Peavy can't wait to start pitching in for new team

Jake Peavy does not hate the Cubs.

So if it's going to happen, it will have to be an acquired distaste.

In the meantime, Peavy is grateful for the Cubs' long-running interest in the former Padres ace and harbors no ill will over the team's ownership troubles that ultimately cost the Cubs their chance to land him.

"I certainly don't want it out there that I want to pitch against them (Sept. 3 at Wrigley Field) because I'm mad at them," Peavy said Monday via cell phone, as he left the ballpark in Charlotte. "I have a lot of respect for their front office and their fans, and I've had a lot of friends play there and love it. They tried to make (the trade) happen and it just didn't work out, but there's no animosity at all."

Sox GM Kenny Williams said Monday night that Peavy won't face the Cubs Sept. 3, but in time people like Williams and White Sox fans in general will more fully explain why Peavy will eventually be expected to hate his North Side brethren.

For now, Peavy's merely trying to get back to the big leagues. He will pitch again Tuesday for Charlotte and then return to Chicago on Wednesday for an evaluation.

After that, he'll start Sunday at Gwinnett (Ga.) and then could be headed straight for Yankee Stadium on Aug. 28, where he can answer questions once again about being afraid to pitch in the American League.

"All I ever said was I enjoyed the NL style better, because you get to hit and run the bases, bunt and move runners, and do things I enjoy doing,'' Peavy said. "I also spent a lot of time in the league and it's easier when you know the league, but baseball is baseball and making pitches is making pitches.

"I had a no-trade clause and when the Padres said they couldn't keep me I picked a few places I'd like to go because I wanted to win.

"I've been fortunate to win individual awards (Cy Young) and I've been blessed financially, so those are nonissues. This was strictly about being wanted, knowing there's a commitment to winning, and having the chance to be World Series champion."

With all due respect to his Triple-A teammates, Peavy slipped out of the ballpark Monday evening so that he could find a local sports bar and watch his new team face the Royals on the South Side - though that only makes the itch to pitch here worse.

"The biggest thing is the weakness. I have to get strength back in my arm and in my legs, which is where all your power comes from," Peavy said. "The thing people don't understand is that I didn't do anything for eight weeks after I hurt my ankle.

"I wasn't allowed to throw, or do cardio or leg work. I don't even shut it down like that in the winter, so this is new ground.

"Could I pitch Tuesday in Chicago instead of Charlotte? Yes. Do I want to? Yes. Would that be smart? No. That's why I'm not in charge.

"I want to be there helping my team, but I'm taking my direction from Kenny, Ozzie (Guillen), (Don) Cooper and Herm (Schneider).

"We have to think about the pennant race and about the future and we don't want to do anything to hurt either one, and if I'm not ready to give us 6 or 7 good innings, and give us a chance to win, I'm not helping us.

"Don't get me wrong because I don't need to be 100 percent, and I don't care what my numbers are, but we need to be realistic. Still, it's frustrating and slow."

While some in the organization are sure he will be ready for an Aug. 28 start in New York, Peavy's not sure of anything yet.

"They made me promise to be honest with them about where I am and what I can do, and the truth is right now I don't know if the end of the month is realistic," Peavy said. "I have 2 more outings here and by then I should be at 75 pitches.

"If it's the Yankee game, by then I should be able to go about 100 pitches. If they say that's good enough, then I say let's go Friday night at Yankee Stadium."

While his injury has been a pain, Peavy getting hurt helped the Sox immeasurably.

The ankle made him less valuable to the Padres in a trade deadline deal, and it also made the AL more viable, because Peavy's days of hitting and running are over, something that was a negative before the injury but is now a positive.

Post career, he's definitely facing surgery to clean up the mess, and that's one more plus about the trade to the AL.

"Right now my ankle feels completely normal, as if it never happened, and hopefully it stays that way until the end of a very long baseball career," Peavy said. "Until then, we'll take care of it and modify the way I work out.

"But I feel great. I'm ready to help my team win a championship - as soon as they let me."

brozner@dailyherald.com