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KANSAS CITY – You’re supposed to cut the cord when you get traded to a new team. But Jake Peavy said he received text messages from at least five of his former Boston Red Sox teammates in the 24 hours leading up to Game 1 of the World Series.
“And all those texts were about how to beat the Kansas City Royals,” said Peavy, who will start Game 2 on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium.
Sometimes those cords have a parachute at the end.
[RELATED: Giants Game 1 lineup: Morse DH, batting seventh]
Dustin Pedroia told Peavy how certain Royals base stealers like to slide, and offered tips on how to take that away through infield positioning. Pitchers gave Peavy advice on what certain Kansas City hitters try to do in certain counts.
The Giants have their own scouting reports, of course. But it makes a bigger impact when you hear the information from your peers – especially from the Red Sox, who went 6-1 against the Royals in the regular season.
“I had that contact with them not because we’re friends, but because of the type of friends and competitors we are,” Peavy said. “They’re feeling like they’re part of the preparation because they know what I’m going through now, trying to put together a game plan, and they’re all helping. It means a lot because there’s no better advice than you can get from your peers.”
One of those teammates, David Ortiz, interrupted Peavy’s session in the interview room.
[RELATED: Royals rewarded for sticking with young core]
“I’m on the dark side now!” said Ortiz, holding up his media credential, before the two shared a back-slapping hug.
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The Giants had a four-day layoff between clinching the NL pennant and playing Game 1 of the World Series Tuesday night. The Royals were idle for five days.
Although it would appear to be a null advantage, the Giants might have benefited the most from a chance to freshen up. Their frontline relievers were fuzzy bordering on soggy, and outside of Madison Bumgarner, their veteran rotation needed time to mend and meditate.
“I needed some time to make sure we got things back in place,” said Peavy, who threw two full side sessions since his rough start against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 2 of the NLCS. “I fought myself a little in that short start in St. Louis … so we made a small mechanical adjustment. I threw (Monday) and had a really good side session.
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As expected, Michael Morse is serving as the designated hitter for Game 1 and is slotting in between Brandon Belt and Travis Ishikawa, in the No.7 spot.
Bruce Bochy won’t have to make as many moves with no pitcher’s spot to finesse. But the DH does present one challenge, should Morse require a pinch runner. If Bochy used Juan Perez off the bench, then inserted him in left field for late-inning defense, he’d lose the DH.
Bochy wouldn’t rule out doing that, but only if absolutely necessary. More likely, he’d use Matt Duffy to pinch run.
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Jim Leyland, who managed the Detroit Tigers club that got swept by Bochy’s Giants in 2012, is here for Game 1 and greeted several players in the visiting dugout. Leyland made a special point to seek out shortstop Brandon Crawford, who was a defensive dynamo two Octobers ago, and give him a two-handed handshake.
