Cooper: Shutting Peavy Down Is An Option
(CBS) In a lot of ways, Jake Peavy's start on Wednesday was the perfect microcosm of his season.
Peavy gave up six runs in the first inning -- and did so in a hurry -- but then settled down to shut the Twins out for the next four innings. It was another up-and-down start in an up-and-down season.
At this point, it's obvious Peavy has not been 100 percent healthy at any point this season and now it's a possibility the White Sox will shut him down to make sure he is healthier in 2012.
"That's something we are going to be discussing, that's for sure," pitching coach Don Cooper said Thursday on The Mully and Hanley Show. "The biggest thing we can't let happen is for him to get injured before the season is over. So it's stuff we are monitoring and watching and I'm sure we'll watch it further because we are in a pennant race and we could use him. But we can't use him in the way it was (Wednesday). Obviously he had a horsecrap game."
LISTEN: Don Cooper on the Mully and Hanley Show
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Cooper insists he not been surprised by Peavy's struggles and said the team never expected him to be 100 percent after having surgery to repair a torn lat muscle.
"We knew all along that this was going to be an up-and-down and trying year for him and certainly that's played out," he said.
As for fans being frustrated with Peavy, Cooper believes their expectations are too high.
"The frustration is coming because everyone wants him to be the guy that he was in San Diego," Cooper said. "Well, you know, after major surgery, that ain't happening. And to have those hopes are really far fetched."
LISTEN: Jake Peavy after his rough outing Wednesday
