The logic appeared to be simple: Despite suffering from calf pain as a result of a displaced disk fragment in his back, Wakefield put forth a dominant 5 2/3-inning start for the Pawtucket Red Sox on Friday. Meanwhile, Penny got lit up by the Yankees at home. If rookie Junichi Tazawa had struggled against New York on Saturday afternoon, the situation might have been different — he may have been replaced instead of Penny — but Tazawa stifled the Yankees' powerful bats, holding them scoreless through six innings.
So the decision was made. Penny was the weak link — after a promising June, he has scored one victory in his last 11 starts — and he will be replaced.
In his stead, Wakefield will take the hill on Wednesday against the White Sox, making his first start since the All-Star break.
Although manager Terry Francona said he spoke to Penny before Saturday's game, the pitcher seemed to be unaware of his future as he headed out to stretch, telling The Boston Globe, "I don't know anything anyway."
Francona remains cautious in his proceedings with Wakefield so as not to aggravate the 42-year-old's back injury, but the team is confident that he can be successful on the mound after rehabbing for over a month. The primary concern with Wakefield is that the calf injury will slow him down as he attempts to field his position.
"I think he really improved enough [Friday] and, again, there should be some improvement before he pitches again that everybody thinks he can pitch and win," Francona told the Globe. "Again, I don't think he's going to win a track meet. I didn't think he was before. But he can cover his position and he's a really good pitcher, so I think we're OK."
