Category: Brad Penny

 Brad Penny

For Starters

ALDS Los Angeles Angels vs Boston Red Sox

Coming into the season, Red Sox fans may have had some worries about the Red Sox offense, but general consensus was that the 2009 team was going to ride the success of it's deep and potentially dominant starting pitching. Experts, pundits, bloggers, and fans alike all agreed that the Red Sox staff was easily one of the best in baseball.

In my very own preseason preview of the Boston Red Sox, I certainly thought as highly of the Red Sox rotation as everyone else.

"As a whole, and whole being defined 1-7, there isn't a better or deeper starting rotation in baseball. Even when confined to the five that will take the mound every five days, I would put these guys up against anyone and feel confident."

With Josh Beckett and Jon Lester off to slow and inconsistent starts and with Daisuke Matsuzaka's early trip to the DL with "post World Baseball Classic-itis", the Red Sox rotation hasn't lived up to those lofty expectations.

May 7, 2009 josh lacey
Brad Penny

Poll: Name those starters

New Poll Question:
Who will be the odd men out of the rotation come mid-July? Between a rehabbing Smoltz, a streaking Wakefield, Penny, Masterson and Buccholz, pick two to saddle up with Beckett, Lester, DiceK.

As always, new poll is up to the right...vote away and argue it out in the comments.

May 5, 2009 tim daloisio
Brad Penny

TAM 5, BOS 3: Speed kills

Ex-NFL color commentator John Madden -- not to be confused with Rays Manager Joe Maddon -- always said speed kills. He wasn't joking.

May 4, 2009 shawn medeiros
Brad Penny

5/3: Penny for a Split


Is this a put up or shut up start for Brad Penny? Not yet, but close.

May 3, 2009 josh lacey
Brad Penny

BOS 10, TAM 6: Green, Youkilis lead Sox

Nick Green isn't making Terry Francona's decision to play Julio Lugo over him easy while teammate Kevin Youkilis isn't making opposing pitchers' jobs on the mound any easier.

May 3, 2009 shawn medeiros
Anthony Reyes

4/28: Lugo’s baaack

The high ERA is misleading for Penny; he's had two quality starts in three tries. He's only struck out five, which is a concern (walked eight). His velocity is not the issue, so he just needs to work on command.

Reyes was in the doghouse for the Cardinals last year for no apparent reason. He's 13-25 with a 4.90 ERA, colored by a brutal (and so far, unsustained) 2007 campaign. Last year, he posted a 2.76 ERA in 49 innings with a 1.27 WHIP. His WHIP is 1.29 so far this year.

Tonight will be cold with showers. Julio Lugo makes his season debut.

April 28, 2009 evan brunell
Brad Penny

BOS 10-7, MIN 1-3: Sox complete doubleheader sweep

What else could Terry Francona possibly want on his 50th birthday? The Red Sox completed a day-night doubleheader sweep of the Minnesota Twins slugging out 17 runs, 19 hits and 4 homers. Boston also improved their winning streak to seven games.

April 23, 2009 shawn medeiros
Brad Penny

4/22 G2: Nightcap… if the rain goes away

Wakefield has notched his second straight complete-gamer. The nightcap brings Jeff Bailey at first base and Kevin Youkilis seeing third for the first time this season. Penny takes the mound hoping to go back to what his season debut was (6 IP, 3 ER). He started out last game strong but it deteriorated into a three inning, seven run effort.

April 22, 2009 evan brunell
Brad Penny

BOS 10, BAL 8: Offensive slump broken

Down seven runs to begin the bottom of the second inning Boston never changed their approach at the plate. The Red Sox knew they were given too many innings to catch up. J.D. Drew lead off the inning with a walk and Jason Bay followed crushing his third home run of the season into Baltimore's bullpen cutting the lead to 7-2. Boston's comeback was just getting started.

April 18, 2009 shawn medeiros