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Bengie Molina

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Bengie Molina
Free Agent – No. --
Catcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
September 21, 1998, for the Anaheim Angels
Career statistics
(through 2010 season)
Batting average.274
Home runs144
Runs batted in711
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Benjamin José "Bengie" Molina (born July 20, 1974, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico), nicknamed "Big Money",[2] is a Major League Baseball catcher who is currently retired.

He is the middle brother of major league catchers José Molina and Yadier Molina. After being initially regarded as a "good glove, no hit" catcher, Molina developed into a free-swinging power hitter in addition to retaining his solid defense. However, at 5' 11" and weighing 225 pounds, he is regarded as one of the slowest baserunners in the game.

High school

Molina graduated from the Maestro Ladí High School with honors in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico.

College

Molina played shortstop for Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona, in 1991 and 1992.

Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim

Molina batting for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005.

Molina won a Gold Glove as the top defensive player at his position in consecutive seasons in 2002 and 2003. Regarded as an exceptional ball blocker and blessed with a strong arm, he is frequently regarded by both pundits and fans alike as one of the strongest defensive catchers in the game and a very good contact hitter. Molina's ability to make proven contact with the ball is evident in the difficulty opposing pitchers have in striking him out. With just 331 career strikeouts (at the culmination of the 2007 regular-season), he posted the highest total of at-bats in between strikeouts in the American league in 2000, going an average 14.3 at-bats in between strikeouts.

He first played two games for the Anaheim Angels in 1998, and after a handful of games in 1999, he became the Angels' regular catcher in 2000 and remained so through the 2005 season. Over his last few seasons with the Angels, his backup at catcher there was his brother José Molina. Their younger brother Yadier is also a catcher and plays for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Molina was the catcher in the play in game 5 of the 2002 World Series when J.T. Snow lifted Darren Baker, the young son of Giants manager Dusty Baker, out of harm's way in front of Molina and ahead of David Bell.

Toronto Blue Jays

Bengie Molina's contract with the Angels expired after the 2005 season, and the team decided not pursue his return because of the salary he would demand. He signed a 1-year $5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, with a mutual option for a second year. While it was expected that he would catch the majority of the Jays' 2006 season with Gregg Zaun serving as his backup, Molina's difficulties with right-handed pitchers led to the Jays employing a platoon system.

After signing with the Blue Jays, Molina expressed his anger at the Angels over how he parted company with them. "The way they let me go without a notice, without calling me, that said a lot," Molina said. "That's what really hurts me. I think I built a good relationship with them," he said. "They never let me know. They just threw me like a piece of trash."[3] Molina's agent, Alan Nero, later confirmed however, that both he and Molina had in fact received calls from the Angels informing them of the team's decisions. Nero suggested that Molina's comments to the contrary were borne from his disappointment and frustration over not being retained by the Angels, as he had hoped to be.

San Francisco Giants

Molina during his tenure with the San Francisco Giants in 2008.

After the 2006 season, Molina became a free agent and signed three-year $16 million deal with San Francisco.[4]

Molina hit his 100th home run on September 5, 2007 off of Jorge Julio in the sixth inning of a 5–3 win against the Colorado Rockies.[5]

Molina was announced as the Willie Mac Award winner for 2007 (for spirit and leadership) in a pregame ceremony on September 21, 2007. He got the most out of 1,617 votes from the fans.[6] Later in that September 21 game, Molina knocked in career RBI number 500 in the bottom of the first on a single that scored Dave Roberts. They eventually lost the game to the Cincinnati Reds 9–8 in 11 innings. In 2007 Molina walked only 2.9% of the time, the lowest percentage in the NL.[7]

On September 26, 2008, Molina became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run and not get credit for a run scored. In the 6th inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he hit a ball off the right field wall at AT&T Park which the umpire called in fair play, and wound up at first base. Emmanuel Burriss immediately ran out to first base to pinch run for Molina before anyone else could intervene, as Giants manager Bruce Bochy discussed the matter with the umpires.[8] However, the umpires used instant replay and subsequently ruled the hit a home run, but refused Bochy the opportunity to reinsert Molina into the game. San Francisco continued the game under protest, but won 6–5 in the 10th inning. Preceding the same game, Molina had received the Willie Mac Award for the second year in a row.[8]

In 2009 he led the majors in sacrifice flies (with 11), and received an unintentional walk in only 1.9% of his plate appearances, the lowest percentage in the NL for those with at least 350 PA.[9][10]

On January 19, 2010, Molina re-signed a 1 year $4.5 million contract with the San Francisco Giants.[11]

Texas Rangers

Molina playing for the Texas Rangers in 2010

Following one of the team's longer losing streaks of the season, and the sudden emergence of rookie catcher Buster Posey, Molina was traded to the Texas Rangers on June 30, 2010, for relief pitcher Chris Ray and a player to be named later, which was minor league RHP Michael Main.[12] As two of the Giants' best pitchers commented upon Molina's departure, his contributions to the Giants were very significant. "He helped me mature and succeed. I've said time and time again that he deserves half of those awards that I've gotten," said Tim Lincecum, the reigning two-time National League Cy Young Award winner. "The things he's done for me – for calling a game, to give me confidence throwing different pitches in different counts – really, really, really benefited me," Matt Cain said of Molina.[13]

Notorious for his lack of baserunning ability, on July 16, 2010, Molina hit for the cycle against Boston. He had (in order) a single, double, home run (grand slam), and triple. He was then pinch run for and left the game in the top of the 8th inning after hitting the triple, with a leg injury. He is the fifth Texas Ranger to hit for the cycle. He is also the first catcher in MLB history to hit a grand slam and hit for the cycle in the same game.

During the 2010 American League Division Series Molina (again despite his poor baserunning ability) stole a base in Game 5, his first in over four years. He also had a home run in Game 1.

In Game 4 of the 2010 American League Championship Series, with 2 outs in the 6th inning and the Rangers trailing the New York Yankees, 3–2, Molina hit a 3-run home run off A. J. Burnett. The home run, arguably one of the most important in Rangers history, proved to be the game-winner for the Rangers and gave the underdog Rangers a commanding 3–1 lead in the series. The Rangers won again sending them to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Bengie contributed throughout the World Series but could not save the Rangers. The Giants beat the Rangers 4 games to 1.

Since the Texas Rangers made it to the World Series, along with the San Francisco Giants, Bengie Molina became the sixth player all-time to play for the two World Series teams in the same season.[14] Due to having played for both Giants and Rangers during the 2010 season, Molina was guaranteed to receive a World Series ring regardless of whether his current or former team won the World Series.[15] In the 2010 World Series, Molina batted only .182 with one RBI as the Giants (his former team) went on to defeat the Rangers (his current team at the time).

See also

Two of the three Molina brothers.

References

  1. ^ Formally known as the Anaheim Angels through the 2004 season.
  2. ^ Daniel Brown (March 18, 2010). "Giants: Bengie Molina chased down his dream". MercuryNews.com. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  3. ^ "Molina angry at Angels; Hillenbrand to stay with Jays". Associated Press. February 9, 2006.
  4. ^ Draper, Rich (December 6, 2006). "Giants lock up Gold Glover Molina". MLB.com. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
  5. ^ Shea, John (September 6, 2007). "762 is no match for 100; Molina hits career milestone, Bonds extends record". San Francisco Chronicle.
  6. ^ "Molina wins 'Willie Mac' Award". MLB.com. September 21, 2007.
  7. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2007 » Batters » Advanced Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Molina's instant-replay homer sparks Giant's 10th-inning defeat of Dodgers". ESPN.com. September 26, 2008.
  9. ^ "Player Batting Stats – 2009," ' 'ESPN'', accessed October 9, 2009". Espn.go.com. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  10. ^ ""Fangraphs," accessed October 10, 2009". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  11. ^ "Molina Signing Deal To Stay With SF Giants". cbs5.com. January 19, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2010. [dead link]
  12. ^ Bollinger, Rhett (June 30, 2010). "Rangers make deal to acquire Giants' Molina". MLB.com. {{cite web}}: Text "2010-07-01" ignored (help); Text "accessdate" ignored (help)
  13. ^ Haft, Chris (July 1, 2010). "Molina trade could pave way for another deal". MLB.com. {{cite web}}: Text "2010-07-01" ignored (help); Text "accessdate" ignored (help)
  14. ^ Hickey, John. "Bengie Molina Has Rooting Interest in Both Rangers, Giants." MLB Fanhouse. Fanhouse. 10/21/10. Web. 10/24/10. http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/10/21/bengie-molina-has-rooting-interest-in-both-rangers-giants/
  15. ^ Harding, Thomas (November 2, 2010). "Molina gets ring, but not the way he planned". MLB.com. {{cite web}}: Text "2010-11-02" ignored (help); Text "accessdate" ignored (help)

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