Former Padres Ace Peavy Starting Game 2 of the World Series

Jake Peavy has revived his career in the second half for San Fransisco and will be rewarded by being selected to start Game 2 of the World Series Wednesday night. Of course, Mr. Peavy was drafted by the Padres in the 1999 draft and played for the team from 2002-2009. During that time he lead the league in strikeouts, won the Cy Young Award, and was selected to the All-Star team twice. He left at the time with 92 wins with the Padres, just 8 shy of the all-time Padres W record of 100 that Eric Show holds.

Since then, he hasn’t done so well. From injuries and other setbacks, he started 2014 with the Red Sox and was 1-9 with an ERA near 5! This after being traded to the BoSox last year and helping them win their World Series and his first title. Yet, the Giants seem to specialize in reminding players like him how good they can be. So they traded for him, barely making a whimper at the deadline, along the lines of them picking up waived Dan Uggla which did not work out. Amazingly, Peavy in 8 years with the Padres won those 92 games. In the 6 years since he has only gotten to 46. He is still only 33-years-old though and should be able to pitch for at least another 3-4 years. 

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Except, this one did work out. Under the tutelage of his original manager Bruce Bochy, who helped harness Peavey’s passion into pitching genius in his early Padres years, Peavy went 6-4 down the stretch for the Giants, with an ERA just above 2. A far cry from his Red Sox season. On top of that, Peavy has been great in the playoffs for the Giants, only allowing 2 runs total in his 2 starts and picking up a victory. By contrast, in his two Padres post-season appearances he managed to give up 13 runs in the same time frame.

Before all of that of course, he pitched for the Fort Wayne TinCaps in 1999. There he still stands as a tall figure, as he is second all-time in strikeouts only to LaTroy Hawkins. He was named to the All-Star Team at 19. He is remembered fondly, as attested to by TinCaps president Mike Nutter saying:

“You could tell Jake was a special talent 14 years ago, he didn’t pitch like a 19-year-old. He also didn’t act like one. I’d say Jake is one of the top three classiest players we’ve ever had come through Fort Wayne – just a great guy.”

So, back with former Padres manager Bruce Bochy, Peavy hopes to win his second World Series title in as many years and help Boche win his 3rd title with the Giants in the last 5 years.