Everybody loves money
by fwoty oz on Apr 9, 2009 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not sure what choice I have, given my options...
so yes, I will like him as a clean up hitter. For now.
by Cixelsyd on Apr 9, 2009 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This.
For a team with as little power as this Giants team has, Bengie clogging up the basepaths does significantly more harm than good. If a deep fly ball (like the one from Ishikawa after he and Pablo got on base to lead off the fourth) can’t advance him, it’s going to be difficult for this team to manufacture runs.
Hate to say it, but he doesn’t fit with this team’s offensive approach.
by SheboyganBratwurst on Apr 9, 2009 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
except when he drives in four runs like he did tonight! I sure hope that Pablo and Ishi continue to bash the ball and the Giants wind up moving Bengie down to the sixth slot.
Proud new dad of Edgardo errr Edgar Renteria!!!
by rxmeister on Apr 9, 2009 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
25 Singles a year off the outfield wall
If Bengie weren’t slower then a snail, he would have 25 more doubles a year. The guy hits about 25 singles off the outfield wall. He needs to hit one into triples alley to get a double. And a rare triple, every solar eclipse or so, on a ball that would be an inside the park homerun for a guy as slow as Rich Aurillia. Molna puts new meaning into the term, station to station. With Fielder on the field for Milwaukee. it looked like fielder was the Papa Panda, Pablo was the mama Panda, and Bengie was the baby Panda.
by bradleybear on Apr 9, 2009 10:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Over 90 RBI less than 45 Runs
That is what no speed does.
by bradleybear on Apr 9, 2009 10:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
And few walks.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
by Natto on Apr 9, 2009 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Someone should keep track of the stat “RBI’s Lost” which would be the amount of runs batted in a player loses because Bengie is clogging up the bases. Pablo Sandoval struck out yesterday with a runner on third and nobody out, and I was thinking to myself that perhaps he presses in those situations because he knows he’s going to get few opportunities to drive in runs this season unless he hits a homerun.
Proud new dad of Edgardo errr Edgar Renteria!!!
by rxmeister on Apr 10, 2009 7:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boo you suck
just like your pathetic bay area teams
"Chemistry is a class you take in high school or college, where you figure out two plus two is 10, or something."
- Dennis Rodman
by Shifty1 on Apr 26, 2009 1:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Awkward situation developing
Bengie Molina is a man who is beloved by many — and not for little reason (in more ways than one). When the Giants played the Angels in spring training a year ago, considerable love clearly existed between Bengie and those who knew him from his time there.
Bengie has stated he would like to play the rest of his career for the Giants. Clearly he has found his love for the team, even if the Giants don’t provide a winning situation.
So what to do when such a fine warrior plays the position of your best position prospect, the one you are grooming to start at Bengie’s position for about 15 years, starting with next season? What do you do when Buster Posey’s arrival so neatly coincides with the end of Bengie’s contract?
One answer would be to keep Bengie around as the backup catcher so that he could mentor Buster. Probably a better mentor couldn’t be found. But as much as Bengie would love to stay with the Giants, I suspect starting means more to him. Plus, he deserves far more pay than that of a backup catcher.
Another answer would be to use each of them at catcher, with Buster taking advantage of his versatility by also playing another position. That’s actually not a bad idea — except that I doubt the Giants want to partially interrupt the development of their future All-Star backstop.
The more I think about that latter idea, the more I like it. On days the Giants wanted to play Bengie, Buster AND Pablo Sandoval, Pablo could play first base. It will almost certainly be at least 2011 before Angel Villalona is ready, and it’s not like taking time Travis Ishikawa would be the worst thing in the world. In fact, if the Giants had the aforementioned quartet to play three positions — with Posey playing the most and Ishikawa the least but being a possible defensive replacement — the situation could work out fairly well.
But the Giants surely want Buster to catch — and likely want a better-hitting corner infielder than Travis Ishikawa as a starter. (Can Matt Holliday play eitther corner? :)
So unless the Giants decide to use Buster a fair amount at other positions in order to save his legs for a longer career, it would appear Bengie is a goner — perhaps as soon as the trade deadline.
I have been amazed by how durable Bengie has been as a Giant. If you had told me when the Giants signed him that the Giants would have a top prospect ready to replace him at the end of his contract, I would mostly have been hoping that Bengie could stay healthy long enough for the prospect not to need to be rushed.
Instead, Bengie has played so well, been so popular and been so durable that an awkward situation is developing. It would be wonderful if all parties concerned could each have his desires be met. But that appears less likely than a stolen base from Bengie.
The Giants could always keep Bengie as a pinch runner!
by sharksrog on Apr 26, 2009 4:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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