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04-08-2004, 06:23 AM
<b>Pitcher pulls cap low to keep under control</b>
ST. LOUIS -- The Brewers' latest Rule 5 Draft project says that he wears his cap low for a reason.
With runners at first and second and the potential tying run to the plate, 23-year-old right-hander Jeff Bennett -- at least we think it was Bennett, as his face was buried somewhere under the brim of his cap -- trotted in from the bullpen for the first time in his fledgling Major League career.
More than 26,000 Cardinals fans -- plus thousands of bright-red seats -- filled Busch Stadium, a cavern compared with Bennett's old haunts at Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Nashville.
"I look at the catcher and that's all," said Bennett, whose first name is actually David (Jeffrey is his middle name). "You can look at the stands in batting practice."
Bennett, who pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in an eventual 7-5 Brewers win, said that he was able to block out the fans and keep his pulse under control because of that cap, which sits right at his eyebrows. The bill remains perfectly straight so that Bennett can check runners on base, which he did not do often during a lights-out Spring Training that won him a job.
Manager Ned Yost's response?
"He's lying."
A few seconds after Bennett's first pitch, his nerves made their Major League debut.
"He told [catcher Chad] Moeller what sign we were going to use," said Yost, "and then, after the first pitch, he had forgotten what it was. There was a little bit of adrenaline flowing there."
To say the least.
"I was focused on just throwing fastballs, just drawing back and throwing it," said Bennett. "I wasn't even thinking of anything else."
The Brewers plucked Bennett in last winter's Rule 5 Draft after the Pittsburgh organization decided not to protect him on its 40-man roster. Under draft rules, the Brewers paid the Pirates $50,000 for Bennett's rights and must keep him on the 25-man roster all season or risk losing him to Pittsburgh for $25,000.
"I'm glad I'm here, and I hope to stay here," said Bennett. "If they want to keep me, I have to perform. I understand that."
Bennett, who did not allow any runs in 10 2/3 spring innings, is more advanced than last season's Rule 5 Brewers, left-hander Matt Ford and infielder Enrique Cruz (the No. 1 pick overall from the Mets). Both of those players had never appeared above Class A, whereas Bennett made nine appearances, including five starts last season at Triple-A after going 4-4 with a 2.72 ERA in 31 relief appearances and two starts at Double-A.
"We like him because he's a competitor," said Yost. "Throwing him in the fire like that in his first Major League appearance, that's not the ideal situation. We have enough confidence in him to do it. So, have at it, kid."
Bennett doused the Cardinals' seventh-inning rally when he induced a pair of flyouts to left field, one of which barely stayed close enough to the field for Geoff Jenkins to catch.
Bennett could have gotten out of the eighth inning had shortstop Craig Counsell not slipped on a possible double-play ball. With two on and two outs, Yost called on Luis Vizcaino, who induced an inning-ending lineout.
With a bullpen stocked mostly with middle relievers, Bennett would be a huge boost if he proves that he can handle late-inning situations.
Yost said that it did not take long for the Tennessee native to prove he belonged on the roster.
"Really, you watch a guy throwing on the side early in Spring Training and, in the back of your mind, you keep him until he proves that he can't do this," said Yost. "He never did. First impressions are really big."
ST. LOUIS -- The Brewers' latest Rule 5 Draft project says that he wears his cap low for a reason.
With runners at first and second and the potential tying run to the plate, 23-year-old right-hander Jeff Bennett -- at least we think it was Bennett, as his face was buried somewhere under the brim of his cap -- trotted in from the bullpen for the first time in his fledgling Major League career.
More than 26,000 Cardinals fans -- plus thousands of bright-red seats -- filled Busch Stadium, a cavern compared with Bennett's old haunts at Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Nashville.
"I look at the catcher and that's all," said Bennett, whose first name is actually David (Jeffrey is his middle name). "You can look at the stands in batting practice."
Bennett, who pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in an eventual 7-5 Brewers win, said that he was able to block out the fans and keep his pulse under control because of that cap, which sits right at his eyebrows. The bill remains perfectly straight so that Bennett can check runners on base, which he did not do often during a lights-out Spring Training that won him a job.
Manager Ned Yost's response?
"He's lying."
A few seconds after Bennett's first pitch, his nerves made their Major League debut.
"He told [catcher Chad] Moeller what sign we were going to use," said Yost, "and then, after the first pitch, he had forgotten what it was. There was a little bit of adrenaline flowing there."
To say the least.
"I was focused on just throwing fastballs, just drawing back and throwing it," said Bennett. "I wasn't even thinking of anything else."
The Brewers plucked Bennett in last winter's Rule 5 Draft after the Pittsburgh organization decided not to protect him on its 40-man roster. Under draft rules, the Brewers paid the Pirates $50,000 for Bennett's rights and must keep him on the 25-man roster all season or risk losing him to Pittsburgh for $25,000.
"I'm glad I'm here, and I hope to stay here," said Bennett. "If they want to keep me, I have to perform. I understand that."
Bennett, who did not allow any runs in 10 2/3 spring innings, is more advanced than last season's Rule 5 Brewers, left-hander Matt Ford and infielder Enrique Cruz (the No. 1 pick overall from the Mets). Both of those players had never appeared above Class A, whereas Bennett made nine appearances, including five starts last season at Triple-A after going 4-4 with a 2.72 ERA in 31 relief appearances and two starts at Double-A.
"We like him because he's a competitor," said Yost. "Throwing him in the fire like that in his first Major League appearance, that's not the ideal situation. We have enough confidence in him to do it. So, have at it, kid."
Bennett doused the Cardinals' seventh-inning rally when he induced a pair of flyouts to left field, one of which barely stayed close enough to the field for Geoff Jenkins to catch.
Bennett could have gotten out of the eighth inning had shortstop Craig Counsell not slipped on a possible double-play ball. With two on and two outs, Yost called on Luis Vizcaino, who induced an inning-ending lineout.
With a bullpen stocked mostly with middle relievers, Bennett would be a huge boost if he proves that he can handle late-inning situations.
Yost said that it did not take long for the Tennessee native to prove he belonged on the roster.
"Really, you watch a guy throwing on the side early in Spring Training and, in the back of your mind, you keep him until he proves that he can't do this," said Yost. "He never did. First impressions are really big."