Dodgers' Penny stops leaving a tip
By Tim Brown
Monday, Jul 9, 2007 8:53 pm EDT


By any measure, the Los Angeles Dodgers' trade that brought Marlon Anderson from the Washington Nationals for a minor-league pitcher last August could only be viewed as a winner.

Though since released, Anderson not only had a September that helped push the Dodgers into the playoffs, but he brought news that helped make Brad Penny an ace again.

Penny started for the National League All-Stars last year in Pittsburgh, and last seen at PNC Park was throwing 98-mph fastballs past the best hitters in the game. He was 10-2, his ERA was 2.91, his batting average against was .249. From then on, Penny was 6-7 with a 6.25 ERA and a .317 batting average against, then was left off the postseason rotation.

Penny came to believe he was tipping his pitches to opposing batters, something that Anderson, who'd faced Penny while with the Nationals and had seen those scouting reports, confirmed.

Apparently, Penny had been changing his glove action on breaking balls. When he dumped his split-fingered fastball because of the potential affect on his elbow and biceps, the difference in his delivery was even more pronounced.

"You can tell," Penny said, "when you have good stuff and they're hitting it."

So, Penny spent a little time in front of the mirror, a little time in front of his coaches, and through the first half this season is 10-1 with a 2.39 ERA.
Thanks, Marlon.