Joe Benson discusses his Venezuelan run-in

[Seth Stohs]

Weeks before Wilson Ramos was kidnapped in Venezuela, Joe Benson was robbed at gunpoint, and Tyler Mason had a great articles about it. http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/01/29/12/Benson-on-dangers-of-playing-in-Venezuel/landing_twins.html?blockID=655458&feedID=3697

[Nick Nelson]

Interesting read. Frightening stuff.

[Seth Stohs]

Yeah, I don't think anything could make me want to go to Venezuela, not even a couple hundred at bats.

[Josh Johnson]

This kind of stuff really makes me wonder why any American (or even a higher profile Venezuelan) players (or teams) would ever consider playing winter ball there. The country's government is corrupt and wealthy individuals are targeted everyday. The growing number of incidents is absolutely frightening.

[Seth Stohs]

Benson and Ramos are not the only two players this year. They're not the only Twins minor leaguers in recent years. It's just ridiculous!

[John Bonnes]

The bigger issue might be that maybe the Twins picked the wrong place to build their big international academy.

[Seth Stohs]

John, The Twins don't have an international academy in Venezuela anymore. They haven't had a team there in Venezuela (or the academy) since 2007 or so.

[John Bonnes]

Whoa - seriously? That was one of their big undertakings, right? That was the big feather in Bill Smith's cap. Do you know why it closed? Was it the instability of the country?