The Boston Red Sox Are Pursuing The Wrong Guy…

After watching Brad Penny’s disgusting performance last night where he was probably thinking more of the good ole days with Eliza Dushku than he was thinking about getting New York Yankee batters out, I think I speak for everyone in Red Sox Nation in saying I never want to see Penny start another game for the Red Sox again.

The Red Sox have a serious starting pitching problem right now. What many considered a strength at the beginning of the year, is now a major weakness.

Tim Wakefield has the never ending calf injury, Daisuke Matsuzaka was more concerned with pitching for Team Japan in the WBC than the Red Sox and now his shoulder looks worse than one of those Ed Hardy shirts, and John Smoltz has already been sent on his merry way.

Outside of Jon Lester and Cy Young candidate Josh Beckett, the Red Sox have a hodge-podge at the back-end of their rotation.

Despite all this, the Red Sox decided to pursue relief help yesterday. The Red Sox made a claim for New York Mets LHP Billy Wagner. The Red Sox and Mets have until Tuesday at 1 pm to work out a trade for the former closer.

I find this pursuit very odd. What is more important right now? Having another lefty in the pen to compliment Hideki Okajima or getting another starting pitcher to relieve Penny of his softball pitching duties?

Hmmm, I wonder?

The guy the Red Sox should be pursuing is Jon Garland of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Garland has already cleared waivers and I am going to venture to say he would be more effective than Penny.

Say what you want about Garland – he doesn’t strike guys out, he gives up a lot of hits, he always has a high era, etc… The bottom line is—the guy knows how to win baseball games and knows how to win in the American League.

From 2005-2008 with the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Garland was 60-38 with a 4.27 ERA. The Red Sox could use someone with those stats right about now.

At the end of the day, the Red Sox will most likely land Wagner. However, they should be pursuing Garland.

The Red Sox need starting pitching and they need it right now.