NewsPeavy making long-awaited Sox debut
Chicago (72-76) vs. Kansas City (60-87), 6:05 p.m. CT
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
09/19/09 1:15 AM ET
CHICAGO -- White Sox fans flocking to U.S. Cellular Field for Saturday night's contest probably aren't coming to watch Dusty Hughes make his first Major League start for the Royals.No, the postgame fireworks show serves as partial incentive for the South Side masses, not to mention the fact that Ozzie Guillen's crew still holds some remote semblance of hope in winning the American League Central and reaching the postseason. But the true reason for attendance centers on the following sentence.
Jake Peavy makes his White Sox debut.
"Anytime you have a layoff like I had, you are excited to get back on the mound," said Peavy on Friday.
"We've been waiting for him for seven months," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen with a wry smile, during his entertaining 16-minute pregame interview session with the media on Friday. "Hopefully, when I take this guy out or he takes himself out of the game, he's healthy. That's what I want."
Obviously, Guillen used the seven-month reference to make an exaggerated point in regard to Peavy's absence. But there's no denying the team has been anxiously awaiting the on-field arrival of its major acquisition at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.
Peavy's story has been told so many times that random fans stopped outside the ballpark Saturday probably could recite the tale. The one-time San Diego ace waived his no-trade clause to come to the White Sox, in exchange for four young hurlers, including Clayton Richard and Aaron Poreda.
When he arrived, Peavy was on the disabled list and had not pitched since June 8 due to a partially torn tendon in his right ankle suffered in a game against the Cubs. Peavy worked tirelessly under the supervision of White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper and the team's training staff, and after three Minor League rehab starts, Peavy appeared ready to take the mound for the White Sox at Yankee Stadium in the last weekend of August. But while his ankle was ready, Peavy had taken a line drive off of his pitching elbow that set him back another 2 1/2 weeks.
Though ready to begin his White Sox tenure, how long Peavy will last in his first start for the South Siders is up in the air.
"I'm not sure, we really haven't talked," said Peavy, when asked about a Saturday pitch count. "In my mind, I'm just going to go on how I feel. ... I don't really know what to expect. I haven't really been through a process like this. I'm sure there will be some adrenalin and the excitement, and I'm going to just try to channel that and use it in the right direction.
"I don't need anything personally to be accomplished out of this. I've been in this game long enough to know what I'm able to do when I'm healthy on the mound. And I believe I'm getting close to that."
"Like I said, it's going to be a short little three -- or four maybe -- starts," Peavy said. "I'm not even sure I haven't looked anything beyond tomorrow night. Next year is really what I'm gearing up and getting ready for, but maybe a postseason run. Stranger things have happened."
Factoring in the White Sox third straight loss coming Friday night, reducing their elimination number to nine, the team either has to win out or hope for utter collapses from both Detroit and Minnesota. With Chicago's playoff chances quickly evaporating, though, getting a look at Peavy should be a nice boost for the White Sox fans.
More so than even fireworks or Dusty Hughes.
"I'll say this. You can see at whatever percentage he's at on the sidelines, you can envision when he's at full strength what that stuff becomes," said Cooper. "And it's really good stuff.
"His command, even though that's not where it's going to be. The life on the ball, the carry on his fastball, the spin of the fastball, the cutter, his ability to throw slow curveballs, the changeup, the movement of his pitches and the life and energy they have. Those are things that have impressed me. I'm seeing pitches he's throwing in the bullpen that can be thrown in the game."
Pitching matchupCWS: RHP Jake Peavy (6-6, 3.97 ERA)
Peavy has not pitched in a big league game since going against the D-backs on June 8, while still with the Padres. KC: LHP Dusty Hughes (0-0, 3.38 ERA)
Hughes will be making his first Major League start on Saturday, taking the place of Kyle Davies, who was scratched because of a minor oblique injury. In four relief appearances spanning eight innings as a big leaguer, Hughes has allowed three runs while striking out nine and walking three. But Hughes has also shown that he is capable of being stretched out. In his Major League debut, Hughes threw 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief against the Angels, the longest relief outing by a Royals pitcher this year. Hughes went 3-3 with a 3.50 ERA for Triple-A Omaha in 34 games, making 11 starts. He last made a start there at the end of August, before his late-season callup to Kansas City. Tidbits
Guillen announced after Friday's loss that rookie Tyler Flowers will start as the designated hitter on Saturday night. Guillen wants to give Scott Podsednik a night off and wants as many righties as possible in the lineup against Hughes. ... Peavy certainly isn't overlooking the Royals in his first American League start on Saturday. "A lot of people think you're facing the Kansas City Royals, but I tell anybody, 'The big leagues is the big leagues,'" Peavy said. "Those guys are here for a reason. They scored five or six runs off Justin Verlander, who is as good as anybody in baseball. It comes down to executing pitches, and I certainly don't take anything for granted." ... Mark Buehrle lost to the Royals for the first time at U.S. Cellular Field since Aug. 11, 2004 (12 starts). He received two runs or fewer in support for the eighth time in his past 14 starts. The four walks he issued were the most since June 9 against Detroit (also four). ... Podsednik is hitting .353 in September. ... The White Sox are now 40-33 at home, compared to 32-43 on the road. They have a 27-33 mark in the season's second half. Tickets
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• Sunday: White Sox (Freddy Garcia, 2-2, 4.41) vs. Royals (Robinson Tejeda, 3-1, 3.09), 1:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: White Sox (D.J. Carrasco, 5-1, 3.66) vs. Twins (Nick Blackburn, 10-11, 4.34), 7:11 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: White Sox (John Danks, 12-9, 3.59) vs. Twins (Jeff Manship, 0-1, 5.31), 7:11 p.m. CT
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
