Today’s Topic:  You can’t spell Jeff Bennett without “effen”

Mood Music:  Walk by Pantera

I played high school baseball on a team that had some pretty good pitchers….hell even great.  They had great fastballs, a few had incredible curve balls, some were even downright intimidating to face.  You wanna know one thing though, that they all had in common?

Walks.  Holy effin’ shit.  I must admit….one of the worst things to experience as a fielder during a baseball game….is a pitcher that can’t find the damn strike zone. 

Guys….I know it can be mental….but we’re not asking for much….just let them HIT the ball.  You don’t have to strike everyone out….a home run is better than watching you nitpick the effin’ pitcher until he gets a free base.

So we come to the man that’s the subject of today’s blog.  Jeff “effen” Bennett.  A relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. 

Damn that’s a familiar sight…sorry, where was I….

Why, you ask, would I devote a whole blog to writing about a guy that most of you have never heard of?  It’s easy…I’m a die-hard Braves fan, but it’s becoming harder and harder to spend 3 plus hours watching a team that rations runs like the last embers of a dying fire only to have guys like Jeff “effen” Bennett walk the leadoff hitter in the top of the 11th inning against the Cubs.  Guess what happens when you walk the leadoff hitter late in a game?  That’s right….the same thing that happens when you walk the pitcher or walk a guy with 2 outs late in the game…….he’s gonna score…almost every time (and if you’re Jeff Bennett…well let’s just say I’ve never watched him walk a guy in a situation like that, that didn’t score).

My motto…..JUST THROW STRIKES.  SHIT.  You are getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to pitch maybe 4 or 5 innings a week.  Throw strikes. 

So why single out Bennett?  Wait, let’s look at another picture….

That’s why.  This is the look that I see every time I decide to spend my night watching the Braves.  This idiot walking a guy that’s got a .100 batting average with nobody on base in the 1oth inning.  I’m just over it to say the least.  A professional baseball team WILL NOT WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP with pitchers like Bennett in the bullpen.  Period.  

Like a great man once said to my siblings…..”the Braves won’t win” he said.  And when asked why….his answer, “cause the Braves ain’t got no bullpen”

You’re damn right.   

I mean think about it….if your job was to go out and fix peoples’ cars….and the easiest part of that was changing a tire….yet every other time you did it…..halfway out of the station, the damn tire flew off as the customer was driving away.  You wouldn’t have a job very long…would you?

So….let’s see another…..

Well……at least in Spring Training he was giving it the ole’ heroes’ effort.  Of course, in a REAL game, Jeff, you can’t throw it underhanded to get it over the plate.  Sorry…..and Bobby Cox, you ARE a Hall-of-Fame Manager, but here’s a very minor piece of advice (that I feel qualified to give after watching the Braves for over 25 years of my life)….fire Terry Pendleton (he sucks as a hitting coach…seriously, who has actually improved under Pendleton?)….fire Roger McDowell (he sucks as a pitching coach….it just hasn’t been the same since Mazzone left…hmmmm)….

and for God’s sake…..if a jackass like Jeff Bennett can’t throw strikes…or even worse…walks the leadoff guy in an inning of relief, walks a guy with 2 outs, or heaven forbid…walks the opposing pitcher……send his ass the eff’ down to the minors and let someone pitch (and make a living) that will throw effen’ strikes.  

And Jeff, don’t worry man….I’m sure you’ll be forgotten long before the Braves turn this thing around….but don’t feel bad….you can hide your face in another town before too long (if Cox comes to his senses…which isn’t likely at this point I’m afraid)

Go Braves!!!

 

I’ll talk at you all again later.

“is there no standard anymore…?…..RESPECT, WALK”