The Red Sox starting staff seems to be set. Jon Lester will be the number one man. Because of his injury history, Clay Buchholz apparently has been relegated to number 5. In between lie Jake Peavy, John Lackey, and Felix Doubront. The problem of having too many starters appears to have solved itself when Ryan Dempster announced his (probable) retirement and Allen Webster continued to have problems and was sent down.
Of the three “in between” guys Peavy is the most interesting. The Sox gave up good young talent in Jose Iglesias to bring him in at the trade deadline. (Unfortunately for the Tigers, Iglesias may miss most of the season with stress fractures).Peavy responded well, going 4-1 in 10 starts with a 4.04 ERA and a strong hits/innings pitched ratio, fanning 45 while walking just 19. He also impressed in the postseason, with positive starts in both the ALDS and World Series.
Jake has been in the majors so long that it is hard to believe he only turns 33 in May. His best years were in San Diego, where he captured the Cy Young in 07. In that season, he accomplished pitching’s Triple Crown- leading the NL with 19 wins, 240 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.54. Starting in 09, however, things began to go downhill. Various injuries, including a strained tendon and a detached latissimos dorsi muscle in his back. Over the next three seasons, he averaged less than 20 starts and went 23-19. His ERA shot into the high 4’s. Peavy had a bit of a comeback with the White Sox in 2012, but was considered expendable last year when Chicago fell out of the race.
Peavy appears a steadying influence both on the field and in the clubhouse. He has always been considered a strong competitor (Peter Abraham called it “inner fire” in an article last summer) His 2014 spring statistics are clearly superior to those of Lackey and Dubront, who have been somewhat erratic.
The Townies showed confidence in Jake by signing him through 2014. Though he will never again be the hotshot hurler of the San Diego days, he appears to be showing more consistency than any starter except Lester. It will be interesting as the season goes on to see if Peavy can continue last year’s success. It could be important not only now, but possibly for the next few years.
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