baseball

Penny the latest big name to disappoint in Japan

11 Comments
By Jim Armstrong

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11 Comments
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why did Softbank even sign Penny in the first place? smh.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

actually on paper he was a descent signing, but on the field and in the clubhouse he was a nightmare

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"But Penny complained of soreness in his shoulder and said he had trouble adjusting to the softer pitching mound at Japanese stadiums. Japanese media reported that Penny refused to take part in team practices and meetings."

Wow... switch this to the Major League in the US and you could replace Penny's name with any Japanese pitcher, the 'softer mound' for the harder one, and add the 'different strike zone' or 'ball slipperiness', and see that the complaints go both ways. I'm surprised they let him go after only ONE game, but if he requested it, then so be it. Sounds like there was a lot more at work than just a sore shoulder and one bad performance.

I do agree that a lot of the best foreign pitchers/players in Japan are those who were not major leaguers back home, and I think it makes a huge difference. In a way, they've RISEN in the ranks in JAPAN, but those who were in the big leagues back home, where most Japanese pro players aspire to, MIGHT be seen as a drop (it's not, really... it's just very different).

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Thanks for the interesting article. Penny wasn`t such a pretty penny, but he would have been paid one... Anyone know if Robert Whiting is working on a new book?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

he would have been a decent signing if they didn't pay him $3 million! Penny had 1 or 2 good years and pretty much has been mediocre his whole career.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

anybody watched "Mr. Baseball" recently, lol

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104926/

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I remember Mr. Baseball. Great flick. Can't forget the scene where Selleck was in his first batting practice: Selleck: "What (pitch) was that?" Coach: "Shuto" Selleck: "A what?" Coach: "Shuto, Shuto".

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Back on topic please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The difference in these situations is that the Japanese talent coming to the U.S. is by-and-large the best in the game there - Matsuo, Suzuki, Darvish and a few others over the years. However, the guys ending up in Japan from the States are usually just so-so utility players whose careers were either over or never amounted too much or guys that are damaged goods. Randy Bass was a demi-god in Japanese baseball for a couple of seasons. He was nothing in the States.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Wanda-Kun

"He was nothing in the States."

Penny got most wins in the National league in 2006, if that's nothing, then the major league itself is nothing much. Typical major leaguers, too much pride to have any success

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Hide, 2006 was AGES ago! And we dont know the details/gossip why he would turn down $3 million. At least he didnt just give a half-arsed effort (like certain players from certain places) and collect the money and leave. Maybe he didn`t like the humidity... or the food. LOL!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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