Last year in Spring Training, Brad Penny was getting down and dirty with Jenny McCarthy (see attached photo where they are indeed down in the dirt), but at one time he was linked to Alyssa Milano, as was Barry Zito. Today, they get it on to see who is the best man. It seems like a long time ago that this season really started back in Vero Beach (God Rest It’s Soul) and all Dodger fans are hopeful for a great season. I don’t think we will be disappointed.
Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com writes a piece about Penny that makes one hopeful 2008 could be his real breakout year. Could we see Brad win a Cy Young? I think it’s possible if some of what Gurnick says is true. He provides us these quotes:
“I’ll take it just like another game,” said Penny. “I won’t get too emotional for a start like this. It’s not like a World Series or playoff game, but I’m excited about it.”
“I’m mixing it up and getting smarter,” Penny said. “I’ve got command of my pitches better than I did before. Usually my springs are horrible, but maybe that’s because I didn’t have a splitter and a curveball.
“I’m moving it in and out, up and down. I’m locating the four-seamer and I’ve got the split, so if I got behind in the count in the past, hitters knew they were getting a fastball. Now, they’re not so sure. I’m just smarter.”
That, says catcher Russell Martin, is the biggest change in Penny over the past two seasons.
“It’s true,” Martin said. “He’s doing the little things in the game, the subtleties. Maybe being around Greg Maddux two years ago helped him out. Brad sees a guy pitch like that and get guys out. He makes it look so easy.
“Brad is a smart guy, and smart people learn from successful people. Brad definitely does that. He’s smart on the mound. Sometimes he pretends like he’s not, but he’s really clever.”
Martin said Penny’s split-finger fastball has taken the right-hander to another level.
“It’s made the fastball and breaking ball so much better,” said Martin. “Now he can throw it any time. It helps him get quick outs, which is really key for him so he can throw fewer pitches and go deeper into games.”
Gurnick went on to say that “Penny pitched a career-high 208 innings in 2007. His 32-13 record over the past two years is the best in the league. His 20-3 mark during the first half of the past two seasons is the best since Randy Johnson went 17-2 in 1996-97. He finished third in last year’s National League Cy Young Award voting.”
I think it is possible that Penny will be an elite pitcher and with Lowe pitching for a new contract and an improving Billingsley, Kuroda really has no pressure, and as we saw yesterday, his stuff is pretty good.
Here’s Why Ned Re-Assigned Kershaw and Kemp DeWitt (barring a last minute trade):
- It is obvious that we need to move Loaiza and Pierre. Ideally. Pierre would have won the LF job but he sucked so bad in the Spring and Ethier stepped it up a couple of notches that there was no way Joe could justify Pierre a starting spot.
- The Dodgers are hoping that Loaiza can pitch well, like maybe a #4, so that they can move him and maybe Pierre.
- DeWitt is ready after hitting .220 in the Spring after 178 AB’s in AA and Kershaw with about the same amountb of time in AA is not ready after looking like the second coming of Sandy Koufax, after his first six or seven years? Please, stop the doublespeak! They want to save Kershaw’s arm? What, does he pitch with his feet in AA? The kid is ready and the Dodgers know it!
- We could see a three or four way deal, very soon.
- LOOK FOR A TRADE & IT JUST MIGHT INVOLVE ADRIAN BELTRE!
According to Joe Torre, this is our starting lineup today:
- Furcal SS
- Ethier LF
- Kemp RF
- Kent 2B
- Jones CF
- Martin C
- Loney 1B
- I’m not convinced it will be DeWitt
- Penny P
Of course, it’s April 1st!
