White Sox’ eager to get back at the plate
Jake Peavy always likes to talk, and Sunday morning at U.S. Cellular Field was no different.
With the White Sox headed for Washington on Tuesday — Peavy starts the opener against the Nationals — there will no designated hitter in the interleague series.
Speculation is warming that the National League is close to adopting the DH, and Peavy hopes it doesn’t happen.
“I wanted to stay in the National League,” said Peavy, who pitched for San Diego from 2002-09 before being traded to the Sox. “I loved the National League game.
“Once you say you want to stay in the National League, it’s ‘you’re afraid to pitch in the American League.’ That has nothing to do with it. I signed back in the American League.
“I love that style of game in the National League. I love the pitcher being an integral part of the game, your being an athlete and having a chance to impact the game.
“If you practice being better than the other guy it’s one advantage you have over the other starting pitcher. That’s a big reason I felt I had one more advantage.”
Peavy gets a chance to hit Tuesday night against the Nationals. He has a career .177 batting average (74-for-418) with 2 home runs and 27 RBI.
“I love the American League, don’t get me wrong by any means,” Peavy said. “I just prefer the National League, being able to hit and run the bases and, like I said, you feel like a kid, like an athlete, more part of the game. And at the end of the day it’s one more way to try and separate yourself from the other guy to have a chance at winning that game.”
Before Sunday’s game against the Seattle, Peavy was presented with the Gold Glove he won last season, along with Tampa Bay’s Jeremy Hellickson.
“It’s something I feel very blessed to have won,” Peavy said. “When you get to the age (31) I’ve gotten to, you try to be as well-rounded of a player as you can possibly be.
“Fielding your position, getting off the mound and holding baserunners, is something I take a lot of pride in. To be recognized for that is an honor.”
Now that former White Sox teammate Mark Buehrle is back in the American League with Toronto, Peavy knows it will be difficult to repeat as a Gold Glove winner.
“When you look at somebody like Mark Buehrle, and getting over here and watching how well he did everything but pitch — I don’t mean that, he pitched well as well — but he did everything else so well,” Peavy said.
“He held baserunners, he fielded his position, he worked fast. Getting a chance to watch that on a daily basis encouraged me to try to take another step.”
Clean it up:The White Sox made another error Sunday when second baseman Gordon Beckham made a wild throw in the eighth inning.Through six games, the Sox have committed 7 errors. Last year they made 70 all season, the lowest number in the major leagues.#147;I don#146;t expect that to last,#148; manager Robin Ventura said. #147;Early on you have (weather) conditions like this, it#146;s a little tougher to play defense. But I#146;m not worried that it#146;s going to continue.#148;Around the horn:The White Sox juggled their rotation. Dylan Axelrod now starts against Washington on Thursday and Jose Quintana starts Friday at Cleveland. #133; Alex Rios has hit home runs in three straight games for the first time in his career. Dating to last season, Rios has a 12-game hitting streak. #147;I guess I#146;m seeing the ball real good,#148; he said. #147;I#146;m trying to take a good approach at the plate.#148; #133; The Sox have won 13 of their last 15 vs. Seattle. #133; Mired in an 0-for-19 slump, Jeff Keppinger sat out Sunday. Conor Gillaspie started at third base.