Armando Benitez was nearly un-hittable saving 47 games for the Marlins in '04 while allowing only 10 earned runs in over 69 innings pitched (good for a 1.29 ERA). That stellar season led him to sign a three-year $21.5 million deal with the Giants prior to the '05 season. That deal unfortunately hasn't worked out too well; in the past two years with San Francisco, Benitez has thrown just over 68 innings, saving only 36 games while battling injuries. But 2007 is a new year, and Captain Cranium and the Giants are looking for a fresh start with Benitez."He's set on putting everything behind him. It's a new year and a new slate for him, and he's said that. That's important. There's no point getting distracted with what happened last year."Benitez is pretty stoked too
"I'm ready to rumble ... I'm hurt last year, the second year too. But ... give me an opportunity to be in the game. Now it's different. Believe it. You watch me. You haven't seen the real Armando yet."You mean to tell me that injured and out of shape for the better part of two seasons isn't the real Armando? I'm intrigued. What a total bust thus far. How many games have the Giants blown with a combination of Tyler Walker, Tim Worrell, and Mike Stanton trying to close over the last two seasons instead of Benitez?
Then again, Brian Sabean traded one of the best closers in baseball (Joe Nathan) along with Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser to the Twins for A.J. Pierzynski, so I guess it's somewhat his fault. If Sebean had given Nathan the chance to close things would probably be a lot different.
