Brad Penny: to the bullpen Options

[DieHardSoxFan1]

With Tim Wakefield rehabbing in Pawtucket today -- his final line: 3.2 IP 3 H 2 ER 3 K -- it appears our favorite knuckleballer is set to rejoin the starting rotation, perhaps as soon as this coming week.

That means one pitcher, either Brad Penny or Junichi Tazawa, will be removed from the rotation. Given Tazawa's inexperience and roster flexibility (he can be optioned at any time), it's easy to presume him the odd man out. But after watching Penny labor through yet another outing tonight, it might be time to seriously question his viability going forward.

With a 5.21 ERA and no ability to hold base runners -- they're 26/28 against him -- sending Penny to the mound is quickly becoming baseball's equivalent of "the punt." Taking into account the tight wild card standings, the Sox can ill-afford to give away any games -- just one could make the difference.

So, when Wakefield returns, who should go?

Edit --

Courtesy of The Gray Eagle:

The Sox have lost 7 of the last 9 games started by Bad Fat Pitcher Brad Penny.

This post has been edited by DieHardSoxFan1: Aug 15 2009, 10:44 PM