FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -Brad Penny watched as CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett signed huge, long-term contracts. If shoulder problems hadn’t ruined his 2008 season, Penny might have gotten one, too.
Three weeks later, he finalized his own one-year, $5 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, who hope he’ll be a big bargain as they renew their rivalry with the New York Yankees, fortified by the addition of Sabathia and Burnett for $243.5 million.
Penny understands why he got shortchanged.
“The way I pitched last year, I put myself in that position,” he said Wednesday. “Injuries, I have no control over. But all I can do is go out there and focus on the task at hand, which is pitching every fifth day.”
With Los Angeles in 2006 and 2007, Penny was 32-13. In those same seasons, Sabathia was 31-18 with Cleveland and Burnett was 20-16 with Toronto.
Penny was the NL starter in the 2006 All-Star game. His 3.03 ERA in 2007, when he finished third in the NL Cy Young voting, was better than Sabathia’s and Burnett’s that year.
sastrous 2008 season: 6-9, 6.27 ERA, a career-low 17 starts and 86 of the last 120 days of the regular season on the disabled list with inflammation and soreness in his right shoulder.
On Wednesday, he threw about 30 pitches in the bullpen without pain. He expects to be ready for the start of the regular season.
“The hope is that we got him at the exact right time,” manager Terry Francona said. “He seems like he’s in a position where he wants to kind of show baseball what he can do.
“Last year didn’t work out the way he wanted it to, but he seems hungry to do that and maybe we’ll be the recipients of a guy that can win 16, 18 games, that type of pitcher.”
Penny was part of the 2003 Florida Marlins championship team, along with new teammates Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, and wanted to play with a contender. He also wanted his shoulder to be healthy.
Both desires led him to Boston and Mike Reinold, the team’s rehabilitation coordinator and assistant trainer.
“After the shoulder problems I had last year, I’ve been on (Reinold’s rehab) program for a little while now. I’m feeling real good,” Penny said. “It’s a lot of stuff that we weren’t doing in L.A., that I’d never seen before.
“Everyone I’ve talked to said nothing but good things about him and that was part of my decision.”
n Smoltz could get a spot once he recovers from major shoulder surgery. He could be back in May, but pitching coach John Farrell said Wednesday there is no timetable for his return.
Smoltz “is one of the biggest competitors I’ve ever played against,” Penny said. “I’ve got a lot to learn off of him. I’ve never played with someone who’s thrown a split and I’ve thrown a split for the last two years.”
Penny got positive reviews of the Red Sox from Beckett and Lowell before signing.
“They said I’d love it, just how good the guys are and all the coaches and from what I’ve experienced right now, it’s been nothing but first class,” Penny said. “I have a couple of country music singer friends that were in the Boston clubhouse and then in L.A. and they’re like, ‘it’s totally different. It’s so much better over there (in Boston), more relaxed.’ “
He’s also rejoining Takashi Saito, the former Dodgers reliever who made the NL All-Star team in 2007 and had a 2.49 ERA and 18 saves last season despite an elbow injury. In three major league seasons, all with Los Angeles, Saito, 38, is 12-7 with 81 saves and a 1.95 ERA.
“There’s nothing to worry about on the elbow,” Saito said with a smile through translator Masa Hoshino. “I’m pretty sure I can keep up with Brad Penny.”
Penny grinned when told about that remark.
“He’s one of my favorite teammates. He’s just a joy to be around,” Penny said. “He has a lot of fun. And when he’s on, he’s one of the best pitchers I’ve seen.”
Both are determined to come back from last year’s injuries. And both see no problems in being ready by opening day.
Penny also has done well against the Yankees: 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in two starts in the 2003 World Series. The disparity between his income and those of Sabathia and Burnett will decrease if he reaches all his performance bonuses, worth $3 million.
“The way I feel now, I shouldn’t have any setbacks,” Penny said. “I just have to stay after my shoulder work.”
Add A Comment