(News is always bound to happen when I'm drinking at the pub.) The Braves released the unpopular reliever Jeff Bennett on Thursday. The AJC has the details:
The Braves didn’t announce it at the time, but they suspended his pay beginning June 25. He filed a grievance with the players association and continued his rehab, including two recent minor-league appearances.
When the grievance was heard, the Braves were directed to either "cure the default" by giving him his back pay for the period he was suspended, or allow him to become a free agent. Braves media-relations director Brad Hainje said Bennett requested the team release him from his contract, which they did.
Bennett had a good-looking line on the surface, okay, a good-looking 3.18 ERA, but as we all know ERA can be deceiving. He had a 1.85 WHIP, which is sub-pedestrian. He also had an .836 OPS-against, which is fawful. Jeff Bennett's 3.18 ERA is probably the most hollow 3-something ERA in the history of the game.
With some terrible losses, he was much maligned by Braves fans, including the game which led to his wall-punching incident that landed him on the DL. I like the hard line that the Braves took by essentially not paying him for being an idiot -- well done front office.
No big loss for Atlanta. Addition by subtraction, and we open up a 40-man roster spot for Jason Hey...... did I say that? If you're a corner outfielder for Atlanta you better not get injured in the next few months.
0 recs | 20 comments
you know I was thinking about this today, what happens if a roster spot opens and an OF gets hurts=? Do we really call on Blanco?
yondaime4 - July 30, 2009
Some of us liked him. :( He’s one of the few about whom I didn’t hear any screwing-around stories.
Lauren T. - July 30, 2009
Probably
Just couldn’t find a willing participant…
WienerDog - July 31, 2009
I liked him.
MichaelProcton - July 31, 2009
The circle is complete
My wife’s autograph ball from Baseball 101 2008 now features entirely ex-Braves.
Ruben GotayRoyce RingChris ResopBlaine BoyerJeff BennettI swear, that thing is like Final Destination for Braves players.
10-4 - July 30, 2009
I kind wish Chris Resop was still here. Not because he’s great, or anything, but because he pitched, played right field, and then pitched again in the same inning. Utter failure, but still cool.
Bronn - July 30, 2009
played
right fieldleft field….Bronn - July 30, 2009
Is KJ's on that ball?
:-)
WienerDog - July 31, 2009
no, i have his autograph on other things. But this year’s ball has Bennett, Diaz, Moylan, O’Flaherty, and Carlyle. I would be watching my back if i were them. Bennett got released, and Buddy got diabetes. Not looking good for the other 3.
10-4 - July 31, 2009
LOL
MichaelProcton - July 31, 2009
"which is fawful."
I can tell you’ve been drinking tonight. lol.
JurrjensFan - July 30, 2009
isn't that a contraction?
for fucking awful
VivaLosBravos - July 30, 2009
yep
gondeee - July 31, 2009
…which is different than any other night for gondeee how?
jug - July 31, 2009
Good Bye !
Hey I cannot believe the guy filed a grievance, it is was not for us he would have been out of the majors two years ago after Brew Crew released his sorry ass. Jeff Bennett go to Japan an never return say high to Resop, and Matt Franco.
Later loser !
Holty_Panthers_Fan - July 30, 2009
They jerked his pay for caring.
Did they do that to Smoltz when he ironed his chest?
MichaelProcton - July 31, 2009
good riddance
nuftjedi - July 30, 2009
I like that they weren’t paying him. You shouldn’t be able to punch a wall, breaking your hand, and still get paid.
Jeff always been a great guy to me, but he wasn’t pitching very well this year and his last move with the team was just stupid. Hopefully he can do better for his next team.
cbwilk - July 31, 2009
Haven't seen Smoltz' Beard lately
But I think we all owe him a collective “I’ll told you so…”
fphjr01 - July 31, 2009
Give Heyward a shot
I say once the roster’s expand that Heyward should defn get a shot to come up and play some. It won’t hurt to have him come up and make a few spot starts and have him pinch hit a few times. Having him see some big league pitching may give us a better idea of things he may need to work on in he AFL and spring training next year. And who knows, it seems as though he is getting better as he gets promoted, maybe he won’t really need that big of an adjustment to big league hitting. Doing this and not putting the pressure on him to perform in the way we did Schaefer could be something that works out…
michaelcooksey - July 31, 2009
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