SSH2005 Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws Buehrle is the 'no-question' Mark White Sox lefty to make fifth straight Opening Day start By Scott Merkin / MLB.com CHICAGO -- It has become an annual rite of winter, much like the first time the temperature drops below zero in Chicago. During the past three or four years, on at least one occasion, Mark Buehrle makes a simple offseason reference to someday pitching for the Cardinals. It's easy to understand Buehrle's connection to St. Louis, being that he lives in St. Charles, Mo., and grew up in the state. As Buehrle heads toward another big payday, his practical concerns have replaced his playful jests. Buehrle will earn $7.75 million in 2006, the final stage of a three-year, $18 million deal. The White Sox have him under control in 2007, with a $9.5 million club option they are sure to exercise. After the 2007 campaign, though, if no new contract has been agreed upon at that time, is Buehrle on his way to St. Louis? General manager Ken Williams joked recently, tongue firmly in cheek, that he figured it was a foregone conclusion. But don't count on Buehrle going anywhere. "He's talked about pitching for St. Louis every offseason as long as I could remember," said Williams with a wry smile of Buehrle. "I just assumed after the 2007 season that he's a Cardinal. "As a matter of fact, I figured the last game of the 2007 season, I would call [st. Louis general manager] Walt Jocketty and just get a uniform for him," added Williams, showing he has his own sarcastic side to add to the equation. "I'm not entirely joking, but we will see." Truth be told, Buehrle would like to play for the Cardinals before his career takes its final curtain call. He also would like to spend his entire career pitching for one team. With the way Buehrle operates on the mound, there would be many franchises lined up for his services. On Sunday night at U.S. Cellular Field, Buehrle makes his fifth straight Opening Day start for the White Sox. Jose Contreras had a better second half to the 2005 season than Buehrle, and the left-hander even joked that with the way newcomer Javier Vazquez pitched this spring, he should be on the mound facing the Indians. No more logical choice exists than Buehrle. He is the heart and soul of the pitching staff. He is the left-handed ace who all but guarantees the White Sox 15-to-18 victories and at least 230 innings pitched every year he suits up. And if Buehrle is on his game, and construction on the Dan Ryan expressway cooperates, White Sox fans could be treated to an exciting victory and still have time to get home and catch "The Sopranos" on one of HBO's many channels. Buehrle doesn't have fun pitching because he's highly successful, making his second American League All-Star team in 2005 and first All-Star start. Buehrle simply enjoys his job. "What stands out in my mind is a guy who has made every bit of his opportunity to play baseball count," said Williams of Buehrle, who was a 38th-round draft pick in the 1998 First-Year Player Draft. "He has done it both in terms of maximizing his ability and having a good time doing it along the way. "I only wish I could have enjoyed my time in uniform as much as he appears to enjoy it. I only wish more guys would take his approach. He pulls for his teammates. He makes his teammates better. They know he's on their side, and he's just a pleasure to be around." There are two distinct sides to the 27-year-old Buehrle. There's the dominant pitching side, ranking in the top five in 10 separate statistical categories last season. Since 2001, he leads all left-handers in innings pitched (690 2/3), ranks third in starts (101) and complete games (11) and is tied for fifth in victories (49). Buehrle needs 15 victories this season to reach 100 in just his sixth full year as a starter. There is no reason to check the radar gun when Buehrle is pitching. He won't cause anyone to gasp while hitting 95 or 96 mph. He relies on movement with his array of pitches, attacking the strike zone, and of course, working quickly. "To a large degree, Mark Buehrle is a very, very, very low maintenance guy," said White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper of his ace. "You don't have to worry about him. He does his work. He goes out there and throws his pitches over the plate. It's almost like if you don't really watch him, you might take him for granted. "You can pretty much pencil him in every time he runs out there for seven innings. You can pretty much pencil him in every year for 15 wins. It's a security blanket because we know what we will get from Mark. Special is the way to describe him." As for being recognized beyond his pitching coach and outside of Chicago, Buehrle doesn't crave the attention. Having people know and understand what he has accomplished is a nice feeling, and Buehrle certainly is an affable and entertaining interview subject. But this is not a young man searching for the camera lights. Instead, Buehrle is a competitor who started Game 2 of the World Series against Houston at U.S. Cellular Field and came back and saved Game 3 two days later in Houston. He's also an All-Star hurler who enjoys tarp diving during rain delays to entertain the masses -- the humorous, playful second side of Buehrle. "When I'm on the field competing, I try to do the best I can," Buehrle said. "When I'm off the field, I'm going to have as much fun as I can. I'm this laid-back guy, a kid at heart, who wants to go out and have fun." Part of that offseason fun seems to be his constant jousting concerning a job with the Cardinals. Buehrle, who once wore a Cardinals' hat backwards during an interview with a Chicago television station, makes no apologies about being a fan of the team he grew up supporting. In 2006, Buehrle might actually get to face the Cardinals when the two teams hook up during Interleague Play, June 20-22 in Chicago. In regard to his previous comments about the Cardinals, Buehrle responds in both comical and honest tones. He has talked to his agent about the different circumstances surrounding his contract, whether the option will be picked up or a new long-term deal will be negotiated. For now, Buehrle doesn't worry about big dollar signs. He's going to do his job for the White Sox and probably, at some point in December, talk about the Cardinals. "I've got to keep them on their toes," said Buehrle with a smile of the White Sox. "I've talked to people that play for the hometown team where they grew up and there's a lot of hassles. You have to worry about tickets all the time and family members all want to go to games. "In Chicago, you get recognized everywhere you go. In the offseason when I go home, you don't, which is kind of nice. If I played in St. Louis, all year round, I would have to move somewhere else just to get away from it. There's a lot of good and bad that goes with it. "I would like to play there one day in my career," Buehrle added of St. Louis. "But I don't know if playing there and signing a big deal and spending five years there, if I would like that too much. Obviously, I like it here and would love to stay here." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iWiN4PreP Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 i love mark buehrle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBlackSox8 Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 QUOTE(iWiN4PreP @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 12:10 AM) i love mark buehrle. nothing wrong with that....nothing wrong with that at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangercal Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 wow! 5 in a row? that went fast! I remember when he was a rook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 He might not be the best pitcher...But there's nobody in baseball more reliable or consistent than Mr. Buehrle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 I think my second or third proudest moment as a White Sox fan is seeing Buehrle's first career victory, though I can't recall if it was his first career start or not. It was against Minnesota in Minnesota, July 19, 2000. Fordyce homered. My proudest moment as far as actually being in attendance would be seeing the Sox clinch the division. I remember that game well too...seeing Sean Lowe pitch 6 innings of 1 hit ball, and then seeing like the friggin birth of the Twins as we know them, coming back from a 5-0 deficit to win 6-5 in extras on a Matt Lawton walk-off homer, hit off of the legendary Kevin Beirne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 It's hard to even put into words at this point what Buehrle means. He's just a special player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RME JICO Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 Buehrle is one of the cornerstones of the Sox franchise, and he needs to stay here his entire career. A contract extension for him should be in the near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 Remember the broken-foot panic? THAT was f***ing scary. Mark is Mr. Reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 QUOTE(The Critic @ Apr 3, 2006 -> 12:30 AM) Remember the broken-foot panic? THAT was f***ing scary. Mark is Mr. Reliable. A year is a LONG time in Baseball ain't it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 Mark is a lifer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 07:32 AM) A year is a LONG time in Baseball ain't it. A LOT can happen in a year. And I hope it happens again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosMediasBlancas Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 and then there's this: http://www.suntimes.com/output/sox/cst-spt-cowley02.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:05 AM) :puke :puke You guys focus on this too much. It means nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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