NFBC Profile - Ari Benjamin

[Tom Kessenich]

One of this year’s biggest trends in the NFBC was an aggressive pursuit of top-flight starting pitchers. In drafts, that meant as many as three starters were often being selected in the first round.

In the Auction Championship, Ari Benjaim decided to utilize the opposite approach. He still wanted good pitching but he wasn’t about to spend heavily to get it. Thus far, that strategy is working out quite well.

Benjamin began the week in first place in the Auction Championship before dipping to second after Monday’s action. Ask him the key to his strong start and one word immediately comes to the forefront.

Pitching. But not the high-priced variety.

“The strategy was to be patient and spend as little as possible on pitching and try to acquire a very strong offense,” said Benjamin, who took part in one of the New York auction leagues. “The goal was to spend under $60 on pitching and the rest on offense. I spent substantially less on pitching than any other team (in the league).”

That strategy enabled him to build a staff featuring only one $20-plus pitcher in Chris Sale). Matt Harvey ($12) was his next-highest paid starter and he also landed two early season bargains - Hisashi Iwakuma ($2) and Clay Buccholz ($1). Combined with two strong closers (Addison Reed for $9 and Casey Janssen for $8) and that approach currently has Benjamin with a commanding lead in his league in terms of pitching.

“With this strategy, generally you can’t win unless your offense is very strong,” he said.

So far so good there as well.

Led by red-hot Chris Davis, two strong catchers (Carlos Santana and Willin Rosario), Joey Votto, Yoenis Cespedes and Sterling Martre, Benjamin’s offense is flying high. He entered play today in the Top 4 in his league in all five offensive categories and leading two (Average and Stolen Bases).

A shrewd End Game pick from his wife, Lauren, has also turned out to be quite valuable.

“At the end of the draft when I was looking on my sheets to find the last pitchers to fill the roster my wife was going through the short list to find the last outfielder,” Benjamin recalled. “She came up with Vernon Wells, which has been an excellent $1 pick.”

Benjamin has also been able to profit off the Waiver Wire even though he hasn’t always gotten his first choice with his FAAB bidding.

“The strange thing this year with my FAAB moves has been that I have been coming in second on most of my bids,” he said. “The most important move came last week trying to replace Luis Cruz at shortstop. I wanted either Didi Gregorious or Brandon Crawford. I was second for Gregorious but got Crawford. He provided more punch in two days than Cruz did in a month.

“The other key free agent move was getting another decent starting pitcher. In Week 2, I added Travis Wood who so far has turned out to be a very good No. 5 starter.”

A charter member of the NFBC, Benjamin is familiar with the battle to try and win a national championship in this event.

“The first year I led the Main Event from the beginning of the season until early September when my pitching staff fell on its face and I fell to eighth place,” he said. “A guy named Stephen Jupinka beat me by half a pint for the league title on the last day of the season.”

Benjamin is hoping for a more positive memory in the Auction Championship but is well aware the journey to claim the event’s $15,000 grand prize has only just begun.

“If my offense or pitching goes into a slump, my lead can evaporate quickly,” he said. “To maintain my strong start I need a team that stays relatively healthy. In addition, I need my starting pitching to continue its strong start.”

[lrr]

Great job Ari. Boston is playing like a team on a mission this year. If Buchholz keeps it up, you may be tough to beat.

[poopytooth]

Congrats Ari...of course even if you win, you lose...letting your wife make one pick entitkes her to 90% of any wiinnings...Uncle Sam will take 35%, so it will cost you to win...

Best of luck my friend!