Now comes reliever Armando Benitez’ first true test as a Met: how he handles adversity.
Benitez, the former Orioles’ hothead, has built up so much good will within the Mets’ organization across the first two months that no one is concerned that Benitez has three blown saves in his past 11 outings, finally showing some chinks in his armor.
While his recent stretch is not terrible, it also isn’t what he did in his first nine outings when his ERA stood at 0.00, fanning 15 over 92/3 innings.
”He’s still doing great,” manager Bobby Valentine said.
Sure, just ask Brewers’ Marquis Grissom how great. On Tuesday night, the Milwaukee center fielder Grissom belted a 95 MPH Benitez fastball over the left-field wall for a game-winning three-run dinger in the eighth.
But it’s true. Benitez was smoking until that point, striking out the first two batters before falling behind Grissom 3-1.
”I’m pitching no different,” said Benitez, whose ERA is now 2.25. ”I had to throw a strike and he hit it. I had a mechanics problem two weeks ago and worked on it in the bullpen. My mechanics are fine now. Next time [against Grissom], I’ll know better what to do.”
Valentine still sounds like he’s ready to give Benitez the team’s MVP award.
”I saw him strike out two guys in the middle of their order on eight pitches [Tuesday],” Valentine said. ”No one else does that in this league. Even [Tuesday] night when they hit one, it looks bad, but when you throw 97 and you make contact, it goes a long way. He’s been our savior. He’s been as big a part of this team as anyone there is and will remain that way.”
Valentine admits he had concerns when Benitez joined the squad. All are erased now.
”I’ve been really impressed he’s been as consistently ready to pitch, that he’s executed his pitches as consistently as he has,” Valentine said. ”I think he’s just getting better.”
It’s nice Benitez has this type of support because he wore out his welcome in Baltimore, where the coaching staff didn’t come to his defense following the Tino Martinez beanball incident.
”I’m very happy, I’m fine here, I like it here, I’m comfortable here,” Benitez said.
