Jake Peavy's rehab is going to take longer than he and the Sox had hoped.
It's looking like the White Sox may not get much of a stretch-drive boost from Jake Peavy, who was downcast after struggling Tuesday in his second rehab start for Class AAA Charlotte. Hopes that he might make his Sox debut against the Yankees later this month have been dashed, with at least two more rehab starts (this Sunday and then Aug. 28) on the docket. If and when he does finally return to a major-league mound in September, can he really be expected to fare much better than the departed Clayton Richard would have?
This isn't exactly what Sox GM Ken Williams had in mind when he acquired the San Diego Padres ace at the trade deadline, but remember this: The Peavy acquisition was as much about the future as it was about this season, maybe even moreso.
''It's uncharted territory,'' Peavy told reporters Wednesday about his rehab odyssey. "Everyone says, 'Oh, it's spring training for you.' It's not spring training because I haven't lifted weights, I haven't played long toss and gotten ready like you get ready for spring training. I'm just trying to jump into the fire and help the ballclub win. We'll see how it works out. I've got two under my belt, a third one coming and we'll see after that."
Clearly, we won't be seeing the kind of form from Peavy in September that he flashed while winning the NL Cy Young award in 2007. If he doesn't round back into shape as quickly as hoped, that part of Williams' gamble may fail. But since Peavy is under contract for the next four years, he should help the Sox remain a perennial playoff contender, so it still was a good trade.As was the case with newly acquired outfielder Alex Rios, Williams did his offseason shopping early. Rather than wait until December to pursue major building blocks for the future, Williams had the foresight to get the jump on the competition and bring in his new additions now, when they also can contribute to the Sox' playoff push.
Williams desperately wants to win this season and believes his team has the talent to do it. The latest evidence came Monday when he labeled his team "underachievers" after a 3-3 West Coast road trip. "Yes, we can be a dangerous playoff team, but you first have to play well enough, play smart enough, play intense enough to where you show you want to be in the playoffs," he told reporters at the Cell. "It can't just be lip service. I don't want to hear it anymore. Get the job done."
The Sox got a huge boost Wednesday from Jose Contreras, who seems to have morphed into a baseball version of Rex Grossman. It was "Good Jose" on the mound this time, keeping Kansas City in check for seven innings in a 4-2 victory. A welcome outing after an extended period of being "Bad Jose" (0-4, 7.62 ERA in his previous six starts). Contreras credited former teammate Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez for a fashion tip: He wore high socks like Hernandez did, and vowed to keep doing so if it helps him pitch well.
I still think it was a good move. The future was the most important aspect in both the Peavy and Rios decisions.
As for Contreras, even his horrid starts showed me that his stuff is there. He just has to throw strikes. Heck, he doesn't even have to locate his strikes all that much either! His stuff, when thrown over the plate, is as good as most. The Rex Grossman comparison is an interesting one with regard to Jose. Now the Sox really need Contreras to be like "Good Jose" the rest of the way. It's not inconceivable however IF he could just throw strikes. Another key aspect to his game is that once he allows baserunners, his house of cards control-wise tends to fall completely. He is and always has been the worst controller of the running game I believe I've ever seen. His delivery is as slow as Heinz ketchup and seems totally oblivious to whatever the runner or runners are doing. Still, it's become evident that he's very aware if only between the ears and successes on the basepaths begin to rattle him to the point that he loses control of the baseball. He'll go from somewhat unhittable to horrible due to control in the blink of an eye. This past game was a gem as none of that occurred. Let's hope it continues as his "Good Jose" act will likely have to cover Peavy's unreadiness for the rest of this season.
They ARE underachievers. I don't expect more than a .500 ball club this year. Too many mental lapses in the field, combined with an aging core in a mid-year offensive slump (Dye, Thome and Konerko have all struggled in July - August, when in past years they've been hot during this time).
Of course Peavy is a good deal. You can't be near-sighted about the trade. They got him for the long haul, not just for September. YOu don't trade 4 pitchers unless you're looking down the road at next year. Regardless of what Peavy does, the rest of the team has to produce in September to win the division. He could be lights-out in all his starts, and the Sox could still come in second.
I hope to see Peavy around Labor Day, a great b-day present for me!
It's strange to see the White Sox ahead of Detroit in almost every offensive catagory, pitching included, yet we still trail them. Shows the importance of defense, timely hitting, and enemy walks. I say, let Peavy work until he's absolutely ready. The cards are slightly in our favor right now, and if we plan on going as far as the whole can take us, I'd rather work with a chain that hasn't a link taken from the torch too early.
Pitching and defense, with a side of timely hitting, wins championships, and if the Sybil Sox have it in the cards, so shall it be.
Right now, though, it looks more like we're playing 'Go Fish'!
Awesome deal for the following reasons:
1. It showed that Kenny is the MAN in the art of negotiations. He is simply as Ali once said: "A BAAAAD MAN"!!! Folks were laughing at him a few weeks ago, but here is Kenny dragging in the entire pot like Phil Ivey. And I trully hope that a GM of the year award is in that pot and another title.
2. It was good for the Whitesox Organization. It erased the stigma that pitchers would not come to the cell. It sent a message to all other free agents: "This is a top quality club with REAL HORSES and serious management". It will make offseason negotiations even easier.
3. It gave the current team and its fanbase a boost. It gave the current players - postseason hope. It gave the fans confidence in purchasing tickets for the remainder of the season AND next season.
4. It improved the team for next year. This showed the fans and current players the direction of the club. We are retooling with proven players and not just rebuilding with youth, which is a staple of the team under Kenny's leadership. The Sox are making some changes, but not putting up a white flag that means we will not be competitive.
5. It showed the world why the PRESIDENT is a Sox fan. Smart money is on black.
Underachieving? This team was not expected to contend at all when the season started. The fact that they are on the verge of taking over first place again despite their obvious flaws is a credit to Guillen and Kenny Williams. Guillen is so underrated as a baseball manager it's not even funny and Kenny should be the MLB GM of the year if the White Sox end up winning this division. I said earlier this season when the Sox were struggling in May that the key to their resurgence would be the kids and look what happened when Beckham was brought up and stepped up his game. Danks and Floyd, very good. Quentin is back mashing the ball and then Kenny going for it all with the Peavy and Rios pickups. Now that's how you run a team! Job well done, White Sox. I expect them to be there in the playoffs come October. As for Peavy, I agree, with or without him, the Sox will be there in the end and it still was a good risk to take. He'll help out short term or long term long term, maybe both. Can't knock it.
Yes it is still a good move and that includes the rest of this season.
They are right in the mix and having Peavy for the month of September and maybe beyond is nothing but a good thing.
On the other hand... this was never about a one shot chance to win it all with a rent a player type of trade.
Peavy is young and is under contract with the White Sox for several years and if he does not throw one pitch for them this year it is still a good move.
This and the Rios deal were for the long haul.
The Sox never had to get into a bidding war during the off season for either one of these guys and it was smart of them to avoid that.
All good comments, but Edgar Nailed it.
But ask yourself if you are Peavy and the Sox make it to the post season or get anywhere close to it - would you really let that get away from you??? Buerle coming off being perfect, the President wearing your team's jacket, the Mayor and the Olympics. All eyes will be on Chicago and everyone looking for a hero. (ESPECIALLY IF THE CUBS BOW OUT)
If you don't get up for that - then I question your heart as a competitor, and your head for not recognizing the moment. Regular season...ok, but post season....come on man. I know I come tearing out of that duggout like Willis Reed or somebody. THATS WHY I expect Peavy back.
Good deal? This was a great deal, for the Padres. I don't think the rest of the league is laughing at Kenny for this Peavy deal, by now they are laughing at him for getting suckered into the Rios deal. That was classic, gull him into trying to block detroit from claiming him, then just dump the bloated contract on him. Funny.