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http://www.register-herald.com/todayssportsfront/x1241063259/Benson-makes-a-perfect-delivery
The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia
July 14, 2011
Benson makes a perfect delivery
By Dave Morrison
Sports Editor
— Former Major League pitcher Kris Benson was the perfect speaker for the Prospect League All-Star Banquet Wednesday at the Mountaineer Conference Center on Harper Road.
He knows exactly where the Prospect League stars are, mainly because he was one of them himself back in 1994, between his freshman and sophomore years at Clemson.
“We had the host family up there,” Benson recalled of his summer experience in the Cape Cod League, the pre-eminent summer league for college players.
“We had a job, and we went in there and made a little bit of money in the morning and went to the field in the afternoon and played some good baseball. We had some fun on the beach. So, it was a memorable summer.”
Benson went on to enjoy a somewhat productive, and profitable, career as a Major League pitcher with five organizations before retiring earlier this year at 36.
But he remembers his time in the cleats of the guys he addressed Wednesday, how it served him well and could potentially do the same for them.
“More than anything, it was the competition level,” Benson said. “These guys are going to be in front of some pretty good competition.
“Plus, it’s your first experience being away from home and being responsible away from a college atmosphere.
“Getting ready from a big league standpoint, I think it was just the level of talent and how it improved every single year.”
Even for guys who aren’t the man on their respective college clubs.
“I got an opportunity to pitch in the Cape (Cod League), but it wasn’t like I was the best pitcher on the Clemson team,” Benson said. “I wasn’t even the best pitcher in the Cape. I opted out of the Cape my second year, opted to get in some summer school and got in the weight room and went about (improving) that way.
“But times have changed since I was there, 17-18 years ago. These leagues are great for exposure and great from a pure competition standpoint.”
Benson still considers himself a Pittsburgh Pirate, though he spent time with the New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks during his 10-year Major League career. He had a 70-75 career record and a 4.42 ERA during a career that was hampered by no less than eight arm injuries.
“I was there the longest, I was drafted by them, and that’s where most of my long-standing relationships are,” Benson said. “I lived in Pittsburgh for five-and-a-half years.
“I’ve got a lot of memories; I was in the organization for seven-and-a-half years,” Benson said. “So, I had* spent a lot of time there. It’s nice to see that they are finally coming around with their goal of getting over .500. It’s been fun to watch them.”
And baseball, in general, for the 6-foot-4, 205-pound right-hander. Especially with pitchers dominating the big league landscape.
“Nowadays there are a lot more younger players, younger hitters, out there,” Benson said. “My first big league game, I was pitching against Gary Gaetti, Mickey Morandini, Sammy Sosa, Mark Grace. You don’t see those type of lineups anymore unless you’re pitching against the Yankees or the Red Sox.
“There are a lot more younger players so the learning curve is still being adjusted to. So the pitchers are thriving off that a little bit.”
Benson never did make an all-star roster but came close.
“I had a chance during my second year, but they ended up picking Ryan Dempster from Florida, because Florida did not have a representative on their team going,” Benson said. “My numbers were better, but at the same time, (Florida) needed to have that representation.”
Still, he is for every team being represented.
“I was disappointed at the time, but it’s a system that works,” Benson said. “Everybody has somebody that they should send. I think the system was fine. When I was playing, I think it would have been hard to justify sending three guys from the Pirates because we were a last-place team. It’s different now. They’re only a game out of first place.”
Pittsburgh was represented in Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game by center fielder Andrew McCutchen and pitchers Joel Hanrahan and Kevin Correia.
Benson also remembered one of his plays in particular. His first, and only, home run, off former teammate and Mets ace Pedro Martinez, June 18, 2006, in a game the Orioles, and Benson, would win 4-2.
“I had got traded to Baltimore from New York, and we came back to play an interleague game against the Mets,” Benson said. “It was me and Pedro going against each other. I have a lot of respect for Pedro because I learned a lot from him.
“I gave up two quick runs and came back in my second at-bat and hit it on a 3-1 count.* Fortunately, the ball landed in our bullpen so I was able to get the ball. It’s sitting right there in the middle of the mantle.”
Benson spoke to the all-stars for over 25 minutes and was presented with a Miners sweatshirt and a leather briefcase by Miners manager Tim Epling.
All 54 all-stars received their all-star plaques during the banquet.
— E-mail: demorrison@register-herald.com
The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia
July 14, 2011
Benson makes a perfect delivery
By Dave Morrison
Sports Editor
— Former Major League pitcher Kris Benson was the perfect speaker for the Prospect League All-Star Banquet Wednesday at the Mountaineer Conference Center on Harper Road.
He knows exactly where the Prospect League stars are, mainly because he was one of them himself back in 1994, between his freshman and sophomore years at Clemson.
“We had the host family up there,” Benson recalled of his summer experience in the Cape Cod League, the pre-eminent summer league for college players.
“We had a job, and we went in there and made a little bit of money in the morning and went to the field in the afternoon and played some good baseball. We had some fun on the beach. So, it was a memorable summer.”
Benson went on to enjoy a somewhat productive, and profitable, career as a Major League pitcher with five organizations before retiring earlier this year at 36.
But he remembers his time in the cleats of the guys he addressed Wednesday, how it served him well and could potentially do the same for them.
“More than anything, it was the competition level,” Benson said. “These guys are going to be in front of some pretty good competition.
“Plus, it’s your first experience being away from home and being responsible away from a college atmosphere.
“Getting ready from a big league standpoint, I think it was just the level of talent and how it improved every single year.”
Even for guys who aren’t the man on their respective college clubs.
“I got an opportunity to pitch in the Cape (Cod League), but it wasn’t like I was the best pitcher on the Clemson team,” Benson said. “I wasn’t even the best pitcher in the Cape. I opted out of the Cape my second year, opted to get in some summer school and got in the weight room and went about (improving) that way.
“But times have changed since I was there, 17-18 years ago. These leagues are great for exposure and great from a pure competition standpoint.”
Benson still considers himself a Pittsburgh Pirate, though he spent time with the New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks during his 10-year Major League career. He had a 70-75 career record and a 4.42 ERA during a career that was hampered by no less than eight arm injuries.
“I was there the longest, I was drafted by them, and that’s where most of my long-standing relationships are,” Benson said. “I lived in Pittsburgh for five-and-a-half years.
“I’ve got a lot of memories; I was in the organization for seven-and-a-half years,” Benson said. “So, I had* spent a lot of time there. It’s nice to see that they are finally coming around with their goal of getting over .500. It’s been fun to watch them.”
And baseball, in general, for the 6-foot-4, 205-pound right-hander. Especially with pitchers dominating the big league landscape.
“Nowadays there are a lot more younger players, younger hitters, out there,” Benson said. “My first big league game, I was pitching against Gary Gaetti, Mickey Morandini, Sammy Sosa, Mark Grace. You don’t see those type of lineups anymore unless you’re pitching against the Yankees or the Red Sox.
“There are a lot more younger players so the learning curve is still being adjusted to. So the pitchers are thriving off that a little bit.”
Benson never did make an all-star roster but came close.
“I had a chance during my second year, but they ended up picking Ryan Dempster from Florida, because Florida did not have a representative on their team going,” Benson said. “My numbers were better, but at the same time, (Florida) needed to have that representation.”
Still, he is for every team being represented.
“I was disappointed at the time, but it’s a system that works,” Benson said. “Everybody has somebody that they should send. I think the system was fine. When I was playing, I think it would have been hard to justify sending three guys from the Pirates because we were a last-place team. It’s different now. They’re only a game out of first place.”
Pittsburgh was represented in Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game by center fielder Andrew McCutchen and pitchers Joel Hanrahan and Kevin Correia.
Benson also remembered one of his plays in particular. His first, and only, home run, off former teammate and Mets ace Pedro Martinez, June 18, 2006, in a game the Orioles, and Benson, would win 4-2.
“I had got traded to Baltimore from New York, and we came back to play an interleague game against the Mets,” Benson said. “It was me and Pedro going against each other. I have a lot of respect for Pedro because I learned a lot from him.
“I gave up two quick runs and came back in my second at-bat and hit it on a 3-1 count.* Fortunately, the ball landed in our bullpen so I was able to get the ball. It’s sitting right there in the middle of the mantle.”
Benson spoke to the all-stars for over 25 minutes and was presented with a Miners sweatshirt and a leather briefcase by Miners manager Tim Epling.
All 54 all-stars received their all-star plaques during the banquet.
— E-mail: demorrison@register-herald.com
