Francona chooses Buehrle; La Russa tabs Carpenter
Updated: July 11, 2005, 10:59 AM ET
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Francona chooses Buehrle; La Russa tabs CarpenterESPN.com news services
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With Roy Halladay out of the mix after suffering a broken bone in his leg, it appears the American League starting job at the All-Star Game will fall to Chicago White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle. Meanwhile, National League manager Tony La Russa stayed close to home with his choice, tabbing h :rolly is own right-hander Chris Carpenter, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Mark Buehrle
Starting Pitcher
Chicago White Sox
Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM W L BB K ERA
18 10 3 21 85 2.58
American League All-Star manager Terry Francona placed a call Sunday to check Buehrle's status for Tuesday's game.
"He called to check on my availability to pitch and could I pitch an inning or two," Buehrle told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I told him, 'If you want me to start or close, whatever.' I can go two innings, though [manager] Ozzie [Guillen] only wants me to pitch one. I bounce back pretty quick. I'm not worried."
Guillen said yesterday that he hopes that Francona won't overuse his pitcher.
"Buehrle is supposed to start and I'm a little ... not disappointed, a little concerned, because Buehrle just threw a couple days ago," Guillen told ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago. "He threw [saturday] and he's only gonna throw, hopefully two innings. It's great for the White Sox, I think it's great for Buehrle, but in the manager way, I think it's real hard to see, you know, the pitcher we're gonna count on, go through that many innings in so little time."
Francona was not pleased to hear of Guillen's comments.
"Guillen is the manager of the Chicago White Sox, not the American League All-Stars," Francona told The Boston Globe. "I'll announce it when it's appropriate."
La Russa refused to confirm his decision Sunday, wanting to honor Major League Baseball's request to embargo their choice.
Chris Carpenter
Starting Pitcher
St. Louis Cardinals
Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM W L BB K ERA
18 13 4 33 128 2.51
"The pitcher has been informed and the manager has been informed," La Russa told the Post-Dispatch, noting that he narrowed the field to three before reaching his verdict.
Starting Carpenter would mark the third time in La Russa's four games as an All-Star manager that he has selected one of his own pitchers to make the start. He also picked Bob Welch and Dave Stewart when La Russa managed the Oakland Athletics.
Carpenter would become the first Cardinals pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Rick Wise in 1973.
