Angels should pick up Penny

by Gorbachav5 on Aug 27, 2009 9:23 AM PDT Comment 26 comments

Brad Penny was just released by the Red Sox.

Given the Angels rotation problems, I would love to see them go after Penny. According to Fangraphs, his FIP is only 4.48, which indicates that his ERA is bloated by playing half his games at Fenway in front of a defense that has been one of the worst in the AL.

It's no secret that the rotation has struggled. While Penny wouldn't be an upgrade over the Angels' top two starters (Lackey and Weaver), he would be insurance in case Santana can't stay on track, and despite his promising start yesterday, it's unclear what the Angels will get from Saunders the rest of the way.

What IS clear is the he would be a significant upgrade over the myriad minor league callups that have been serving as the Angels' fifth starter since the first week of the season. And once the playoffs roll around, he might be useful in a long role out of the bullpen (if he proves to be pitching better than Matt Palmer, who has zero experience in the postseason).

In short, he gives the Angels options, and his underlying numbers suggest that he can still help out a major league rotation. He's cheap, he's a short-term investment, and he can help save the bullpen some wear and tear down the stretch. Your move, Reagins.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

0 recs | Comment 26 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Agreed

The Angels really could use a Garland (if they don’t have to give much up) or Penny-type starter to get through this season. The kids aren’t ready.

Next year’s starters look like Weaver, Saunders, Santana, Palmer, + one of the kids if they don’t pick somebody up. I think Lackey’s going to walk. It appears they could use a starter next year with one of the kids being ready in 2011 if 2010 is rushing them too much.

by California Cajun on Aug 27, 2009 9:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Next year aside

I’m thinking only of Penny for this year. I doubt the Angels would sign him to more than a contract lasting through the end of this year, although that’s possible.

I’m just thinking that with Ervin’s problems (hopefully solved, but who knows?), Saunder’s struggles (also hopefully solved), and Trevor Bell/Sean O’Sullivan being completely overmatched at the major league level, Penny is a good pick up. And the Angels wouldn’t owe the Red Sox ANYTHING. Unlike Garland, who I believe was put through waivers and would need to be traded for, Penny can be signed by anyone. Correct me if I’m wrong on that, though.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Aug 27, 2009 9:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It can't hurt

To pick up Penny. I would imagine they would not be responsible for much in the way of compensation, either.

Hoping for a Cards- Halos matchup this fall… saw the Halos when they were in town to take 2 or 3 a couple of years ago. Would love to see them again in a more meaningful series!

by halosfaninstl on Aug 27, 2009 9:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Just do it!

He is healthy. He is a legit starter.

by haloak on Aug 27, 2009 10:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Not really sure...

we could use another starter for sure, but Penny has actually been worse on the road this year then at Fenway. He just isn’t that appealing, but then again, neither are our other options. Sigh…

Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!

by Angel Hawker on Aug 27, 2009 10:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bad idea

It might help to ask why the Red Sox, desperate for starting pitching, would release Penny, thus eating the balance of his contract. He’d have to be pretty awful to not be good enough to stand on the mound for the Sox every 5th day. Smoltz was released, Dice K is 1-5, Masterson now pitches for the Indians and Bucholz is a mess. But somehow, Beckett isn’t good enough to be in the rotation of the Red Sox—with Paul Byrd, signed three weeks ago and playing himself into shape in the minors, apparently figured to be a better option?

Take a look at his last 5 games:

That’s an ERA of 9, kids, for those games, and he didn’t average past the 6th inning on any of those games. And while it would be convenient to blame his problems on the defense in Boston, the simple fact is that over those five games, he walked 12 while striking out 20—over 26 1/3 IP.

121 pitches to get get through 5 2/3 innings? Really? This is the guy to improve the staff?

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Aug 27, 2009 10:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

In short, yes

First of all, you’re talking about a small sample size. Five starts does not indicate his true ability, unless he’s hurt or done as a pitcher.

Second of all, look at these numbers:
Pitcher A: GS: 5 IP: 24.3 H: 39 BB: 12 K: 8(!!!) ERA: 8.52;
Pitcher B: GS: 5 IP: 24.7 H: 41 BB: 11 K: 18 ERA: 9.47;
Pitcher C: GS: 5 IP: 17.3 H: 35 BB: 12 K: 12 ERA: 11.97

Pitcher A: The last five starts of Joe Saunders before his DL stint.
Pitcher B: Ervin Santana, starts 3 – 7 this year.
Pitcher C: The last five combined starts of Sean O’Sullivan and Trevor Bell. So how is Penny worse than those guys?

When you’re talking about an investment of maybe $200,000 for the rest of the season (and maybe not even that much), it’s certainly worth it to get O’Sullivan and Bell out of the rotation. They’re promising youngsters, but they are not ready for the majors yet.

As for why the Red Sox let him go? I don’t know, but I’m thinking Matsuzaka is close to being back, and he’s certainly better than Penny. On the other hand, Dave Cameron over at Fangraphs thinks the Red Sox made a mistake by cutting Penny. Why shouldn’t the Angels capitalize on that?

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Aug 27, 2009 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Small sample size?

True, but it is highly significant that these games represent his last five efforts on the mound.

It says a lot about his current ability to step in and help. Or not.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Aug 27, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

But those last five starts of Penny’s are still better than O’Sullivan and Bell.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Aug 27, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"He sucks less"

Not a really compelling argument you’re building.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Aug 27, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He sucks less = he's better

I’m not sure how that’s a bad argument.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Aug 27, 2009 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

how about "find a better option"?

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.

by Moondoggy on Aug 27, 2009 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess its worth a shot

but he looked like crap with the Sux…though how awesome would it be if he worked out and he won a game against the Sox in the playoffs?

Now that’d be worth the money by itself.

Tell your statistics to shut up

by HaloDutch on Aug 27, 2009 10:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This is the problem

Someone mentioned in the thread over at Fangraphs that he promised the Sox he would sign with an NL team so he couldn’t hurt them in the playoffs.

It’s an anonymous poster on the internet, so take that for what it’s worth, but the logic makes sense. Dice-K isn’t back for another week, so the Sox could have held onto Penny until September 1st and then cut him to make sure he couldn’t be on any playoff rosters.

Plus Penny will undoubtedly fare better in the NL. I still think it would be worth it to sign him, but it probably won’t happen.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Aug 27, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

meh…. lackey, weaver, santana, and saundo all have had good starts within their past 2 outings.

I think we need more bullpen support if anything. If we could get a set-up or closer type pitcher we would be set for the 7 8 and 9th with jepson going either 7 or 8

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Aug 27, 2009 11:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How about putting him in the pen?

I don’t know what his first inning stats are, but if he can let it loose for an inning, he can’t be any worse than rafael rodriguez. As for the 40 man, drop Ryan Budde aleady.

by Big Bad, 'Vlad'! on Aug 27, 2009 1:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The reason the Red Sox cut him

…was that he didn’t want to go to the pen.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Aug 27, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not gonna happen

He still has to get through waivers, we have second to last chance to get him.

by SoCalWine on Aug 27, 2009 3:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No one's going to claim him

Because no one wants the contract. Wait until Monday and he can sign with anyone for $100k.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Aug 27, 2009 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

waivers or release

Was Penny put on waivers or given his outright release? There is a difference. Waivers he has to clear. Release he is immediately free. Unless i am mistaken.

by Baylorsgroove on Aug 28, 2009 1:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought he was given his outright release

Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch

by red floyd on Aug 28, 2009 7:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He has been released

He was on waivers, and was claimed by the Yankees, causing the Sox to pull him back. He can thus no longer be traded.

However, he is still bound by his contract, unless he declines all offers and becomes a free agent. If he does this, though, he walks away from $1.5M still owed to him (by the team which claims him).

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Aug 28, 2009 5:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

yankees claimed him

How the hell did the angels let him pass so the yankees could claim him?

by Baylorsgroove on Aug 28, 2009 5:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

They preferred to be busy working on Kazmir, maybe?

We don't have a Bullpen. We have a Cowpen. Before we get to call it a Bullpen these guys gotta grow a pair.

by Stirrups on Aug 28, 2009 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because it was a waste of time

Is it possible you don’t think the team has scouts out, looking at players in both leagues? Is it possible you don’t understand that these decisions aren’t made in a split second, but are instead the result of weeks of research and consideration?

The Yankees claimed him to screw with the Red Sox, in order to prevent the Sox from trading Penny to an NL team and getting someone in exchange. The Yankees make ridiculously lowball offers, the Sox refuse, and thus have to take Penny off of waivers. When all is said and done, he’ll probably wind up somewhere like Colorado, but in the meantime the Yankees torpedoed the Sox and the Sox will wind up with nothing for him in exchange.

Penny’s performance has gone downhill all season. There is no reason to believe that a move to the West Coast would suddenly make him hit the strike zone and reduce his pitch count by 45%. Maybe he has an as-yet undiagnosed injury or maybe he has mechanical problems, but either way he didn’t represent anyone who could come in and assist the team in winning games.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Aug 29, 2009 4:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs