Spring Training Shenannigans: Peavy's Comeback, Silva's Dugout Dispute
By Angie Wiatrowski in News on Mar 5, 2011 8:30PM
Take that sigh of relief White Sox fans, so far so good when it comes to rehabbing pitcher Jake Peavy after he made his debut in Cactus League play Friday.
Peavy exceeded expectations, pitching two scoreless and hitless innings vs. the Angels in Tempe, Ariz. When all was said and done, Peavy threw 26 pitches, allowing one walk and striking out two after hitting the mound for the first time since July 6, 2010.
Ironically, Peavy’s last appearance on the mound was vs. the Los Angeles Angels, where he injured his right arm. He was diagnosed with a detached latissimus dorsi muscle in his back. He underwent surgery July 14 and told reporters after his comeback, “I was told to expect about a year [to come back],” Peavy said. “That’s the norm when you tear tendons. [And] this wasn’t a minor tear; I detached something from the bone.
“It was experimental [surgery],” he said. “First off, they asked me if they could videotape the surgery to have some documentation of it. Anthony Romeo out of Chicago did my surgery. I felt very confident [in] talking about the procedure, of how he was going to get it attached back to the bone.”
Despite Peavy’s success, the White Sox fell 1-4 in early Cactus League play with a 3-1 loss. Peavy is scheduled to make his next start on March 9 when the Sox visit the San Francisco Giants.
Another dugout scrapple with the Cubs...
The Cubs definitely had their fair share of dugout issues last season and so far this season forebodes no different. Carlos Silva and Aramis Ramirez had to be separated Wednesday at the end of the first inning vs. the Milwaukee Brewers.
Silva gave up six runs - three earned - in which he stormed off the mound complaining about his defense after also allowing two home runs. The Cubs had three errors and Silva didn’t criticize Ramirez directly but Ramirez took offense and said something back.
After the dispute, Ramirez told reporters it was a ‘misunderstanding’. “I never had that problem in my life," he said. Even in Little League I never got involved with a teammate like that. (But) it's in the past and we move on."
At least it wasn’t Carlos Zambrano, right? Zambrano has given his fair share of embarrassment to the Cubs, the last being a dugout dispute with Derrek Lee on June 25.
Silva finally opened up Friday, admitting the confrontation was his fault. He told reporters that the pressure of competing for a spot in the Cubs rotation had been weighing on him. He said, “I have to prove (it) to them,” Silva said. “I was thinking: (I) got to show them I can pitch. (There was) too much going on in my mind.
“It’s like: Boom! It’s a big explosion. That’s why I say it was all my fault.”
The two have moved on and the Cubs are ready to continue spring training play, hoping there are no Zambrano meltdown repeats from last season.