Ari Benjamin Is Week 17 Winner

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:02 am

Congratulations to Ari Benjamin, Ya Gotta Believe team in New York League 6 led the way in the NFBC last week with 3,211 points.

Big weeks from Brad Hawpe (.429-2-8)), Robinson Cano (.400-2-7) and David Wright (.407-1-6) led the way offensively. Rich Harden struck out 20 in two starts while Eric Gagne had a pair of wins and Brad Lidge and Kevin Gregg combined for five saves to lead his pitching staff.

For finishing first last week, Ari wins a free jersey courtesy of FansEdge.com. Congratulations again to Ari and good luck to everyone in the NFBC this week.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:48 am

Spring wasn’t kind to Ari Benjamin in the NFBC. But summer is treating him considerably better.

After a rough start to the season, Benjamin’s Ya Gotta Believe team in New York League 6 has heated up as the summer months have progressed. And last week, it led the way in the NFBC with 3,211 points.

Big weeks from Brad Hawpe (.429-2-8)), Robinson Cano (.400-2-7) and David Wright (.407-1-6) led the way offensively. Rich Harden struck out 20 in two starts while Eric Gagne had a pair of wins and Brad Lidge and Kevin Gregg combined for five saves to lead his pitching staff.

The strong performance last week has helped Ari’s team enjoy a rebirth after some Draft Day struggles and early season scuffling.

“This year we got off to a very tough start,” he said. “We had a very bad first 15 rounds of the draft with such flops as Victor Martinez (3rd), Cano (4th), Hawpe (7th), Rich Hill (8th), Francisco Liriano (9th), Cameron Maybin, Cory Rasmus and Jay Bruce (middle rounds). We found ourselves in last place after two months and in rebuilding mode, despite Edison Volquez having a great beginning.

“However, we have a philosophy to never give up. Cano, Hawpe and Adam Jones finally turned it around. Harden, Victorino and Doumit came off the DL and have been producing big. Joba became a starter. David Wright has been reliable all year. And finally, we found a 1B and 2B off the waiver wire, Chad Tracy and Jeff Baker; along with two starters Pelfrey and Moyer.

“We lucked out last week by having a great offensive and pitching week despite Volquez having a terrible game, Lidge having one game where he pitched to five batters and gave up five earned runs in 0 innings, and a bad decison of sitting on the bench one of our most productive players of the week Freddy Sanchez.”

Ari lives in Times Square with his wife Lauren and their 1-year-old son Ryan, who, according to his dad, is a future NFBC participant.

“His first word was ball,” Benjamin said. “He is our next fantasy baseball player. We will ultimately have the first NFBC family team.”

For finishing first last week, Ari wins a free jersey courtesy of FansEdge.com.