Jake Peavy had the best April of any American League pitcher -- at least, that what the award says. It was a nice token for someone who's struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness ever since coming to the junior circuit. But the 30-year-old right-hander isn't reading too much into the honor.
"It's certainly exciting to be back healthy and doing what I had done before getting here. That's something I feel blessed to be able to do," Peavy said Wednesday. "But at the same time, one month doesn't prove anything. It shows, hopefully, I'm healthy and can put together a few more like this one and call it a good year."
Indications are that Peavy is on the right track based off his April numbers. While Peavy said he doesn't think he's doing much differently from his San Diego days, how he's gone about his success has changed. His strikeouts are down, but so are his walks.
Through the adversity of the last few seasons, Peavy has developed and matured as a pitcher. And that he's healthy right now doesn't hurt, either.
"If you watch other guys pitch who have been in the league kind of the same time I have and have the mileage, everybody slows down a bit," Peavy explained. "When you go through the times I went through, you learn a little bit about pitching and mixing and matching and experience, experience goes a long way. I've had some tough years these past few years, so to be healthy and to go out there and worry about nothing but to execute the game plan you come up with is awfully nice."
There will be adversity ahead for Peavy -- if he keeps allowing a high rate of fly balls, eventually he'll get burned -- but he's really not looking at the big picture. Instead, all he's thinking about is a way to beat Detroit in his next start.
"You certainly are not going to end the season with a sub-2.00 ERA, you don't really anything like that'll happen," Peavy said. "But you gotta put everything in perspective. I'm going to do everything I can go to be prepared to pitch Friday night, and I can promise you my biggest expectation is to win that game."