Mark Buehrle

Mark Buehrle is becoming my all-time favorite White Sox player.  Currently it is Frank Thomas.  You gotta love the “Big Hurt.”  But as far as current players for the Sox goes, it is Buehrle.  I love watching Mark pitch.  He may not be a dominant strike out guy.  In fact to some he is boring because he is a ground ball pitcher.  However to me there is no one more exciting.  Everytime he goes out on the mound, I feel the Sox have a chance to win. 

(Mark’s rookie card). 

Drafted by the White Sox in the 38th round of the 1998 draft, the Sox found a steal in the late rounds by getting a clear ace.  He made his major leaugue debut on July 16th, 2000; and ever since then has taken Chicago for a great ride.  There may be a ton of better pitchers, but the best thing about Buehrle is he is consistant.  At the age of 21, he went 4-1 in 2000 with a 4.21 ERA, contributing to the White Sox being in  the playoffs for the first time since 1993.  In 2001 he started 32 games going 16-8 posting a 3.29 ERA, good enough for 4th best in the American Leugue.  In 2002 he was close to winning 20 games, going 19-12 with a 3.58 ERA.  He also made his first All-Star apperence that year.  2003 saw a spike in ERA to 4.14 as Buehrle struggled going 14-14 that season.  But Mark is a fighter.  In 2004 he had a leaugue high innings pitched (245.1), games started (35), and went 16-10 with a 3.89 ERA. 

(Buehrle pitching in the World Series).

In the championship year of 2005 Buehrle helped the team by going 16-8 with a carreer low ERA of 3.12.  He started the All-Star game that year, placed 5th in Cy Young voting, again place 1st in innings pitched (236.7), and of course helped break the curse and bring a title to the South Side of Chicago.  In 2006, Buerle and his Sox teammates had an awful year.  For Mark it was a carreer low going 12-13 with a 4.99 ERA.  However, Mark did not dissapoint the entire year as he made his 3rd all-star apperace that season.  It was the 2nd half of the year where he struggled going 3-7 with a 6.44 ERA after the break.  In 2007 Buehrle went 10-9 with a 3.63 ERA and perhaps had his finest personal acchivement on April 18th, when he pitched a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers.  This was
perhaps the best game I have ever watched, besides the World Series of
course. 

(Mark Buehrle throws a no-hitter in 2007).

And last year he went 15-12 with a 3.79 ERA helping the White Sox win the AL Central crown.  This year he is perhaps having one of his finest seasons ever, posting a 8-2 record this year in 16 starts with a 3.09 ERA. 
Yesterday’s game is only part of what he has done so far as he went 8 1/3 innings allowing only one run on 6 hits against the Royals for a 4-1 win.  For Buehrle this should lead him to another all-star apperance as he is trying to help the Sox (41-38) climb back into the AL Central race.  The Sox are now just 2 1/2 games behind the Detroit Tigers.  Mark is a great pitcher, and my most favorite of all-time.  I hope he continues pitching well in a great carreer and can have 10 more amazing years.  In his carrer to date, Buehrle is 130-89 with a 3.76 ERA.
  

(Buehrle pitching against KC).