Karina Smirnoff of “Dancing With the Stars” fame, who is Detroit Tigers pitcher Brad Penny’s fiancee, will be posing for Playboy magazine, according to reports.
Hugh Hefner broke the news via Twitter of course.
“The May issue of Playboy is unforgettable with Dancing With The Stars’ Karina Smirnoff on the cover & nude inside.”
Smirnoff and Penny have been engaged since November and they are planning to wed early next year.
I wonder how Brad feels about it.
After an injury plagued 2010, the newest Detroit Tiger, Brad Penny, wants a chance to prove that he’s healthy and ready to go. The Tigers better hope he’s healthy because that’s when Penny is at his best. I know baseball is the ultimate team game, but it all starts with pitching. If the stars align right and everyone stays healthy the Tigers will have as good a staff as any. As spring training rolls around Penny is slated to be the number five starter. He might be the best number five starter in the league, if he’s healthy.
Penny says he had offers from other teams, but the Tigers gave him the best chance to compete for a starting spot and he also felt the Tigers had a chance to win. Penny has been on a World Series winner and would like to get a shot at another one.
“I had some offers from teams that I didn’t think were able to compete,” Penny said. “I would have been more in a role of teaching young kids how to go about business, but I’m at a point where I want to win.”
“I was leaning towards Detroit most of the time, but I had a few offers that I had to consider.”
Penny matches up well with other fifth starters in the American League and everyone knows that there aren’t too many fifth starters with Penny’s credentials. Sure he had a rough time in is first stint in the American League. But I think pitching in Comerica Park will help him out.
That’s good for the Tigers since they had an obvious need for a number five starter. And Penny wants to prove he still has something left and isn’t simply playing for a contract.
Brad Penny signs with the Detroit Tigers. For one year and $3million plus incentives. That’s the kind of deal I was referring to when the free agent frenzy was going on. This was what i would call a smart signing. Not overpaying someone that might or might not be able to help. For once they spent money wisely.
Penny has been plagued by injuries for a lot of his career. But when he is healthy he can be very good. I know there are skeptics out there that will say he had his best years in the National League. I agree with that assessment. When he came to Boston he got shelled and was replaced by Tim Wakefield in the rotation. He ended that season with a 7-8 record and a 5.61 era. He pitched much better when he signed with the San Francisco Giants after being released by the Red Sox.
He gives the Tigers a solid number five starter and at best gives Armando Galarraga some competition at the back end of the rotation. I believe they’ll give him the fifth starter’s spot unless he proves he can’t do the job. If he can’t the Tigers don’t get beat out of a lot of money. Penny is capable of being a number five starter, possibly a four. Best case scenario is that Penny is solid in the rotation, Galarraga is a capable long reliever and spot starter, and prospects Andy Oliver and Jacob Turner get more seasoning in the minors and aren’t rushed. This could be one of the best steals of the offseason.
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