Here Is a Penny for DePodesta’s Thoughts

The Dodgers’ latest ace makes his debut in blue tonight. He does not answer to the nickname “Big Unit,” much to the disappointment of Dodger fans, who have nothing against Brad Penny, but wish he never would have started a game for their team.

If Randy Johnson would have come to the Dodgers, Penny would have gone to the Arizona Diamondbacks, one day after he came from the Florida Marlins. The Dodgers and Diamondbacks failed to agree on what other players would be packaged with Penny in a trade for Johnson, so the trade fell through.

Penny is not offended by fans who might prefer Johnson, the five-time Cy Young Award winner.

“Who wouldn’t trade me for Randy Johnson?” Penny said.

With that trade dead, the Dodgers say Penny is here to stay. General Manager Paul DePodesta envisions him as a No. 1 starter, the kind of pitcher the Dodgers could trot out against the likes of Johnson.

“We’ve added to the top of the rotation,” DePodesta said.

Johnson is one of four pitchers in the last 40 years to beat the New York Yankees twice in a World Series. So are Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson.

So is Penny, who did it last year, but only after pitching so poorly in his first start in the National League championship series that the Marlins refused to grant him another.

He pitched well enough in relief to rejoin the rotation in the World Series.

Penny makes $3.725 million this season, his fifth in the majors, and could double his salary next season through arbitration. With Odalis Perez eligible for free agency this fall, the Dodgers could put Penny at the head of a 2005 rotation that so far counts Jeff Weaver, Kazuhisa Ishii and question marks.

As Penny arrives in Los Angeles, baseball insiders aren’t sure whether he can emerge as a No. 1 starter. He ranks among National League leaders with a 3.15 earned-run average, but he’s 8-8, and he hasn’t pitched beyond six innings in any of his last seven starts.

“Basically, he’s a six-inning guy,” one major league executive said of Penny. “For me, he’s a No. 2 or No. 3 starter. He’s fairly durable, a real nice complementary piece.”

While the Marlins appreciated his talent, they grew frustrated at times by his reluctance to adhere to a throwing schedule between starts and a tendency to pay too much attention to the readings on the radar gun. At 26, he has time to grow.

“It’s hard to say anybody is a No. 1 starter,” said Oakland General Manager Billy Beane, a confidant of DePodesta. “A No. 1 starter is a No. 2 guy with the mentality and makeup to be a No. 1.

“He’s an absolute, ultimate competitor. He’s got a World Series ring. And he’s got a chance to be there for a long time.”

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ON DECK

Opponent -- Pittsburgh Pirates, three games.

Tonight -- 7.

Site -- Dodger Stadium.

TV -- Fox Sports Net 2 every game.

Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Dodgers 61-43, Pirates 49-54.

Record vs. Pirates -- 3-0.

Wednesday, 7 p.m. -- Josh Fogg (6-7, 5.67) vs. Jose Lima (9-3, 4.19).

Thursday, noon -- Sean Burnett (5-3, 3.40) vs. Jeff Weaver (8-10, 4.00).