Benson on the move

June 27, 2008   ·   Paul Raymond   ·   Jump to comments

Despite the recent tailspin of the Philadelphia Phillies there could be some good news on the horizon. The long awaited appearance at Citizens Bank Park of Kris Benson is drawing closer. The right handed pitcher has been promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley (Hey maybe the Iron Pigs will finally win a game). Benson has already had two rehab starts for Single-A Clearwater. Benson is on the move, but is that a good thing?

Benson was atrocious in Single-A, down right pitiful, if I could think of any more terms right now believe me I’d use them. Benson’s fastball has been clocked at consistently at 89 mph so the velocity is there, but the talent has not seemed to follow. In his two starts, he’s 0-2 with an 8.10 era. Granted most of the damage was done in his first start. In his last appearance he went 4 and 2/3 innings giving up 7 hits, a walk, and only one run. Is one good appearance enough to warrant a promotion thou? If a 22-year old prospect had those kind of numbers you better believe he wouldn’t be jumping two levels. Then again Benson has been a major leaguer for many years, so I guess he was given some respect here.

“It’s important for him to be challenged and to get a better assessment on how he will handle pitching against better competition,” Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.

Challenged?? I’d think one or two more starts at Single-A is clearly need as those kids have definitely been giving him a challenge. I think the fact alone that the Phillies have been exploring every possible trade for a starting pitching shows how much faith they actually have in this guy being a productive major leaguer again. Thats evident by Amaro’s statement that there is no timetable still for his return. Typically when a pitcher reaches Triple-A after an injury he’s one or two starts away. “I think he’s feeling a little more comfortable, a little stronger,” Amaro said. “A lot of it depends on how much more he improves.”

Trust me, if he has two starts in Triple-A with a 8.10 era there two, he’s going to be cut faster then a ball hit out of the Bank.

Summers heating up and so is the Phillies schedule as interleague play draws to a close. There are some pretty big games coming up including a four-game series against the New York Mets 4th of July weekend. Including a FIREWORKS night! And trust me, there are plenty of great seats still available.

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