Peavy, Beckham Eager To Return Wednesday
By Adam Hoge-
CHICAGO (CBS) Jake Peavy and Gordon Beckham have been out of the lineup for very different reasons, but both will be extremely happy when they take the field Wednesday against the Cubs.
Peavy hasn't pitched for the White Sox since suffering a strained groin June 5, but he will return to the mound for the series finale against the Cubs after only one rehab start. The right-hander insists he is ready to go.
"Obviously there is always a little something going on with (the groin), it's just part of that," Peavy said Tuesday. "I certainly feel like I should have no problem with the groin tomorrow. My arm feels as good as it has felt in quite a while. Maybe at the end of the day, this might have been a blessing in disguise to kind of give my arm a little break after all we have asked it to do. Hopefully it's the last time we talk about any injuries and I hope to pitch the last three and a half months of the season and help this ballclub win."
Peavy struck out nine in his one rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte, but he admitted he was pulled after six innings because the coaches notices some mechanical issues. He said those issues have been fixed in advance of Wednesday's start.
With Peavy back, the White Sox will go back to a six-man rotation and he doesn't see how Ozzie Guillen could do anything differently with the pitching staff at this point.
"I don't see how they can change it to be honest with you," Peavy said. 'Who would you take out? That blows my mind. Phil Humber is about as good as anybody in baseball. He's the ace of the staff, so to speak. He's not going anywhere. Us five, penciled in to start the year, I don't know, it's a tough spot for everyone to be in."
Meanwhile, Gordon Beckham will be back in the lineup Wednesday after Guillen held him out for three straight games to him a "mental break".
"I think they are trying to give me a mental break and I don't think much of it," Beckham said Tuesday. "Obviously I want to play but it's part of the game. Sometimes you have to step away to kind of recharge and refocus on what you need to do so hopefully I will back in there tomorrow."
Guillen later confirmed Beckham would be in the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs. The second baseman took early batting practice with hitting coach Greg Walker Tuesday afternoon to get some extra work in.
"Just trying to get a better feel at the plate," Beckham said about the extra batting practice. "I was playing pretty well up until the last three games. It was three bad games. Just trying to get a feel, trying to get the contact point where I want it and get some good trajectory."
Beckham even took some swings left-handed, but said it was just for fun.
"I used to switch-hit in high school so I was just messing around," he said. "Looked pretty good, though. I took a couple out, I think."
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