Games 16 & 17: Sox sweep day/nighter
Not much is better in baseball than sweeping a day/night doubleheader.
Tim Wakefield was a hero -- again -- in the day game for the Sox. He earned the rain-shortened complete game victory, 10-1. He allowed one run, five hits, one walk and struck out four Twinkies on the day.
With a potential 18 innings on tap yesterday (worked out to 16, though), Wakefield needed to save the bullpen. He did just that and was effective. Sometimes we can run Wakefield out there, have him get smashed and he can still chew up innings, but not this time.
The offense was anchored by three two-run home runs in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd innings. Kevin Youkilis, Nick Green and Mike Lowell all went deep. Lowell and J.D. Drew each had three hits. (Green, while he knocked in three runs, did have two errors on the game.)
In the second game, Brad Penny wasn't horrible, which the Sox really need out of him. While the offense only managed five hits but knocked in seven, it was good enough to have the Sox win 7-3.
Penny went six innings and allowed six hits, three runs (two earned), one walk and struck out two. Penny's not really doing anything special this year, but he's getting the job done. He's not striking out a lot, but he's getting some ground balls and working out of jams.
Sox are off today, but the Yankees are in town Friday.
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Penny is doing what a #5 pitcher should do
By giving the Sox a decent chance to win two-thirds of his starts. He was awful against Baltimore, but the Sox won. In fact, they’ve won all of Penny’s starts so far.
Ideally, you want your #4-#5 starters to give you quality starts in two out of every three starts. If they’re much better than league average, that’s great. I’m not worried about the ERAs of the back or the rotation. For example, Penny’s ERA is 7.80, which is pretty bad. He also has an awful 1.67 WHIP. But in his two wins (both quality starts), he has an ERA of 3.75 and a WHIP of 1.17. In my opinion, Penny is doing his job well so far.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Apr 23, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
To be fair to the nay-sayers
Penny’s only had two starts so far, and one of them the Sox won in spite of Penny. He’s done his job in the second start, but the first wasn’t anywhere close to adequate.
Of course, you then have the problem of small sample sizes. I’ll try to avoid Chicken Littling or singing mighty hosannas for him until we’ve seen him a dozen or so times this year.
by lone1c on Apr 24, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bowden is killing at AAA right now
Just sayin’, we might not have to use Penny for much longer…
"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"
by MerryGoByeBye on Apr 23, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bowden is behind Buchholz and Smoltz
And, Penny has been fine so far.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Apr 23, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone think we
could get something for Penny before July 31st?
The Brewers have no pitching, The Mets pitching is awful beyond Maine and Johan. We could deal him to a contender for a legit prospect.
Maybe Penny is just what Texas needs to compete in the West. Catcher of the Future anybody?
This is all speculation of course. Just writing the first thing that pops in my head. So don’t be too critical
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.
by sox-inda-south on Apr 23, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As the Brewers nearly get a no-no today.
But it’s a good idea.
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Apr 23, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d rather trade him than one of the young guys.
And I could definitely see it happening if Dice-K, Smoltz and Buch get healthy.
by BTLove on Apr 23, 2009 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only way I think Penny has any value is if he pitches lights out…
by Randy Booth on Apr 23, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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