Yardbarker: Brad Penny

Blogging the Offseason: San Francisco Giants

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here.

Today's NL team is the San Francisco Giants and our guest Giants fan Zach from The Big Picture.

1. Will the Giants sign an offseason bat that's actually worth the money, or will they again throw money at someone well past his prime like they did Renteria?
I doubt it. I really do. When guys like Jason Bay and Matt Holliday are the "big names" who want $100 million, I just don't see it as a good investment. They'll probably try to get some smaller names who could make big impacts -- starting with resigning Juan Uribe.

2. Bengie Molina is a free agent this offseason, are you in favor of resigning him or simpling rolling the dice with Buster Posey? What do you think the Giants do?
I like Molina's heart. I like his bat about 30% of the time. I like his handling of the pitchers 80% of the time. BUT HE'S A LIABILITY ON THE BASES! The running joke with Benjie is that it'll take a triple to score him from second.
His contract isn't a major issue, so I'd keep him around to mentor Posey and start really working Posey in there by mid-season.

3. Madison Bumgarner will be in the Giants rotation on what date?
When Penny gets hurt. Is early April too pessimistic?

4. The Giants traded for Freddy Sanchez near the deadline. WHY? And will they pick up his option this offseason?
Don't ask! Hated that trade then and hate it even more now. Aside from giving up a prized prospect (Tim Alderson), they were acquiring a hitter who had little power and couldn't take a walk. He IS EVERY ******* HITTER ALREADY IN THE GIANTS' LINEUP! They resigned him because he's good for 75 games played, a .290 average and 8 homers; Brian Sabean wanted to have a guy who fits right in.

5. Which Giant free agent pitcher do you want on the 2010 roster, Randy Johnson or Brad Penny or both?
Penny hands down. Loved the pick up at the time -- the guy can pitch in the National League. I think a lot of teams would love him as their first starter.

6. What would it take for you as a Giant fan to be ok with Sabean dealing either Lincecum or Cain?
Let's keep names out of this:
-Your two best hitters
-Your best pitcher
-A free night with the hottest wife
-Cash considerations
-Your first-round pick the next three years
-A 24-pack of beer (and not the bad ****, either)
-A high-paying job in your organization
-Maybe your second-best pitcher too

7. You've gassed your owner and have convinced him to spend like the Yankees, which three free agents do you sign?
Yikes. Bad year for that. For the Giants' needs, I'd go:
1. Matt Holliday
2. Carl Crawford
3. Josh Beckett

8. Which Giant prospect are you most looking forward to in 2010?
I'll give the nod to Posey over Bumgarner because I forgot what it looks like to see someone hit well.

9. I'm giving you the option to cut players without any salary repercussions, which Giants do you part way with?

Aaron Rowand
Randy Winn
Edgar Renteria
Ryan Garko
Freddy Sanchez
Fred Lewis

You were expecting me to say Zito, huh?
Any batter who can't draw a walk or sacrifice a runner is wasted space in my book.

10. Final Question, you've got a crystal ball, the Giants win the NL West in...
2011

Jeremy Hermida: Classic Theo Epstein

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:15:00 -0500

Last offseason, GM Theo Epstein opted against making a big splash in free agency and instead decided to make a number of "low risk, high reward" signings. Epstein went out and signed John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Takashi Saito, and Rocco Baldelli to 1 year contracts with plenty of incentives. All of those players were coming off injury plagued seasons, but their history suggested that if they were healthy, they could be productive and help the Red Sox.However, the plan did not work out. ...

The Cashman-Headwarmer Dialogues, Episode 54: Prelude to... Something

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:56:00 -0500

Headwarmer: Hey, nipplehead. You know who I was just thinking of?Cashman: Who?Headwarmer: Brad Penny.Cashman: Headwarmer, I'm busy plotting the World Series parade route. No need to distract me with talk of that washed-up bum.Headwarmer: He was actually pretty good a few years back. Like, the last time we played in a World Series game five.Cashman: Huh?Headwarmer: Brad Penny. He beat us in game five of the 2003 World Series. Gave up just one earned run over seven. Remember?Cashman: Not su...

Diamondbacks 1, Giants 4: Penny For Your Naughts

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:44:25 -0500

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP San Francisco Giants 1B Travis Ishikawa is unsure if his run counts, since it's against the Diamondbacks. The home plate umpire nodded his head sadly, and the game continued on. Browse more photos » For my final recap of the season, I had high hopes that the Diamondbacks would do something interesting that also qualified as "good." You know, scoring more than ...

Brad Penny Does Not Appreciate Your Mock Grunting

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:00:25 -0500

Even as Penny dominates NL hitting like a grown man mowing through Little Leaguers, he still carries himself like a toddler on the mound, ranting and raving about everything. So it goes without saying: Mock him at your own risk. As you probably know by now, Penny reacts to every strikeout like he's just closed out Game 7 of the World Series, and to every taunt like you've just spat out his mother's cooking. Monday's game against the Padres made Penny especially combustible bec...

Brad Penny Is A Completely Rational Human Being

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:08:45 -0500

On Monday afternoon during his second start with the San Francisco Giants (a 9-4 win), Brad Penny gave up a monster home run to San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in the sixth inning. Gonzalez finished his swing and watched to see where the ball was headed - the same finish he’s done on [...]

Happ Gunning for ROYalty Versus Penny, Giants

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:27:55 -0500

After last night's playoff-atmosphere pitcher's duel in South Philly, Fightins fans are hoping for another dominant performance from their pitcher tonight, only with a little more run support. Cole's 1-0 win in the opener was the first by that margin for the Phils all season, which isn't all that surprising. Win or lose, they usually score more than one run. With rookie stud JA Happ on the mound tonight, they may not need a ton of run support, but we'd all like to see it a...

Report: Brad Penny will sign with the San Francisco Giants

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:38:00 -0500

Brad Penny has cleared waivers following his release from the Boston Red Sox and will sign with the San Francisco Giants, according to sources. Penny has pitched very poorly this season, posting a 7-8 record with a 5.61 ERA. Fellow Boston castoff John Smoltz also had terrible numbers in the American League but has since thrown two great games in the National League since joining the Cardinals. The Giants are hoping to get the same results from Penny with the change of scenery.

Brad Penny to return?

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:13:04 -0500

Apparently the Marlins are lining up to be one of the teams that Brad Penny may consider. Former Marlins starter Brad Penny, who the Red Sox are in the process of releasing, is expected to clear waivers Monday. Several media outlets are reporting the Marlins, Rockies and Giants would be among Penny's suitors. While Penny almost certainly would find the Marlins intriguing, a more likely scenario is he'll land in Colorado. He has a relationship with manager Jim Tracy from their ...

In Keeping With the Spinal Tap Theme...

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:11:00 -0500

...last night's game gets a two-word review: **** sandwich.I figgered Brad Penny would rise to the occasion, prove the naysayers wrong and crank out the game of his career. Instead, he folded like a deck chair, giving up 8 runs over 4 innings and reminding us all that if the Red Sox ever do happen to make the playoffs, he needs to be as far away from the starting rotation as possible. I'm talking tied-to-the-wings-of-the-space-shuttle far. Also, if I were Terry, I would have left him ...

Tonight We're Gonna Rock You Tonight

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:30:00 -0500

I hate going out on a limb and making predictions, especially when Brad Penny, the Steven Seagal of pro baseball, is on the hill against a stocked Yankees line-up. But I look to the return of the RemDawg as the harbinger: the Sox have no choice but to roll. Roll over those high-paid mercenary types; those heartless dinks who feel that entitlement comes with the pinstripes. I'm here to say it doesn't, you backwards-ass f@#ks. Because we've gut spunk. And gusto. And more heart and p...

Thanks, Brad Penny. But it may be time to move on.

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:23:38 -0500

When injuries arise, solutions aren't always easy to come by. So with Wakefield and Daisuke sidelined, and with the Red Sox hesitant to promote Michael Bowden, there may not be many of those "solutions" available. Yet, I shall try. But Brad Penny shouldn't be in this rotation much longer. Not when he can't reach the seventh inning--ever. And not when he seems to labor through the innings that he does get through, while giving up plenty of runs along the way. Luck...

8/15: Penny tries to give us a quality start.

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:07:28 -0500

Since Brad Penny's best this season seems to be six innings, three earned. Then that is what I expect from him. I just hope that he doesn't fare worse. It is a critical game, in terms of the Wild Card, so let's get a W!