Random Thoughts (June 17, 2009)

A senior Phillies scout told me last night that his team is among three National League teams that are very interested in the services of Brad Penny. He said that the Phillies main competition for Penny are the Brewers and Mets. The Red Sox are in a position to be able to move Penny (5-2, 5.32 ERA, 44 K, 1.56 WHIP) because of their unmatched depth of starting pitchers. No team in baseball can match the Sox rotation and they also have John Smoltz -- returning next Thursday in Washington -- coming off the disabled list along with super-prospects Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden in Triple-A. It's easy for me to say this sitting in front of a computer screen but the right move here is to hold on to Penny at least until the All-Star break. If that means the Sox need to go to a six-man rotation or make a decision on the immediate future of "Mr. WBC" Daisuke Matsuzaka (disabled list or bullpen), then so be it. Pitching depth can be lost in a very short time (see: Bronson Arroyo for Wily Mo Pena). Unless the Phillies, Mets, or Brewers offer a prospect that Theo Epstein absolutely can not refuse, they should wait out the market until some team -- and there is always at least one team willingly to make a desperate move (see: Freddy Sanchez for Jeff Suppan) -- in order to add a pitcher... Who is that big guy hitting towards the bottom of the Red Sox order? He wears #34 and has a very powerful lefthanded swing. If this guy keeps tearing the cover off the ball, the Red Sox can stop their search for a slugger for the time being... I finally broke down and bought the iPod Touch yesterday. Although it has been in my possession for less than 24 hours, it is safe to say that it will dominate way too much of my time... Because I will be away next week in St. Maarten for my honeymoon, I don't want to forget to plug the Phantom Gourmet's Barbeque Beach Party, which is taking place both this weekend (at Foxwood's MGM Grand Casino in Connecticut) and next weekend (at Suffolk Downs in East Boston). After attending last year's event at Government Center in Boston, I don't think anything could keep me away ever again. The food is just too amazingly delicious to make other plans. The combination of the world-class BBQ, cold beers, and music makes for a perfect afternoon. Don't miss it... My family packed everything up and took a trip to Philadelphia this past weekend to watch the Red Sox and Phillies. There is not much to complain about. Citizens Bank Park is a great place to watch a game. It has comfortable seats with tons of leg room -- which my 6-9 father truly appreciated -- great concourses with plenty of great food choices, and McFadden's, a very good bar located inside the park gates (where I spent the entire rain delay on Saturday night). Citizens Bank is located in the same complex as Lincoln Financial Field, home to the Eagles, the Wachovia Center, home of the 76ers and Flyers, as well as the old Philadelphia Spectrum. There are huge parking lots for all four stadiums and a train stop that brings fans back into downtown Philly in 10 minutes. Very cool. I did get out and try one, or three, of the famous Philly cheesesteaks. I sampled the Cheese Whiz and steak at both Pat's and Geno's. Both had huge lines that moved fairly quickly. I enjoyed both (Pat's was better) but I was told by several people afterwards that I wasted my time and should give both Tony Luke's and Jim's my business. I never got to Jim's but without a doubt, Tony Luke's was the best of the three. Baltimore is my next trip but Philly will definitely get another visit before too long... Enjoy "no more pencils, no more books"...