September 9th, 2006: The Stanton Effect

Stanton gets win as Giants rout Pads 5-4 in 11

SAN FRANCISCO - Most writers will sit and talk up the performance of Bonds, Hillenbrand or even Sweeney's ninth inning heroics. Without a blink, I would be the first to grant credit to Durham and his ultimate game winning triple. Lets for a second take a new look however and see where we were before last week.

Put simply, signing Armando Benitez was clearly one of the biggest mistakes in recent Giants history. While Sabean acknowledged the Edgardo Alfonzo fiasco, he at the very least was given the opportunity to save face in a straight swap with the Angels for Steve Finley. The last time I checked, Alfonzo was working his way back to the majors in Toronto's farm system.

The Benitez situation was interesting however. Baseball at times seemed to actually bail him out. With an exception of maybe one or two outings, Benitez has been a hitable pitcher all season long.

The main problem with the veteran closer was that he never knew it. He considered three hard hit balls into the defense an out. Then the following week, those balls by no one's surprise would drop or leave the ballpark. Opposed to showing a hint of humility, Benitez took to blaming the fans for forgetting the three successful but shaky outings he had accumulated the week before.

Not only did his splitter not split, but the fallen closer was a power pitcher who didn't realize he no longer had power.

Anyone in baseball will tell you closing is the hardest job in the business. Not only do you get the loss on your record, but it determines how your team goes into the clubhouse and the next day.

This was precisely why Termell Sledge's homerun tonight seemed even more strange, only his second in the majors both of which against the Giants. The first had been against Armando Benitez, the beginning point of a freefall just after a five game winning streak and a short lived lead in the National League West.

Why you ask after a win like today's should I rehash the nasty points of the season? One word: appreciation.

There was not one person in San Francisco who understood why Brian Sabean brought Mike Stanton in from Washington before the trade deadline.

"We were seeking experience, and the fact that he's left-handed made it a win-win," said Sabean. Seeking experience for a team already loaded with veterans?

No one would have thought that the 39 year old would prove to be the Randy Winn of 2006. This past week, Stanton has pitched seven scoreless innings recording a win and four saves. In a bullpen of pitchers that Felipe Alou termed not "closer types", the veteran pitcher took the position by default. In the league since 1989, Alou figured he was the likely to be the least tense in tight situations. Looks like the move paid off.

Bonds has turned on, Hillenbrand has looked like the player we picked up, Cain has lived up to his potential and Durham has decided to play through injuries and shown real promise. There are a number of reasons why this team has turned around.

Just make sure not to forget number 38 out there. If Benitez has taught Giants fans anything this season, it's that closing's not easy.