NewsPeavy feeling fine after White Sox debut
Righty likens day-after soreness to that of Spring Training
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
09/20/09 2:54 PM ET
CHICAGO -- Jake Peavy reported nothing more than "general soreness" on Sunday, the day after his White Sox and American League debuts. But Peavy admitted the soreness had a slightly different feel than the usual regular-season start."I think it's more like Spring Training soreness, no doubt," said Peavy. "I'm more sore than I think I will be April or May of next year. I have an extra day in between starts with Thursday's off-day, so that will help."
The right-hander will take the mound next on Friday against the Tigers, to begin a weekend home series that the White Sox hope will have some sort of playoff ramifications. Peavy threw 73 pitches in Saturday night's return to a Major League mound, following a three-month absence due to a partially-torn tendon in his right ankle and the after-effects of taking a line drive off of his pitching elbow during a Minor League rehab start. Both of those rehabbed areas presented no further issue after his performance.
In the 13-3 victory, Peavy gave up three runs on three hits over five innings, while striking out five. His fastball velocity stayed in the 92-93 mph range, topping out at 94, while his slider had good bite from the start, as Peavy fanned three of the first four hitters faced. He would have returned for a sixth inning, if not for the extended down time during the White Sox rally in the bottom of the fifth.
Peavy's attitude and competitive nature is what truly impressed manager Ozzie Guillen. The talking to himself or getting fired up after bad pitches simply shows Peavy's 100 percent commitment to winning whenever he takes the mound.
"He reminds me of El Duque," said Guillen, referring to Orlando Hernandez. "He doesn't fool around with anybody. He doesn't care if you are a teammate. He prepares himself real well and expects everyone to do the same thing."
"That's who I am, but as long as I use it in a positive light, I'm OK," Peavy said. "I've been a competitor. My father and grandfather have that in them, both being high school athletes. I love to win and compete. I don't know. It's not an act. It just comes out when stepping across white lines. I'm getting after it and I want to beat the opposition. I have a hard time hiding my emotions, but I do a good job of channeling that emotion in the right direction."
Although Peavy never had a doubt that he would be able to let loose with his pitches this offseason and be ready to go at the start of the 2010 season, Saturday's effort still was important in the context of coming over to a new organization.
"You come over to new city, a new team, a new league, and a lot of these guys have never seen me pitch until last night," Peavy said. "It felt good to put that to rest with you guys and my teammates and even the front office staff and coaches."
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
