Ken Williams finally smartened up. The Chicago White Sox made the best deal they could for Mark Buehrle when they inked him to a four year deal on Sunday. The details are not available yet but this is certainly a great deal for the Sox as keeping Buehrle in the Windy City was the best possible option.
The White Sox tried everything they could to get equal value for a player the caliber of Mark Buehrle, but when they couldn’t they relented and signed the talented pitcher to a long-term extension, likely through 2011. One of the sides, either Buehrle's team or the Sox must have buckled on the no-trade clause, as that was the main sticking point, holding this signing up.
I just can’t speak highly enough about this deal and the great value that the White Sox are getting by keeping him. Not to mention, that by signing this deal, the Sox will have a great duo at the top of their rotation for the foreseeable future.
Another repercussion of this signing is the fact that Jose Contreras and Javier Vazquez could be on the move now if Williams can broker a quality deal. This will also cause teams in contention to look elsewhere for a dynamic, impact arm like Buehrle’s. Teams such as Cincinnati, Kansas City and Texas may have just profited big time from this signing as well as their movable commodities just became a lot more valuable as the pitching market shrank.
Seriously though, just a great day for White Sox fans as Buehrle is only going to get better and is just entering the prime of his career.
Showing posts with label Mark Buehrle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Buehrle. Show all posts
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Monday, July 2, 2007
A Job Well Undone
The White Sox bullpen is terrible. There are only 2 pitchers, Boone Logan and Bobby Jenks (we’ll get to him later), who are currently posting an ERA under 4.00. That’s just not very good.
People can point fingers at whatever they want, whether it be Ozzie, Jermaine Dye’s poor performance (he struck out 3 times and went 0 for 4 in his return from the DL), or any other litany of excuses, but the fact of the matter is that the bullpen is absolutely terrible.
Their most dependable piece, All-Star Bobby Jenks blew a 1 run lead, allowing the Orioles to tie the game at 6 and then eventually win 7-6 in the top half of the 9th inning. Jenks was preceded by the immortal Ryan Bukvich who came into relieve Mark Buehrle in the 8th with runners on 1st and 2nd and promptly threw a wild pitch that moved the runner to 3rd, followed up by an RBI double, than eventually a 2 RBI triple. So while, those runs count against Buehrle, it was Bukvich who blew the comfortable margin that his team once held.
Its just one of those things, that when Buehrle left in the 8th after pitching a stellar game, you just knew the White Sox back end would find some miraculous way to blow it. Not that they get all the credit, Josh Fields helped out with a tough error in the 8th, making the devolvement of the White Sox possible.
Some credit must be given to the lineup though as they were able to bring home six runs against one of the hottest pitchers in baseball in Erik Bedard. It was a nice change for the O’s, seeing someone else’s bullpen blow the win, instead of their overpaid conglomeration. Bedard gave up 6 in 5.2 IP, which was surprising considering his recent hot streak. The O’s bullpen combined for 3.1 IP and 5 K’s to get the job done for interim manager Dave Tremblay.
After the game, Buehrle seemed fairly confident that this wouldn’t be his last start for the club, which has to be at least somewhat comforting for the Sox fans, already planning for an existence without the talented and personable lefty.
People can point fingers at whatever they want, whether it be Ozzie, Jermaine Dye’s poor performance (he struck out 3 times and went 0 for 4 in his return from the DL), or any other litany of excuses, but the fact of the matter is that the bullpen is absolutely terrible.
Their most dependable piece, All-Star Bobby Jenks blew a 1 run lead, allowing the Orioles to tie the game at 6 and then eventually win 7-6 in the top half of the 9th inning. Jenks was preceded by the immortal Ryan Bukvich who came into relieve Mark Buehrle in the 8th with runners on 1st and 2nd and promptly threw a wild pitch that moved the runner to 3rd, followed up by an RBI double, than eventually a 2 RBI triple. So while, those runs count against Buehrle, it was Bukvich who blew the comfortable margin that his team once held.
Its just one of those things, that when Buehrle left in the 8th after pitching a stellar game, you just knew the White Sox back end would find some miraculous way to blow it. Not that they get all the credit, Josh Fields helped out with a tough error in the 8th, making the devolvement of the White Sox possible.
Some credit must be given to the lineup though as they were able to bring home six runs against one of the hottest pitchers in baseball in Erik Bedard. It was a nice change for the O’s, seeing someone else’s bullpen blow the win, instead of their overpaid conglomeration. Bedard gave up 6 in 5.2 IP, which was surprising considering his recent hot streak. The O’s bullpen combined for 3.1 IP and 5 K’s to get the job done for interim manager Dave Tremblay.
After the game, Buehrle seemed fairly confident that this wouldn’t be his last start for the club, which has to be at least somewhat comforting for the Sox fans, already planning for an existence without the talented and personable lefty.
Buehrle's Last Start?
Tonight, despite the fact Smoltz faces Lowe in the night-cap, I’ll be taking in Erik Bedard and the Orioles going up against Mark Buehrle and the White Sox in what is rumored to be his final start in the Windy City.
I still cannot fathom why Ken Williams hasn’t locked him up for the four year deal that was discussed. Even at 56 million, Buehrle has been one of the most consistent pitchers over the past few years and is just entering his prime. The White Sox will get quality prospects in return almost guaranteably but I think it’d be wiser long-term to ink him.
Enough of the diatribe. The truly hot starter going into this game is Erik Bedard. He doesn’t get the press of a lot of other big-time starters but his numbers do the talking. Bedard, since May 1, has gone 3-2 with a 2.09 ERA, dropping it from 6.09 to start May, and has had less than 7 K’s in a game only twice. This guy is for real. Paired up with Brian Burres and the burgeoning Jeremy Guthrie, these three starters have been money for the Orioles.
So, while neither team appears to be ready for playoff contention, and they look more like sellers than buyers as the deadline approaches, this match-up is one worth taking in.
And if you’re up late, don’t miss Atlanta with John Smoltz taking on Los Angeles with Derek Lowe. Another quality showdown.
I still cannot fathom why Ken Williams hasn’t locked him up for the four year deal that was discussed. Even at 56 million, Buehrle has been one of the most consistent pitchers over the past few years and is just entering his prime. The White Sox will get quality prospects in return almost guaranteably but I think it’d be wiser long-term to ink him.
Enough of the diatribe. The truly hot starter going into this game is Erik Bedard. He doesn’t get the press of a lot of other big-time starters but his numbers do the talking. Bedard, since May 1, has gone 3-2 with a 2.09 ERA, dropping it from 6.09 to start May, and has had less than 7 K’s in a game only twice. This guy is for real. Paired up with Brian Burres and the burgeoning Jeremy Guthrie, these three starters have been money for the Orioles.
So, while neither team appears to be ready for playoff contention, and they look more like sellers than buyers as the deadline approaches, this match-up is one worth taking in.
And if you’re up late, don’t miss Atlanta with John Smoltz taking on Los Angeles with Derek Lowe. Another quality showdown.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Now We're Talking
Apparently the White Sox brass is smartening up. According to si.com, the White Sox GM, Ken Williams is nearing a contract extension with Mark Buehrle, the hottest name on the market this trade season.
The deal would be about 50 million spread over 4 years and would help to solidify the Sox rotation alongside Jon Garland.
Hopefully for Sox fans this works out, as this is far smarter than trading Buehrle for a bunch of maybe's.
The deal would be about 50 million spread over 4 years and would help to solidify the Sox rotation alongside Jon Garland.
Hopefully for Sox fans this works out, as this is far smarter than trading Buehrle for a bunch of maybe's.
Monday, June 25, 2007
On the Block
Mark Buehrle is on the block as are most of the White Sox as their free fall has been precipitous to put it mildly.
He's an appealing piece for any contending team to acquire, and many big time high payroll squads have been enquiring about the veteran pitcher.
However, there is a catch that will cause issue for the White Sox. He has no desire to sign a long-term deal with the team he is dealt too and wishes to test the market. No GM in his right mind is going to give up a top shelf prospect for a three month rental.
Well, I shouldn't say no GM would, but no GM should.
He's an appealing piece for any contending team to acquire, and many big time high payroll squads have been enquiring about the veteran pitcher.
However, there is a catch that will cause issue for the White Sox. He has no desire to sign a long-term deal with the team he is dealt too and wishes to test the market. No GM in his right mind is going to give up a top shelf prospect for a three month rental.
Well, I shouldn't say no GM would, but no GM should.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
A near no-no
Dustin McGowan of the Blue Jays was three outs away from joining Mark Buehrle and Justin Verlander in the 2007 no hitters club, but he lost it on Rockies outfielder Jeff Baker with a single in the ninth. McGowan still went on to throw the complete game shutout.
While McGowan has been maddeningly inconsistent all season long, perhaps the most interesting part of this near no-no is the fact that he got roughed up big-time in his last outing as he faced the Dodgers but could only go 1.2 and gave up six runs on eight hits. Bizarre.
And truthfully, if I had to have guessed any Blue Jay who would have pitched a performance like this, it would have been McGowan’s fellow upstart Shaun Marcum who has been more consistent and has a solid 3.38 ERA. Shows what I know.
The Rockies can’t be too happy with the sweep at the hands of the Jays as they were riding a big high after taking the Yankees for a three game sweep at home earlier in the week. Matt Holliday’s 2 of 14 performance in the series didn’t help matters.
While McGowan has been maddeningly inconsistent all season long, perhaps the most interesting part of this near no-no is the fact that he got roughed up big-time in his last outing as he faced the Dodgers but could only go 1.2 and gave up six runs on eight hits. Bizarre.
And truthfully, if I had to have guessed any Blue Jay who would have pitched a performance like this, it would have been McGowan’s fellow upstart Shaun Marcum who has been more consistent and has a solid 3.38 ERA. Shows what I know.
The Rockies can’t be too happy with the sweep at the hands of the Jays as they were riding a big high after taking the Yankees for a three game sweep at home earlier in the week. Matt Holliday’s 2 of 14 performance in the series didn’t help matters.
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