Time to get some rest
It’s packing day in the Molina household – though Jamie has been filling and taping boxes for the past couple weeks. We’re almost done and about to take a break to get a bite to eat at Bubba Gump’s or Benihana then finish when we get back.
This is our autumn ritual. We move into a house in the spring and move out in the fall. This year we lived in a great place in the Marina, though the four stories started to wear on my knees as the season progressed. Still, we loved being so close to the water and to Crissy Field.
We’ll drive one car back to Yuma tomorrow — it’s about a 10-hour trip — and have the second car shipped. We loaded up a 16-foot U-Haul and hired two of the clubbies to drive it home for us, then we’ll fly them back to San Francisco. It will be great to see my girls every weekend and take some trips with them this winter. We plan to go to Puerto Rico for Christmas – both my brothers will be there, too.
Javier came up with a great idea. January 6 is The Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, in Latin American countries. We put some grass and a cup of water in a box or a basket and put it under a bed for the kings’ camels. The kings come to visit, and like Santa Claus, leave gifts for the children. So my two brothers and I are going to dress up like the three kings and give away toys to the poor. I think it’s a terrific idea and I’m looking forward to meeting all the children and their parents and maybe making their holiday a little happier.
What I’ll do first when I get home, though, is put ice on my knees – for about a month. I’ll rest a lot and let my legs get back to normal. Then I’ll start working out again. I work out in the offseason with a trainer in Yuma. We go to the gym from 11 a.m. to about 1:30 then I rest for a bit. Then we run the stadium steps and do agility exercises. Then I rest again. Then we do another hour of cardio in the evening. By the start of spring training, I’m working out seven days a week.
We couldn’t have asked for a better game to end the season yesterday. I’m so happy that we were able to get Timmy the win and give voters another reason to pick him for the Cy Young. I think he should win it but it’s not a slam dunk. There are other guys who make a good case. But he has my vote, for sure. He should have had about 23 wins instead of 18, but we just didn’t score enough runs for him.
It was really tough in the clubhouse after the game saying good-bye to everyone. You’re together for about 185 games, through a long season, and you become like a true family. You’re looking forward to the rest and relaxation of the off-season, but you’re sad to leave, too. I’m not very good at saying goodbye. It’s very uncomfortable. Sometimes I have so much I want to say but I can’t because it’s so overwhelming. So you just say goodbye.
Saying good-bye to Omar might have been the toughest one. I did manage to tell him how I felt about him. I told him how much I appreciated his friendship, his knowledge of the game, his help and his positive mind. I wanted to make sure he knows we all love him and hope he’ll be back. The ovation the fans gave him yesterday was unbelievable. I would have cried my eyes out, if it were me. But he was so gracious and composed. I don’t know how he did it.
I better get going if we’re going to have everything packed up by tomorrow morning. Thank you so much for taking this journey with me this season. I truly enjoyed writing this and reading all your posts. I will try my best to post some entries in the off-season, but if I don’t, I’ll start up again in spring training. I’m already missing baseball. OK, almost. Give me a month, then I’ll be counting the days until pitchers and catchers report …
Behind the Mask 
Congratulations on a great season. Thanks for being Mr. Clutch for the Giants. Hope you enjoy your time off.
Monte
I miss you already Bengie! You were so fun to watch, and if we were behind I always knew we had a chance when you came to the plate. I’m really sad about Omar leaving too. I’m so glad you’re coming back next year! I can’t wait til April!! Have a great off-season hanging out with your family! 🙂
Rest those knees!! And enjoy the break, though I’ll probably be counting the days soon, too!
Kaybee-GO PADRES!!
I really enjoyed your blog this year–so great to get a current player’s perspective. Thanks for taking time out of your insane schedule to write. I love watching great catchers work, and you and your brothers are the best! I hope you all have a great well-deserved break! I’m counting the days until spring. 🙂
Sounds like a great off season. Enjoy the break, although I know you’ll be excited once spring training comes around. I know I will be. Hopefully it won’t be as long as it is.
It was sad to see Omar leave. I’ll miss him. I already miss you and everyone else.
That was a great last game. I couldn’t have been more proud of Timmy’s performance. He should win the CY Young. I wish him the best.
I wish you the best in the off season and I’m really looking forward to seeing you and everyone else in spring training!
Katie
Bengie,
Thank you for this season. Especially for the two home runs on my birthday on April 8th. It was a thrill to be there and watch you hit. Have a great rest!
Ida Louise
I really love your blog; you are so articulate and honest! I will miss all of you, and I can’t wait ’til pitchers and catchers report either. You have had a good season, and I loved your “home run>” If anyone deserved it, you did. You are one of the pillars of this giants team, and I look forward to seeing you next year. enjoy your time off. Your dressing up as one of the Kings is wonderful. sounds like you have a great family. Thanks for the thrills.
Lil
Nice season, Bengie! Nearly 100 RBIs! Great! Nice seeing you as Mr. Clutch for the Giants. Congrats on Jose Molina hitting the last homerun at Yankee Stadium. He’s part of history. Can’t wait until next season when we have a chance at contention!
Excellent to see that you enjoy your work so much that it really isn’t work anymore.
Fortunately, I’m almost the same way… 🙂 I’ll be watching you come Spring 2009 (as long as Iran doesn’t start WWIII… 😦 ).
http://shrimpboat.mlblogs.com/
Oh, FYI, I call my blog ShrimpBoat partially from Forrest Gump’s Bubba Gump shrimp boat.
Big Money,
Thanks for another great year. It seemed like everytime there was a big run to drive in – you came up to the plate and were equal to the task – in dramatic fashion. You were fantastic leading the Giants the way you did. Where would they be without you? Also, the way you handled the young guns was excellent! Too bad we couldn’t score more runs for Matt as he deserved more wins. Enjoy your off season, rest up those knees, and hopefully next year will be our year! Take care, Frank A.
Thanks Bengie, for giving fans a glimpse behind the scenes and inviting us into your personal life as well. Not to mention an exciting season of Giants baseball! Also- good luck to Tim on the CY Young Award! He deserves it! 🙂
-Lindsay
Bengie, thanks for making a little old lady very happy watching you play. It has been a thrill to be at the games and watch the action. Thank you for being you and all you do for the game. I am all ready having withdrawls. Best wishes for a well deserved vacation. CJK
Thank You, Bengie, for sharing yourself with us throughout this season. I wish you a restful off-season, and a blessed holiday season with your family. (What great memories “The Catching Molinas” will have from this year!) I will look forward to tuning into your blog again, just as I will look forward to seeing you among the Starting 9 in 2009. Thanks again for a memorable season!
Thank you for allowing us to see your perspective on this season, this team, your family. It has been a refreshing experience to read your blogs. I am not a big computer-person, but I am a huge Giants fan. So to get a ‘behind-the -mask” perspective has been awesome! My family will continue to root for all of the Giants in season 2009 to infinity! We are Giants fans for life! Have a safe & fun journey with your family. I’ll be waiting to read your blog in the Spring.
Bengie have a wonderful off season, enjoy your girls, and your family. You’ve been such a joy to watch for the past few seasons… you’ve definitley earned the title of “my mommy’s boy Bengie” (courtesy of my 3 year old). You’ve given so much to this team and to the fans. I for one can’t ever thank you enough for making my favorite game that much better. Can’t wait for spring training already.
I’ll be waiting patiently for new blogs whenever you find the time. 🙂
Kim
Hey Bengie,
I loved every minute of this season, the heartache of losing the sheer happiness and excitment of winning. I will honestly be lost in this offseason without you guys there. But I know this is the time for reflection and relaxation for every single one of you players. We/you guys ended the season on a great note- BEATING THOSE DODGERS!
I know every single year we people say that “next year is the year”, but I can honestly and truly say that IT WILL BE THE YEAR NEXT YEAR.
With the new prospects and rookies and our vets this time has shown great improvement and can only get better. With the loss of Omar it is truly heart wrenching, but it is the beast of the game. Baseball never truly ends for true ball players. I can only hope his charisma and skills rubbed off on the new kids taking his place on the field..
On a different note, after the game on Sunday I felt somewhat disappointed as I was surrounded by fans, young and old waiting by where you guys valet your cars. There were kids that have been standing there in the “cold”. There was nothing but sad faces all around when after waiting there for almost an hour all they get is wave and a honk good bye to end their devotion of the season. We all know, or I know that this season has been a long enduring season, but some kids do not know that. All they see is their role models and their heroes just honking and waving good bye, if even that. I don’t know if there is some type of protocal after a game to not sign balls, but if you could only hear the sighs and see the let down in the kids it would be a different case.
Benjie:
Thank you for a great season.
The last game of the season was superb and I had a wonderful time.
3-1 – San Francisco, YES!
Congratulations to you on winning the Willie Mac aware for the second year in a row.
Have a great time in Puerto Rico with your family.
God Bless.
Caballo, I know we have talked many time through out this past season. I want to thank you on behalf my family and me, for all the memories and because of the great human being you are. Hope you have great vacation and God Bless!
Danny
Hey Bengie!
Thank you for taking the time to blog and give us your perspective on baseball this season. It’s been a pleasure to read, and I’m honored to be your fan. Thanks for always giving 110% and putting your heart into everything you do.
Enjoy the offseason. Rest those knees, have fun, enjoy your girls and Jamie and know I’ll be here rooting for you starting the day you report to Spring Training.
The best to you always~
Sue
Dear Bengie,
My family and I do not know what baseball, the Giants, and the fans would do without you??!! With Omar possibly leaving or “changing his role”, the young players will need you more than ever. I know you will try to talk Omar in staying at least one more year.
This was some year: It was the best! Thanks to you and Jamie, we got to meet Jamie and you girls; we got to know your mother and father (Blessed be!); and we got to know you and your great history.
Your post season work out sounds great. We confess that we’ve been worried since you described your hand injuries. There has got to be better gloves and/or better “stuff” to
take care that sort of thing on an on-going basis. Anyway you are in our prayers forever.
Please stay safe and like these great fans say “Can’t wait to see you in the Spring!”
Sorry that I have to add this to the blog comments, but check out:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fan_forum/dhl/2008/award.jsp?partnerId=MLB_enews_dhl_dmoy
I may never ship DHL again if they don’t fix this slanted slate. Only *two* NL relief pitchers out of ten and one of them, Lidge, lost the All-Star game for the NL. And, of course, no Brian Wilson, who just got *my* vote, of course… 🙂 Remember to write him in, if you’d like, OK?
(Where’s the Giants email to do the same?)
Enjoy the rest Bengie, great blogging,
Lincecum has been awesome this season, and if he doesn’t get it this year, I’m sure he we have a couple more ahead of him.
Credit to you for molding a young pitcher like that into a Cy Young canidate.
http://homerfoodandhistory.mlblogs.com/
Big Money Molina! I miss you already! And trust me when I say that we are all going to miss Omar just as much as you are! I cant wait till next season! Thanks for all the great memories this season. Me and my girlfriend will be cheering for you next season from the arcade, be sure to hit a few out to us!
Thank you so much,
Daniel
Bengie,
You had a great season and deserve to have some time off to heal and to enjoy your kids growing up. It goes by so fast, first they are just small people running around the house, then they are off to school and becoming the people you will love and admire all your life.
I met Omar V. when he was with Cleveland, and you can’t ask for a classier guy as a friend and team mate.
Beautiful idea for 3 Kings Day. I hope the best for you and your brothers this off-season and look forward to your blogs again real soon.
We miss seeing you here in Tampa Bay, but we all know you are smiling and enjoying your time behind the glove. Take care and rest and heal.
You Always have a friend in St. Petersburg,
Cliff aka Rays Renegade
http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com
Bengie,
Thanks for the end of the season post. Hope the drive back to Yuma wasn’t bad. I know you are probably still a little busy unpacking and such but I was hoping you would email so I could keep in touch over the off season. Not sure if you read my previous post but my boy and I follow your career as close as possible. You are his favorite player and he loves to catch. He’s a pretty good pitcher as well and can hit! He loves to read all of my old articles from AWC and when he found out we went to the same school he came unglued! He sooooooo wants to meet you in person. I moved to Florida shortly after we talked last time in Anaheim. In fact we had tickets to see you play in Fl. for spring training this past year but the Jays traded you. Hard for us to make the spring games in AZ. now living on the east coast. Anyway, get some rest and spend lots of time with the family! Thanks for posting the pics! Have a great Holiday season too!
Get in touch! Stevevj@comcast.net
God Bless, Steve & VJ Gay…..Caleb, Phoebe, Chloe, Hannah, & baby on the way too!