Peavy ready to make debut

Posted September 18, 2009 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

May 23 was the date White Sox general manager Kenny Williams originally had in mind.

Two days before, Williams was nearly certain San Diego Padres ace starting pitcher Jake Peavy was going to waive his no-trade clause and join the Sox.

In Williams' mind, Peavy would be ready to make an interleague start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 23 and go on to help the White Sox win their second straight AL Central crown.

Peavy wound up nixing the trade, but he gave the thumb's up when Williams came calling again on July 31.

Now, after recovering from ankle and elbow injuries, Peavy is finally ready to make his debut with the Sox.

"Any time you have a layoff like I had, you are excited to get back on the mound," said Peavy, who opposes the Kansas City Royals tonight at U.S. Cellular Field. "I wish it was under a little better circumstances, so obviously, that takes a little bit of excitement from it. You know, knowing how we played."

The White Sox have been spinning their wheels for weeks, so getting a look at Peavy at least provides a break from a frustrating season.

Considering it will be the 28-year-old right-hander's first start since June 8, expectations are far from lofty.

"I don't need anything personally to be accomplished out of this," Peavy said. "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. It's going to be a short little three or four maybe starts; I'm not even sure about anything beyond (Saturday) night.

"Next year is really what I'm gearing up and getting ready for, but maybe a postseason run. Stranger things have happened."

How long can Peavy pitch after such a lengthy layoff?

"I'm not sure," said the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner. "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 adrenaline and the excitement, and I'm going to just try to channel that and use it in the right direction."