Encouraging Words
Got a text this afternoon from Yadier:
“It’s baseball. You got to enjoy it. I know it’s not going good for us. But we’ve been very, very blessed because we’re God’s children. Baseball is second to that. I love you so much.”
For him to say those things is amazing to me. He hardly ever texts me. I’m always the one texting him and Jose and encouraging them. But that’s the way we see baseball — as a family. We pick each other up.
I’ll be fine and he’ll be fine. I know that. But it was so great to see those words from my brother.
Behind the Mask 
Right on the money. God’s love is above EVERYTHING and just by knowing that we will always be taken care of. Doesn’t mean there won’t be a few slumps in life…but every one of them is a learning experience and for a purpose. Thanks for your words and Faith Mr. Molina. Now lets pray Jesus has a World Series in the works for the Giants this year! God IS Love.
You are calling some great games, playing some great defense. You and Cain are on the same page, and it shows.
The tweak in your swing has you driving the ball back up the middle and the other way, just like you did over the past few seasons. The hits will come. Trust me, many of us know that you are a big part of this team and will drive in some big runs.
Sometimes it’s just going to be a “big league hang with ’em.”
That’s baseball.
Love you Bengie,
I got an e mail from my daughter last week that was similar.
Bordo
I love you Bengie, but even the Bible says “if a man can work and he doesn’t; he doesn’t deserve to eat”.
Recently Griffey Jr. realized he was not contributing the way he once did. I would hate to see a once solid catcher get traded from team to team just to hold on.
You are blessed. Take your money and go have fun. Let the kid have a shot.
Bengie-you’re awesome!!
Please ask Bochy to stop batting you cleanup during your abysmal slump. You’d take a bullet for your family, so take an ego hit for the sake of your team.
you will be just fine, I’m sure of it.
Maybe people who don’t know offense from defense shouldn’t make comments:-)
Keep plugging away and the hits will come
You’ll be fine. Yadi will be fine. Yadi’s got the right attitude. …and, yes, sometimes it helps to hear it from someone you love… 🙂
You are the real deal, Bengie. Keep the faith!
Bengie, you are my favorite Giant because you are an awesome player and an even better person! Giants fans are fairweather and love to kick our own when they are down! I have faith in you and so does your brother! Listen to him!
This is a place to support our team and to talk about good things. Too bad there are some very unprofessional people here and at ESPN! It truly is sad there are people like this on this earth…who intentionally hurt others. Many times it is the case that they just want someone else to feel bad so they feel better about themselves. Its sad that some learn abuse skills growing up and continue to hurt others. Life is to see the good in others (of course unless someone is hurting another) encouraging and learning from one another, being role models.
Bengie, I (and every true Giant fan there is!) am so happy you are here again this year. It wouldnt be the same team without you! Bottom line! And what a wonderful tradition you have been here 🙂 Thanks for who you are and what you have accomplished and what you give to our team everyday!
Nice hit today too! Sweet 🙂
sincerely, from a forever Bengie and Giants fan 🙂
Dear Bengie-
I’m gonna be completely honest with you. I’m not gonna kiss up to you like most of these commenters are…that’s not fair or truthful.
I do appreciate what you’ve done from 2007-2009. You were clutch, you pretty much carried the offense in that time period. I liked and respected you as a ballplayer.
Now, I’m not so sure.
Struggling is one thing. Everyone goes through it. However, your prolonged slump is much more than advertised and I think it delves into your psyche. From my observations, your skills are diminishing quickly. It happens, whatever. You’re getting older, that’s part of the deal. But, what bothers me most is your hustle…it has been almost non-existent this year.
As a long suffering Giants fan, nothing angers me more than a player not giving his full effort. I don’t know how hard you work off the field because obviously I’m not there. However, when I watch the games on TV…it seems like you are not giving 100%. Watching you run to first base embarrasses me, not because of your speed…but because it looks like you’ve given up once you leave the box. Your body language, in my mind, reflects that.
Giants fans have little to no patience. It’s been 56 years since our last championship, and a large portion of our fans have never seen the Giants win it all. When a player looks like he doesn’t want “it”, it upsets us to the nth degree. Because we’ve wanted it so bad for so long, we have no tolerance for sluggish play, sensitive remarks or under performers. We’ve seen enough of it over the last half decade, and in general we’re really, really tired of it.
From my perspective, it looks like you truly don’t enjoy baseball anymore, almost as if it’s become a chore for you…one of a laborious nature. And it’s sad, because you were once one of the better hitting catchers in the league…someone I really enjoyed watching.
It takes a real man to admit he’s got nothing left in the tank, mentally and physically. If that’s truly how you feel deep down inside, get out while you still can. Because no one deserves to be booed off the field and into retirement…which is what’s going to happen if this keeps up.
Bengie, my friend, just do what you love doing. And that’s playing baseball. I can’t say it anyway else. don’t worry about the media, or what they say. Just be the team leader everyone needs you to be. Everything will fall into place.
Bengie,
Know that we love you and know that you are the best at calling the games. Just be the man who you are, a team leader and things will fall back in place. Your swing is coming back. Love You Bengie!!!!!
Hey Bengie, know that we love you and you are the best at calling the game. Your swing is coming back be strong as always. WE LOVE YOU!!!!
Hey Bengie, My name is Stryker Scales and I was the guy in the red hat that was sitting in row AA seat 4 in section 119. I caught your bat in the bottom of of the 8th inning in last Saturdays game, June 12, when you were playing the A’s. Totally surprised that I had a Bengie Molina’s MLB Bat in my hands I didn’t even think twice about keeping it, it was not mine. I handed the bat to Nate Schierholtz and was totally stoked with the experience. My phone blew up with text messages giving me **** for not keeping it. I know I did the right thing but it would have been a pretty cool thing to hold on to. That being said, is there anyway to get one of your bats? I own a few restaurants in the Marina (Mamacita, Tipsy Pig and Umami) and some of your Team Mates….Wilson, Lincecum, Zito, Schierholtz and others have been to them. I would love to Frame one of your bats and put it up at the tipsy pig with the ticket from that day. Hope I am not asking too much.
Sincerely,
Stryker Scales
stryker@mamacitasf.com
415-215-1174
Dear Stryker Scales
Your story should have ended like this:
Hey Bengie, My name is Stryker Scales and I was the guy in the red hat that was sitting in row AA seat 4 in section 119. I caught your bat in the bottom of of the 8th inning in last Saturdays game, June 12, when you were playing the A’s. Totally surprised that I had a Bengie Molina’s MLB Bat in my hands I didn’t even think twice about keeping it, it was not mine. I handed the bat to Nate Schierholtz and was totally stoked with the experience. My phone blew up with text messages giving me **** for not keeping it. I know I did the right thing but it would have been a pretty cool thing to hold on to. That being said:
You know it’s time to give the catching job back. It’s not right for you to continue to force one of the best catching prospects to lose his skills plaing 1st base. You should do the right thing.
Bengie, We love you BUT please read my article about Billy Martin and Jerry Coleman
http://thegiantscafe.blogspot.com/2010/06/chemistry.html
HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT? 4.5 million must buy a lot of sleeping pills.
Bengie–patience and practice of the fundamentals works for brothers and baseball players. The noise of the media, etc. is not the answer nor the question. Leadership comes in several ways. Having fun in what you do is also a good thing. Even for those of us in the Pacific Northwest cheering SF on.
Yadi is right, it’s baseball and you got to enjoy it, and you are not helping me enjoy it. Today you missed a painful passed ball, and Runzler had to pick you up. Is it because Bochy is an ex catcher that he keeps giving you time? Does he not trust the kid behind the plate? Because you are KILLING ME. I keep score of every game and when you come up I write the number of the corresponding out and fill in how you make it. Your skills have eroded partner. I appreciate the last 3 years, but I thought Sabean had the right idea in letting you go. The Mets look like geniuses now. That’s my email address, and I’ll meet you face to face and tell you the same. This is a what have you done for me lately business, and lately you’ve done nothing. I feel no need to suck up just because you personally wrote this.
that was great Bengie.. i think you still got it (good #’s last year).. maybe its all mental with that Posey kid hanging around.. show em how its done
Mr. Molina (a.k.a. Big Money) –
I would first like to say that I have always been a fan of yours & your entire family. Having been behind the dish in my short & illustrious baseball career I feel that I can (at least a little bit) appreciate what you and your brothers contend with. Second, I would like to thank you for your time with the San Francisco Giants. I know that you dealt with a LOT of criticism, especially in the last year or so, and it cannot be easy to handle people talking trash constantly. All that I can say about that is don’t listen to the nay-sayers, keep your chin up and play hard wherever that may be. I will continue to cheer for you (unless of course the Rangers & Giants happen to meet up later in the year…fingers crossed!) and hope that you and your family have a great rest of 2010. Cheers to you, Bengie & thanks for the memories!
-Patrick, Staunch Giants fan (since 1981-born & bred in SF)
Fresno, CA
Bengie,
It broke my heart when I heard the news tonight that you’d been traded, but I am hoping this will be something great for you. You have always been such a gentleman and your heart has touched me many times in your years here as a Giant. You will go down as one of the great Giants, one of the world’s great men. Thank you. Thank you for always being true to yourself, to your family, to your team. I wish you the best in Texas and will be rooting for you there, and wherever else you go in life.
God Bless you Bengie and thank you for being you!!
Hugs,
Sue
This is the first time I’ve ever commented on a blog, but I just wanted to thank you for everything as Giant, Bengie. It’s a shame you couldn’t finish the season out with us, but that’s the game sometimes, and you’ve gotta deal with what you’re dealt as a fan as much as a player does. I wish you continued success with your new club and hope their fans realize what a great leader both on and off the field they have now. You’ve always been a classy player, I hope you never lose that.
You have been a great Giant. Thanks for the memories Bengie.
Hope you’ll return as a “Forever Giant” when you decide not to lace up the cleats anymore Bengie, you’ve been one of the best at what you do and it’s been great to have you as a San Francisco Giant!
Bengie,
You were a great Giant, and you will be missed. Hope things go well for you in Texas.
Bengie,
If this really is the end, I want to say thanks for everything you’ve done for the Giants and their fans. You’ve done everything asked of you on the field, and more than could be expected off it. You’ve been a great Giant and I am confident that you will be a great addition to the Rangers – they’re lucky to get you. Like many other Giants fans, I’ll be rooting for you whereever as a Ranger and anywhere else you might end up. Good luck!
Declining performance doesn’t reflect on you as a person Bengie. Your effort and heart were always apparent. Good luck in Texas!
Bengie,
Just look at it as a simple way toget backtothe playoffs with a team that needs your style, grace and leadership.
The Rangers have a lot of talent and an arsenal of hitters and flamethrowers.
Maybe your unique style will translate and transform a few of those pitchers into their next stage of development.
And with a guy like Nolan Ryan knowing that catching makes a pitcher better…it has to be an extreme compliment to be brought in to help focus and align this team for a A L West title.
Rays Renegade
http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com
Bengie,
Well they say you’ve done “GTT”! (Gone to Texas)
You were a great Giant; Thanks for the memories!.
Best wishes and God bless!
Ramon
Bengie! I just read the trade news, and I’m SOOOO sad. We love you here in SF and we are going to miss you SO VERY MUCH. You are a wonderful person and it shows in what you do both on and off the field. You will always be a Giant in my book. Best of luck to you and your family in Texas!!
-Lori Phillips
(Palo Alto)
Bengie! I just read the and I’m SO sad! We love you here in SF and will miss you so very much. You are a wonderful person and it shows in what you do both on and off the field. You will always be a Giant in my book. Best of luck to you and your family in Texas!
-Lori Phillips
(Palo Alto)
I sat in the middle of a Giants blog for years reading – and, to be honest, sometimes adding to – criticism of your running and your weight.
What I never understood was the criticism of your gamecalling, as if you hand – delivered every pitch yourself. Hell no! Those pitches are subject to the nuances of the pitcher’s delivery. But Giant fans love their starters, and rarely see any fault in them. No, you were the lightning rod for criticism whether you deserved it or not.
Not very many of us keyboard jockeys knows what it takes to compete at the MLB level, and many of us have nothing better to do than sit back in obscure comfort and take potshots at people on the grand stage of American sports entertainment.
Those two Willie Macs aren’t for picking the right number out of a hat. You did the best you could with what you had, Bengie, and I thank you for that.
I sat in the middle of a Giants blog for years reading – and, to be honest, sometimes adding to – criticism of your running and your weight.
What I never understood was the criticism of your gamecalling as if you hand – delivered every pitch yourself. Hell no! Those pitches are subject to the nuances of the pitcher’s delivery. But Giant fans love their starters, and rarely see any fault in them. No, you were the lightning rod for criticism whether you deserved it or not.
Not very many of us keyboard jockeys knows what it takes to compete at the MLB level, and many of us have nothing better to do than sit back in obscure comfort and take potshots at people on the grand stage of American sports entertainment.
Those two Willie Macs aren’t for picking the right number out of a hat. You did the best you could with what you had, Bengie, and I thank you for that.
We’ll miss you, Bengie! Good luck in Texas.
Bengie,
Thanks for all the great baseball you brought to us with the Giants. This last couple of years has been the best Giants baseball since the World Series team, and you’ve been a huge part of making that happen. You’ve been a great Giant on the field an off. I’m really going to miss watching you behind the plate for SF. Good luck with the Rangers. From a lifelong Giants fan, thanks.
-Tom Canepa
Bengie,
I enjoyed writing about you on my blog (22gigantes.com) and (mostly) defending you from the “know-it-alls” on other sites who really don’t know anything about the game of baseball. As you can see by the many well wishes you are receiving here on your blog, you have so many fans. I hope you leave here with nothing but fond memories of your days as a San Francisco Giant. Good luck to you in Texas. And kick the A’s *****, ok?
~ Troy Nelson, 22gigantes
I’ll remember you fondly as a Giant, thanks for the awesome job at and behind the plate. Lafayette will miss you too!
-Ian
Dear Bengie,
Sorry to see you go, under the current circumstances- (team’s losing streak now up to 6). You’ve been one of our top catchers in a Giants uniform, for the time you were here, the stats and record bear that out. You’ve played the game with honor, and inspiration- the two Willie Mac awards you won can NEVER be taken away from you, and they are the highest award the team can give.
But the clearest insight comes from our two all-star pitchers from last year. You’ve probably already have seen their quotes in MLB, but here they are for all to see.
…”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 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….”
For what it’s worth, here’s the blog I wrote into the Chronicle Re: the trade and “new guard”, if there’s enough space, below. I wish you well in Texas- not as nice as the Bay Area- but they’re on top of their division and will really value your help. Hope you help get em to the playoffs. Best to you and your family, JimC
“…Well kid, here’s the keys to that starting pitching staff you’ve been wanting- yep, it’s a Mercedes! Should be firing on a cylinders, now that we’ve replaced the 5th one. It’s been running like a champ all season, ‘cept for a few glitches the last two weeks, but we don’t expect that to last. Take good care of ‘er. The last driver handled it really well- even won a couple “Car ‘n Driver” awards!
Few things you should know- it has lots of gears- get to know & use ’em all, and it changes personalities every day. You handle ‘er right, you should get a good 100-120 out of the starters daily… You already know how to drive a stick, so that should help a lot.
Oh, and If you hear a real whining sound, that’s from the back seat- all the extra drivers… pay no attention to it. If you don’t get the hang of it this year, well it’s guaranteed for another year or so! …Though that whining sound will be going up though by then- a whole lot…”
Bengie,
The day I wondered upon your blog was the day I found a real reason to love the Giants.
Your gentle nature, love for the game was so easy to see.
You gave the sport heart.
I wish us fans had the chance to give you the standing ovation you deserve.
Thank you for being an inspiration.
Welcome back to Texas, Bengie it’s been a long time coming. we’ll see you soon David and Cyndy from Midland.
Dear Big Money,
You did not earn that nickname lightly, and I hope when you look back on your time in San Francisco you will remember all the clutch hits you had and the great games you caught and the fans who were proud to have you on our team.
Best of luck with the Rangers and all the best to you and your family in the future.
Ted Duffield
Berkeley
BIG $!
I’m going to miss you like h-ll! You are a class act, my friend. Please never lose that heart of yours and always remember how well-loved you are in San Francisco.
You wait and see: when your (playoff bound!) team plays Oakland in August, and you stop by Perry’s or some place for a drink, no one’s going to let you pay.
Take it from a San Francisco native: You are one of us now.
Bengie,
That is what family should always be about. Supporting each other, in all endeavors.
I, also, have 2 younger brothers. And I am usually the one propping them up. But when I need them they are there for me. We lost our Dad 2 years ago and our Mom 30 years ago this summer. So, we are all we have. Of course we always have our friends (team mates), children and other family members to lean on too.
You are a GREAT player and person.
Good luck, with the rest of your career and have a great life.
Thank you for being a great Giant!!!
Bill Gilmour