Brad Penny is looking for work
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Ex-Dodger starter Brad Penny is now an ex-Red Sox.
Boston released Penny, 31, last night after the return of knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to the rotation. Wakefield started Wednesday night and pitched seven strong innings in Boston’s 3-2 win over the White Sox. After the game, Penny was released at his request, he said, so he had time to join another team with a chance to make the playoffs.
Penny was 7-8 this season for Boston, but his ERA climbed to 5.61 as he’d only won once in his last 11 starts.
‘I enjoyed it. I wish things had worked out better, but that happens,’ Penny told the Boston Herald. ‘But I’m healthy, and that’s what I’m happy about. This isn’t last year, when I was hurt [with the Dodgers]. If that had been the case, I’d be upset.’
Penny pitched four seasons with the Dodgers, but in 2008 he was 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA as he developed arm problems, spent time on the disabled list, and he didn’t endear himself to some team members because of his conditioning.
Last February, Dodgers third base coach Larry Bowa said this about Penny, according to the Boston Globe:
‘Is this the same Penny that never went to meetings, that came late, left early, was never in shape, always had an excuse when things didn’t go right, didn’t help the young kids at all? Coaches get on players when they’re lazy and don’t work. I think he should worry about getting hitters out in the American League East and not worry about me. . . . Brad Penny wants to work and dedicate himself, he could probably be as good as he wants to be. He didn’t do it with us.’
-- Barry Stavro
Associated Press
