Peavy tuning up for a couple of debuts

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Jake Peavy may have been rained out of his first spring-training start Sunday, but he wasn't dampened in mood. In fact, he has back-to-back "outings" coming up later this week.

No, he's not pitching on consecutive days, but he is performing.

Peavy and a host of other big-leaguers, including teammate Scott Linebrink, will perform musically at "Woodjock 2010" Thursday night in Scottsdale. The concert, which includes a mix of music from country to rock, will benefit several charities through The Jake Peavy Foundation.

As excited as Peavy proclaims to be about that, he'll finally make his spring debut on the mound Friday in Tempe against the Angels. Although rained out of his start Sunday against a Cubs split squad, he did throw some 60-70 pitches in a side session, including 45 to several Sox minor-leaguers who took serious cuts at his best stuff.

"We made the best of a tough situation," Peavy said. "I was pretty pleased. The bottom line is getting the arm work. Hitters in there swinging the bat makes a difference."

Peavy is just as excited about his concert appearance Thursday night in a band that will feature teammates Linebrink, Gordon Beckham and Omar Vizquel, as well as major-leaguers Aubrey Huff, Ben Broussard, Barry Zito and Bronson Arroyo.

How many bands can say they have two Cy Young Award-winners (Peavy and Zito)?

Cooper scoop: White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper told the media essentially the same thing that Jake Peavy did: that he was just happy to have his right-handed ace get his work in, albeit on the side Sunday.

Like Peavy, he was happy to "make the best of a bad situation," namely the rainout, "and get some work in. He hasn't pitched in a game yet."

Cooper was less than pleased that some people are jumping to conclusions about closer Bobby Jenks, who had a rough outing Saturday against the Dodgers in a split-squad performance. He reminded everyone not to foretell Jenks' season based on that alone.

"Every spring training, everyone's concerned about Bobby. Is he in shape?" Cooper said of his rotund, power-pitching closer. "When the bell rings, he's ready to go."

King Carlos: Carlos Quentin smashed 2 homers Saturday at HoHoKam against the Cubs but wasn't making too much of it any more than he would make too little of an off performance.

"I'm happy to be healthy," the third-year outfielder/DH said Sunday, echoing what his manager, Ozzie Guillen, said immediately following Saturday's game. Quentin has had two virtual all-star, perhaps even MVP-level seasons cut short by injury, so when he says, "I feel really good about my health," he means it.

Hot tickets: After an overflow crowd of 12,719 watched the Sox and Cubs at HoHoKam on Saturday, the Sox reported having more than 10,000 tickets sold in advance for what would become Sunday's rainout against the Cubs in Glendale. The game will not be rescheduled, and tickets for the game essentially now become "gift certificates," the Sox said.