Brad Penny - GIANT Mess

Dodgers porker Brad Penny, the guy who wears Hurley gear during post-game interviews (when he was good enough to warrant an interview) despite being from the number one hick state in the union (Oklahoma), made his much anticipated (by the Padres) return to the mound tonight.  

The at least 260 pound Penny met and surpassed all expectations.  He walked his first batter then gave up two singles, and was disqualified by Joe Torre before he could record an out.

The final batter to single off Penny, whose name matters not, is a September call-up despite hitting .215 in AAA.  Vin Scully found this curious and amusing.

Brad Penny Still a Huge Mess, Disgrace

Bradley Penny's line so far tonight against the Phillies:

1st inning:  4 runs

2nd inning: 2 runs

season ERA:  6.10

body shape: mango

The Hefty One Has No Excuses

Now would normally be a good time to make a rude comment about the shape of Brad Penny's person.  Everyone knows professional athletes shouldn't be shaped like avocados, but the 6'4'' 290 pound Jonathan Broxton's dietician may have something to say about that.  In six save opportunities since Takashi Saito's injury, Broxton has saved all six, allowing 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 10 in 6 2/3 innings.  The 6'4,'' mere 260 pound Penny now has no excuses.

The heavyset Dodgers pitcher returns to action tonight against the Giants, as he tries to build upon his formidable 5-9 record.  Nothing short of a complete game shutout should be expected.

Bobby Jones Warns: Look Out for Brad Penny

Former major league pitcher Bobby Jones -- now managing for Triple A Oklahoma City -- warns the Giants to look out for Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny, who will return to action in San Francisco Friday.

"He looked great to me," Jones told The Daily Oklahoman after Penny faced Jones' Red Hawks recently in a final tuneup before returning to action. "We got some hits off him, but it was a challenge.”

More than 8,000 fans turned out to see the 30-year-old Broken Arrow High School standout return to action with Triple A Las Vegas. By at least one count, Penny threw 67 pitches with 50 going for strikes, some topping out at 97-98 mph. He lost 4-3, but he struck out four in four innings in his first action against live batters since mid June.

"I'm glad I got to let a few go,” said Penny, who understandably was a bit tentative in trying to come back from an inflamed shoulder. "...I've got to work on my split. That was my first time against live hitting, and I hung a few splits and a couple of curve balls. But overall, I thought my curve ball was pretty good.”

Jones could not disagree.

"I thought he threw very well,” Jones said. "He hit his spots. He was throwing his breaking ball for strikes and locking our hitters up."

Las Vegas manager Lorenzo Bundy noted some late inning fatigue.

"He labored a little bit those last couple of innings, but he seems to turn it up a notch when he gets men on base,” Bundy said. "It's been a long time since he faced hitters. Overall, it was a pretty good outing. That's a good hitting ball club over there, so it was a nice test for him.”

Dodgers Punish Competence, Demote Clayton Kershaw

The headline of this post really should be "Dodgers Reward Incompetence, Allow Brian Falkenborg To Continue Squandering Leads," but nobody knows who he is.  

To accommodate Hiroki Kuroda's return from the DL, the Dodgers demoted Clayton Kershaw to AA Jacksonville.  In 8 starts, Kershaw went 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA.  The Dodgers could have sent down Eric Stults, or gone with a 6-man rotation, as Joe Torre indicated he would do several days ago, but instead chose to get rid of one of the few bright spots on the Dodgers team.

Kershaw is not happy.  "Any way you spin it, I'm getting sent down.  They can say they don't have enough room.  But they sent me up when they didn't have enough room.  All those guys were healthy then."  Translation:  Why the hell is Eric Stults not getting sent down?  Kershaw is right.  He's a big part of the future of the Dodgers rotation and clearly ready for a permanent big league job.

The only thing Kershaw lacks is a big league victory, something that seems have Torre perplexed.  This probably has something to do with Torre's foolish reluctance to let Kershaw out of the 6th inning, if he even lets him get there.  Torre allowed Kershaw into the 6th inning Tuesday for only the second time this season, but immediately pulled him after 90 pitches when he allowed two runners on base.  This was rather generous of Torre, who pulled Kershaw in his last start after just 4 innings, despite allowing only 2 runs.

Dodger fans need not fret though - Brad Penny and his 5.88 ERA return Friday.

UPDATE:  Penny suffered a setback and will make at least one more rehab start before returning.  Chan Ho Park will start in his place Saturday in San Francisco.

Dodgers Brad Penny Goes On DL, Kuroda Also Hurt

The Dodgers have placed Brad Penny on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Saturday. Lefty Eric Stults, who was recalled today, will start Thursday and replace Penny in the rotation.

Had Penny's injury only required him to miss one start, the Dodgers would have likely gone with Chan Ho Park, rather than make a roster move. Although Penny's MRI showed no serious problems, his mild shoulder tendinitis warranted a trip to the DL.

Stults was 5-6 with a 3.59 ERA at the Triple A level this year. Dodgers fans may recall him from last year, when he made five mostly mediocre spot starts.

Further complicating the situation is Hiroki Kuroda, who flew to Los Angeles to have his sore shoulder examined. Kuroda had been scheduled to start against the Reds on Wednesday but Derek Lowe will take his turn in the rotation.  Lowe will pitch on his usual four days rest because of Monday's off day.

Brad Penny Is a Mess

Add Brad Penny to the list of injured former all-stars on the Dodgers roster.

After giving up 7 runs in 3 2/3 innings in today's loss, Penny will fly to Los Angeles tomorrow to have an MRI on his right shoulder. It is hard to say whether Penny is actually hurt or if this is just an excuse for his 5.88 ERA, but the latter is more likely.

Penny, the Dodgers former staff ace, claims to have been suffering from shoulder discomfort since the beginning of the season, which begs the question: why the hell didn't he have an MRI in April? A better question is: why does Penny weigh 260 pounds?

Is it possible to fire a trainer? You see coaches on the hot seat all the time. The Mets are not winning and Willie Randolph is rumored to be on the way out. The Mariners are not hitting, so they fired their hitting coach. If Penny goes on the disabled list, that will make SEVEN Dodgers on the DL. So why are there no rumors of the Dodgers trainer getting the axe? He should be fired -- if for nothing else, allowing Penny to pack on so much weight.

If Penny does go on the DL, the Dodgers may call up top pitching prospect James McDonald, who is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA at Double A, or go with veteran Chan Ho Park.  Another option is Jon Meloan, who was recently converted from closing to starting. Meloan is 4-5 with a 4.13 ERA in 13 starts at Triple A Las Vegas.  Hong-Chih Kuo is likely to stay in the bullpen, but has started in the past. Given all those options, knowing the Dodgers, they will probably sign a washed up veteran who was recently released by another team. Decision forthcoming.