Tuesday, November 30, 2004

 

My Kingdom For A Real Closer!

According to the Chronicle, the Giants are going to sign Armando Benitez today to a 3-year, $21 million contract. Benitez will become the Giants' closer, and will be a gigantic upgrade over the Herges/Hermanson combo from last year.

People are going to bitch that the contract is for too many years and too much money, and that the Giants need a bat more than they need a closer. The first complaint I think is only relevant if it keeps the Giants from signing Steve Finley or someone like him. I don't think that will be the case. Furthermore, free agents salaries are up across the board this year, so one should be careful about using last year's salaries as a guide.

The second complaint I will acknowledge, but I remind everyone that the main problems with the Giants last year were relief pitching and defense. If Benitez was our closer last year, the Giants would have won the division, flat out.

More statistically oriented people will point to Benitez's declining strikeout rate, which I will counter by pointing at his walk rate, which is declining even faster, and his hits allowed, which were miniscule. He allowed less than one baserunner per inning for the entire season, which is excellent by any measure.

The next step is to sign Steve Finley, and then take our rightful place as favorites in the National League West.

This post has been brought to you by the Eternal Optimists Society.

Jefferson 8:32 AM

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