Peavy gets win in return to White Sox’ rotation
In his first start since June 4, Jake Peavy helped the White Sox beat the Atlanta Braves on Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field.
Back off the disabled list after recovering from a fractured rib, the 32-year-old Peavy (7-4) pitched 6 innings and allowed 4 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits while throwing 96 pitches.
With a flock of scouts in the stands, Peavy also helped his trade value.
“I’d rather keep him,” manager Robin Ventura said. “I know how good he is, and I know it’s good for us to have him because he’s a good pitcher. But I can’t go there.
“It’s just more managing the game to win the game. I don’t think about all the other stuff. I want him to do well first and foremost because I know it’s good for us.”
Since he is contractually “under control” through 2014, there is a chance Peavy stays with the Sox the rest of the season and next year as well.
But considering he hasn’t stayed healthy for a full season since 2007, when he won the Cy Young Award with the San Diego Padres, Peavy is a prime candidate to be moved.
“It don’t bother me,” Peavy said. “I just have to go out there and try to win. There are a lot of eyes on me, period. I was trying to win for the 30 or so thousand that came to support us. Whatever scouts see, they see.
“I love to play. I love to compete. I want to win. That’s the bottom line. Today for me was about, I didn’t expect to have great feel, I didn’t expect to have great stuff.
“I didn’t have either of those, but I expected to win, and I wouldn’t pitch in the big leagues if I didn’t. Fortunately, the boys came up with some big hits and we were able to hold on.”
In addition to Alex Rios going 3-for-5 with a grand slam and 5 RBI, Alejandro De Aza matched his career high with 4 hits, and Josh Phegley was 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and 1 RBI.
Take a seat:The White Sox have been plagued by sloppy play all season, but only Dayan Viciedo and Alex Rios have been pulled out of the starting lineups during games, both for failing to run hard on the bases.Is manager Robin Ventura being fair?#147;That one (baserunning), again, is the one that#146;s first,#148; Ventura said. #147;That#146;s the one you can dictate yourself. Some of the other ones are either decision-making or not thinking properly or physical.#147;(Baserunning) to me is simple; it#146;s the first one that we have as far as a rule.#148;Konerko update:After serving as designated hitter in his first two rehab games with Class AA Birmingham, Paul Konerko (sore lower back) played first base Saturday.Konerko still is expected to rejoin the White Sox on Monday against the Detroit Tigers.#147;I hope so,#148; manager Robin Ventura said. #147;I haven#146;t talked to him, but listening to what (trainer) Herm (Schneider) says, (Konerko) feels pretty good.#148;