Where's the love for Brad Penny?

[VA Sox Fan]

Penny's numbers over the last 30 days

 

29.2 innings

3.64 era

1.42 whip

4 BB

24k's

3 quality starts

 

I know this is a really late response, but does anyone have confirmation of this?

 

If true, did the Sox approach Selig's office and ask that Joba be suspended after the fortieth time he tried to nail Youk in the brainpan?

 

And Veras for drilling Bay in the back.

 

If it's true, it's pathetic and I hate Girardi more than I did earlier today.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

What a pussbag organization.

[Dipre]

That's exciting. A good look at the radar gun bears it out' date=' too. Penny's pounding it in there at 95 miles an hour on a very regular basis.[/quote']

 

And hitting 97 whenever he reaches back, velocity not reached by many.

[Dojji]

I'm more excited about a consistent 95 than I am about touching 97, personally. Consistency matters, especially with a guy recovering from injury troubles.

[Dipre]

I'm more excited about a consistent 95 than I am about touching 97' date=' personally. Consistency matters, especially with a guy recovering from injury troubles.[/quote']

 

Completely taken out of context.

 

The "hitting 97" comment relates to him regaining his full velocity, which correlates directly to the state of health of his shoulder and elbow.

[Dojji]

Ahh, I see. But then, so does the fact that he rarely throws a fastball under 94. It's two sides of the same excellent sign. And the fact that he's maintained this range of velocity over his last 4 starts with not a lot of deviation is an even better sign.

 

Playoffs start right now, my rotation for a 7 game series is Beckett-Lester-Penny-Wakefield-Beckett-Lester-Penny with a hope that one of Smoltz, Buchholz and Bowden comes on healthy enough to kick Wakefield to the playoff bullpen.

[Dipre]

Ahh, I see. But then, so does the fact that he rarely throws a fastball under 94. It's two sides of the same excellent sign. And the fact that he's maintained this range of velocity over his last 4 starts with not a lot of deviation is an even better sign.

 

Playoffs start right now, my rotation for a 7 game series is Beckett-Lester-Penny-Wakefield-Beckett-Lester-Penny with a hope that one of Smoltz, Buchholz and Bowden comes on healthy enough to kick Wakefield to the playoff bullpen.

 

Fair enough.

 

Still, even if he's pretty good, IMHO, Penny doesn't smell the playoff rotation.

[Dojji]

Love to hear who you'd put in instead. We can't count on Daisuke to be healthy and effective. It might happen, but it might not especially if Daisuke's problems are related to the labrum or rotator cuff or some injury that basically spells "you will miss the rest of the season and then some." A distinct possibility at this point if rest hasn't helped

 

Since we don't even know if Buchholz, Bowden, etc. are going to be playoff-eligible, that pretty much leaves Beckett, Lester, Penny and Wakefield. And Wakefield does not, not, not get more than 1 start in a 7 game series. His numbers in the playoffs are beyond disgusting.

 

Until we know a little more about Smoltz, we need Penny. Even if we get some semblance of the old Smoltzy, we need a Game 4 starter, which ought to be Penny rather than Wake. and I'm not too worried about that.

[Cocos Disciples]

I think if all goes according to plan (I know...) Smoltz gets a playoff start.

[Dojji]

Well yeah, but even so you need 4 guys. Even if you get a Schilling 2007 type performance out of Smoltz (which I think is the most you can reasonably expect) you still need a guy to start game 4. The team has had opportunities to put the Game 1 starter into Game 4 twice in the last 2 years and did not do it either time. They apparently believe in a 4 man playoff rotation.

 

So in order for Penny not to be in the playoff rotation you need 4 guys clearly better than he is. i dont see it

[Cocos Disciples]

Well yeah' date=' but even so you need 4 guys. Even if you get a Schilling 2007 type performance out of Smoltz (which I think is the most you can reasonably expect) you still need a guy to start game 4. [b']The team has had opportunities to put the Game 1 starter into Game 4 twice in the last 2 years and did not do it either time. [/b]They apparently believe in a 4 man playoff rotation.

 

So in order for Penny not to be in the playoff rotation you need 4 guys clearly better than he is. i dont see it

 

We used a three man rotation in the ALDS last year.

[Dojji]

On 4 days rest, yeah. the ALDS is a little different because it's a 5 game series.

[Cocos Disciples]

So assuming you get Beckett-Lester-Smoltz in the front three, it's not like Penny is any more of a post-season stud than Wakefield. It's only 8 games, but he has a 6.26 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 1.27 K/BB, versus Wakefield's 6.75 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 1.42 K/BB. What a fun decision to make.

[Dojji]

Penny's numbers are over 23 innings and the results are skewed by a single bad start against the Cubs.

 

Wakefield's numbers are over 72 innings and he hasn't had a good playoffs start in the last 6 years.

 

I'd say there's a slight difference there, in favor of Penny.

[BoSox21]

you could do worse than Brad Penny as a #4 guy in the playoffs

[pedroia_the_destroyah53]

You could do waaay worse with a #4 starter.My concern with Penny is his conditioning, he may start wearing down soon.That would change some opinions on him surely.

[BoSox21]

hell, I think even the smarter, faster, stronger Dice-K will be ready by October and even Buchholz could prove to be a major factor in the second half

[mvp 78]

This whole thread is a LOL...

[SCM33]

This whole thread is a LOL...

 

hindsight at its best.

[mvp 78]

hindsight at its best.

 

Not really. Check my posts on Penny ever since he's been signed. I've always been the wet blanket at the Penny Parade.

[SCM33]

Not really. Check my posts on Penny ever since he's been signed. I've always been the wet blanket at the Penny Parade.

 

Just checked, no beef here, you have been consistent, my apologies.

[BoSox21]

Not really. Check my posts on Penny ever since he's been signed. I've always been the wet blanket at the Penny Parade.

 

I doubt Penny's wearing down was totally unexpected by the FO. They probably thought Smoltz would be in top form by this time.