White Sox’ Jake Peavy has a yell of a scrimmage
BY DARYL VAN SCHOUWEN dvanschouwen@suntimes.com March 13, 2013 11:08PM
Jake Peavy
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GLENDALE, Ariz. — It’s the White Sox way to steer their pitchers away from facing American League Central teams, so Jake Peavy and several top relievers pitched in scrimmages against Sox minor-leaguers Wednesday morning.
You wouldn’t have known it being within earshot of Peavy, who huffs, puffs and yells with mid-season intensity.
“In that environment, sometimes I don’t want to get crazy, and you guys think I’m some kind of animal down there, screaming and yelling, scaring children,’’ Peavy said. “I got a couple of guys’ families out there, seeing their first spring training, and I’m out yelling and screaming on the mound.’’
Peavy wasn’t happy with his location — he gave up a homer to Dan Black and was knocked around a little — but he said he threw 60 of his 81 pitches using a slide step out of the stretch position “as if Austin Jackson was on first base.’’
“To be able to work on stuff like that is huge for me,’’ he said.
Peavy also is feeling some fatigue, which is normal for this point in camp with Opening Day 21/2 weeks away.
“I’m kind of coming into that dead-arm — whatever that means — mode,’’ he said. “I don’t feel crazy-fresh right now simply because we’re tearing the body down. And we’ll tear the body down for one or two more starts.
“So you kind of tire your arm out, plus you’re building up, you’re throwing more and more pitches every time out, so you’re getting tired, you’re getting in shape. To get in shape, you have to do something. You have to stretch yourself until you get comfortable doing that.’’
Keppinger not ready
Third baseman Jeff Keppinger didn’t play because of a sore shoulder that has lingered throughout the spring. Manager Robin Ventura downplayed it but said Keppinger “is a couple of days away.” The next time Keppinger plays, it will likely be at second base, Ventura said, to make it easier on his arm.
“He’s looking very good,’’ Ventura said. “We actually might start him at second. I think throwing would be easier on him, just to get him in there and move him around. We’re being cautious with him. Right now, nothing to jeopardize the start of the season.’’
Crain update
Jesse Crain (groin) threw a bullpen session, saying he’s making progress. Crain said he hoped to pitch in a minor-league game Wednesday morning, but he’s not quite there.
“Not ready to go in a game but getting better,’’ Ventura said. “It’s getting closer, but, again, we’d rather be cautious with them than put them in there and set them back again.”
Classic White Sox
Alex Rios is 2-for-13 with four runs in four World Baseball Classic games for Puerto Rico. Alejandro De Aza is 4-for-13 with two doubles and three RBI in four games for the Dominican Republic.
