Braves release reliever Jeff Bennett

by gondeee on Jul 30, 2009 9:28 PM EDT

(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.

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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?

by yondaime4 on Jul 30, 2009 9:31 PM EDT reply actions

Some of us liked him. :( He’s one of the few about whom I didn’t hear any screwing-around stories.

by Lauren T. on Jul 30, 2009 9:53 PM EDT reply actions

Probably

Just couldn’t find a willing participant…

"The crows seemed to be calling his name, thought Caw."

by WienerDog on Jul 31, 2009 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions

I liked him.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 31, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

The circle is complete

My wife’s autograph ball from Baseball 101 2008 now features entirely ex-Braves.

~~Ruben Gotay~~
~~Royce Ring~~
~~Chris Resop~~
~~Blaine Boyer~~
~~Jeff Bennett~~

I swear, that thing is like Final Destination for Braves players.

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Jul 30, 2009 10:24 PM EDT reply actions

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.

by Bronn on Jul 30, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

played ~~right field~~ left field….

by Bronn on Jul 30, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Is KJ's on that ball?

:-)

"The crows seemed to be calling his name, thought Caw."

by WienerDog on Jul 31, 2009 7:55 AM EDT up reply actions

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.

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Jul 31, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

LOL

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 31, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

"which is fawful."

I can tell you’ve been drinking tonight. lol.

by JurrjensFan on Jul 30, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

isn't that a contraction?

for fucking awful

Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.

by VivaLosBravos on Jul 30, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

yep

by gondeee on Jul 31, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

…which is different than any other night for gondeee how?

"Here comes Bream! Here's the throw to the plate! He is...safe! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!...Braves win!"

by jug on Jul 31, 2009 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions

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 !

by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Jul 30, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions

They jerked his pay for caring.

Did they do that to Smoltz when he ironed his chest?

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 31, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

good riddance

by nuftjedi on Jul 30, 2009 11:29 PM EDT reply actions

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.

"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Jul 31, 2009 3:44 AM EDT reply actions

Haven't seen Smoltz' Beard lately

But I think we all owe him a collective “I’ll told you so…”

by fphjr01 on Jul 31, 2009 8:21 AM EDT reply actions

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…

by michaelcooksey on Jul 31, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions