White Sox 2, Blue Jays 1: Buehrle's night follows script

by Jim Margalus on Sep 27, 2011 10:10 PM CDT in White Sox Game Recaps

Mark Buehrle salutes the crowd after walking off the mound for the final time (this season, at least).

When Ramon Castro caught Mark Buehrle for the first time, it turned into a perfect game.

When Don Cooper managed Mark Buehrle for the first time, it turned into a perfect night.

Buehrle wrapped up his current White Sox contract with seven scoreless innings, allowing his offense to give him a two-run lead and affording Cooper the opportunity to send him out in style.

When Buehrle headed to the mound for the top of the eighth, nobody followed him. When he arrived, he discovered there was no game ball ... until Cooper brought it to him. They shared a moment and a hug in the middle of the diamond, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation as he left the field, which prompted Buehrle to indulge the crowd with a curtain call.

And really, it was a perfect Buehrle start. He only recorded one 1-2-3 inning, and he had to pitch around two errors that turned mundane situations into scoring opportunities. On both occasions, Gordon Beckham failed to catch a ball for a forceout, which put runners on first and second with nobody out.

When it happened in the third inning, Buehrle turned to his second-oldest friend, the double play. Alexei Ramirez ranged to his left, and made an athletic play to get to second and start a 6-3 job. In his final frame, Buehrle had to get three guys out -- a shank to the shortstop, a near double-play to second, and a Mark Teahen groundout to third.

Buehrle exited with a two-run lead, and although Jesse Crain added a bit of tension by surrendering a leadoff homer to Mike McCoy to start the eighth, he and Chris Sale teamed up to nail down the 161st win for Buehrle, and the first for Cooper. Hopefully neither will be the last.

Notes:

*The catchers supplied the offense tonight -- Tyler Flowers cranked a solo shot to dead center, his second straight game with a homer, in the second inning. A.J. Pierzynski added to the lead with an RBI single to right in the sixth.

*By recording his fifth out of the night, Buehrle pitched 200 innings for the 11th straight season.

*Pierzynski joined Buehrle in the milestone department, as he reached 1,000 innings behind the plate for his 10th straight season.

*Gary Cederstrom caused a delay when he lost count during an Adam Dunn at-bat. Nobody could remember whether the count was supposed to be 2-2 or 3-2, and Cederstrom had to go into the tunnel for video confirmation. After a three-minute delay and a stumble on his way up the dugout steps, Cederstrom told Dunn it was a 3-2 count.

*It didn't matter. Dunn struck out that at-bat, and also in his other two. Now he stands at 177 strikeouts, which means he set the franchise's single-season record in a season, breaking Dave Nicholson's mark of 175 in 1963 (hat tip to Kyle).

Record: 79-82 | Box score | Play-by-play

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Comments

So you're insinuating you would like to see Don Cooper hired as Manager?

2011 WhiteSox Baseball: we're all in

by OznCoop on Sep 27, 2011 10:13 PM CDT reply actions

I'd like to see them win tomorrow.

Whales! Squids! Sharks! They're everywhere! Hello, I am Poseidon! Now, when people told me I was crazy that thinly sliced roast beef would be a delicious fast-food option, I knew it was the greatest idea, and you can thank me later for Arby's.

by Jim Margalus on Sep 27, 2011 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions

This exchange is funnier to me than it should be.

"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.'"

by U-God on Sep 27, 2011 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions

i heart burls

come to the treeouts you big dumb bitch.

by furby2056 on Sep 27, 2011 10:20 PM CDT reply actions

As much as we Sox fans hate our villains, I think we love our heroes a whole lot more.

"I'm the Chicago man. I'm vital in Chicago." -Willy Ohman, Act 1

by mechanical turk on Sep 27, 2011 10:43 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

i love buehrle much more

than i hate nick fucking swisher.

"michael gilhaney is an example of a man that is nearly banjaxed from the principal of the atomic theory. would it astonish you to hear that he is nearly half a bicycle?" ~~ sergeant pluck

by BuehrleMan on Sep 27, 2011 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

are you going to go on a bender now until we draft his son?

Joe Buck is just White Noise to me. It’s like the game is being called by a CD of whale songs. - mechanical turk

by blackoutsox on Sep 27, 2011 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions

This was a phenominal game to go to

I’m very excited whoever sold their tickets on stubhub for $5 allowed me to go to the game. Applauding Mark as he walked off the field in the 8th was amazing. And staying for the postgame interview was pretty neat. He’s a class act and my 3rd favorite White Sox player of all time (Frank and Paulie). Congrats to Buehrle for the great memories.

That said I think you forgot one major milestone. Dunn picked up his 175th, 176th and 177th strikeout, tying, setting and resetting the record for White Sox hitters.

3 things in life I care about
Sox, Colts, and Hawks.
Lifetime banners: '05, '07, '10

by Kyle321N on Sep 27, 2011 10:51 PM CDT reply actions

Added, thank you.

by Jim Margalus on Sep 28, 2011 3:15 AM CDT up reply actions

pretty nice game... ended up on the fan deck for some reason.

while i’ve never been the biggest buehrle fan in the world… the guy has always been there and most of the time he’s pitched well. if this was indeed his last start it will be very weird not seeing him out there ever 5th day.

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on Sep 27, 2011 11:53 PM CDT reply actions

i'm so pissed off at my sister for making me miss this game.

Anyway, I don’t think this is his last start for the Sox.
At least I hope it isn’t. I could see the Sox taking him over Danks if they can only afford one.

by e-gus on Sep 28, 2011 12:56 AM CDT reply actions

That was the delay?!? Geebus. We thought the ump shat his pants.

Anyway, a truly fantastic game. I obviously hope Buehrle comes back, but this was a hell of a send-off if he doesn’t.

The policeman who jumps from a bridge to a plane is Detective John McClane, a.k.a. Bruce Willis. He’s just the star of the whole movie series and stuff, no big deal or anything. -Cruiser

by Uribe Down on Sep 28, 2011 1:10 AM CDT reply actions

lol me and my brother thought the same thing as you with the ump.

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on Sep 28, 2011 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions

"Paulie was pushing me out there and he was like ‘They’re calling for you.’ I’ve never had a curtain call."

"Just hugging the teammates, hugging everybody that’s been involved in my career, it got kind of emotional there toward the end." (AP)

I find myself unprepared to deal with the idea that tonight was Buehrle’s last start for the White Sox.

Photo from Monday, post game. Larger here.

by Secret Chimp on Sep 28, 2011 1:13 AM CDT reply actions 4 recs

i don't know if someone posted, but this was the first time i've seen MLBTR cite SSS

Tony La Russa isn’t interested in managing the White Sox with Kenny Williams as GM, a source tells Cowley. Cowley says the rumored candidates to replace Guillen are Buddy Bell, Joe McEwing, and Sandy Alomar Jr. MLB.com’s Scott Merkin expects Rays bench coach Dave Martinez to be in the mix as well. Back in May, Bell told Mark Primiano of South Side Sox he did not want to manage again. At any rate, Williams says he’s already cut the list down to “a few select candidates.”

Jim Thome sponsor(s) this page.
Highly underrated, Mark Kotsay became the best defensive designated hitter in American League history in 2010.

by onlysoxfaninbasel on Sep 28, 2011 1:18 AM CDT reply actions

They use us every now and then.

MLBTR may not be the best site in the world, but they are fantastic about giving credit where it’s due.

by U-God on Sep 28, 2011 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions

I've been a White Sox fan for 20+ years and #56 is my favorite of all time.

I hope he retires a White Sox, but if not, I’m better off for having had him pitch for MY team.

Reporter: I was wondering if at any point in my lifetime the Cubs weren't going to be run by a guy who didn't immediately remind me of failure, confusion, or imminent death

by Hazymania on Sep 28, 2011 1:19 AM CDT reply actions

A great night at the Cell

Awesome performance by 56 – it was vintage Buehrle.

I hope we make Buehrle a fair offer to come back, which means at least as good as St. Louis’s. Mark has given the Sox so much over the years – he doesn’t owe this team anything more. If he wants to choose St. Louis over the Sox, I won’t begrudge him – he’s earned it.

But if the Sox don’t or can’t make Buehrle a fair offer, because KW has blown the bank on Dunn, Rios and Peavy, then KW should turn in his resignation. We can’t see a gem like Buehrle go because we’ve overpaid for lumps of coal.

Baseball is life.

by elgonzo4sox on Sep 28, 2011 1:31 AM CDT reply actions

next year two of those lumps of coal will be diamonds

White Sox 2011: The season of extraneous body parts.

by greenlight on Sep 28, 2011 5:22 AM CDT up reply actions

I am inclined to agree.

Dunn and Peavy will bounce back, I’m thinking.

Peavy will be stronger and more conditioned (if my own experience rehabbing a torn tendon is anything to go by, and while I don’t throw 92 MPH heaters, Peavy doesn’t raw bench 500# either).

Dunn? Well, he couldn’t possibly be worse, could he? Even the proverbial Dead Cat Bounce means he’ll at least give us one good season, but my gut feeling is that he embarks on a fitness regiment this winter, swings the bat, and is in much better shape in 2012

Or, who knows? Rios could shock us all and be replacement level or better next year.

by Name's Dalton on Sep 28, 2011 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions

I went to the game. I was joined by several other stalwart SSS posters. Rain and Cold, F' That,

This was potentially Mark’s last game here.

The game went typical Buehrle smooth and quick. I joked several times that I wouldn’t cry.
When Mark finally came out and made the crowd hat tip,
I found myself choking up, and yeah. A bit of tear.

Who am I kidding? I wiped my eyes like four times with my sleeves.

The end of the Ozzie Era just seems like a natural transition in life.

The potential end of the Buehrle Era just seems like facing mortality head on with a deadly cancer.

"That might be how you roll at Camp Anawanna, Budnick. But where I come from, we only salute Old Glory." -moroots on May 23rd

by South Side Expat on Sep 28, 2011 1:34 AM CDT reply actions

If we win tomorrow I believe the Jays will jump a pick ahead of us for next year's draft.

by Bent Over Beckham on Sep 28, 2011 1:49 AM CDT reply actions

good, they can draft ozney

Jim Thome sponsor(s) this page.
Highly underrated, Mark Kotsay became the best defensive designated hitter in American League history in 2010.

by onlysoxfaninbasel on Sep 28, 2011 2:02 AM CDT up reply actions

I haven't done the math

but if the draft order hasn’t changed in the past couple of days, it could be the difference between a protected and unprotected pick. I doubt it will matter by the sound of our offseason plans, but still.

by Bent Over Beckham on Sep 28, 2011 2:17 AM CDT up reply actions

This year the CBA expires, doesn't it?

If so, it’s possible that protected or unprotected picks won’t matter. That part of free agency should be something the MLBPA wants to do away with.

by ObsidianXIII on Sep 28, 2011 3:55 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Sox, Reds, Nats, Jays, Indians, all within a game of one another

Per MLBTradeRumors reverse standings

Tie breaker is worse record last year. Assuming protected picks still exist, 2 teams will end up with unprotected picks.

It’s like the sad version of the wild card drama today.

by Titan52 on Sep 28, 2011 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions

the wild card drama they will ruin by adding another team next season

by e-gus on Sep 28, 2011 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions

don't worry.

I’m bringing my son to the game today. its a guaranteed loss. the dude is 1-15 for his career i think, inclucing 0-5 this season.

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on Sep 28, 2011 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions

this brings a HSA-like tear to my eye

A class act, that MB.

White Sox 2011: The season of extraneous body parts.

by greenlight on Sep 28, 2011 5:21 AM CDT reply actions

Hopefully not his last start.

Easy chief
We’re a community - Tdogg

by Jack M on Sep 28, 2011 7:03 AM CDT reply actions

2nd

I’m pissed at Comcast for not airing this game in my area. If they have any sense (which they don’t), I hope they put on an encore program.

It's 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, 1/2 pack of cigarettes...it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.

by lastof12 on Sep 28, 2011 7:32 AM CDT up reply actions

this was the first year that (almost all) wciu games were carried in central illinois.

if i hadn’t been able to see the game last night you would have been reading about buehrleman in the news this morning.

"michael gilhaney is an example of a man that is nearly banjaxed from the principal of the atomic theory. would it astonish you to hear that he is nearly half a bicycle?" ~~ sergeant pluck

by BuehrleMan on Sep 28, 2011 7:46 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Got to sit first row up from scout seats last night

Got an excellent view of how buehrle works and what his pitches do, more so than other seats i’ve sat in. I love that guy. It was great that he actually stepped on the field for the curtain call. Where was kustok though?

by Rhubarb on Sep 28, 2011 7:51 AM CDT reply actions

Those seats were truly tasty-

"That might be how you roll at Camp Anawanna, Budnick. But where I come from, we only salute Old Glory." -moroots on May 23rd

by South Side Expat on Sep 28, 2011 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Also, provides for a fun game. Find Chris Sale!

"That might be how you roll at Camp Anawanna, Budnick. But where I come from, we only salute Old Glory." -moroots on May 23rd

by South Side Expat on Sep 28, 2011 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 4 recs

Post one of the ones with Liz in it!

by U-God on Sep 28, 2011 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Liz and her twin sister, more like

Around the 2nd inning Liz and her sister were utterly perplexed and just standing up looking at the ground. I thought maybe they lost a crumb or something. That 3 minute delay because of the ump was truly bizarre. As the umps walked off the field after the game, i was right above the walkway and yelled “What happened blue!?” cuz we had no idea, he just walked, looked straight ahead and gave a grimaced smile. That being said, I was only 100 feet from my hero!

by Rhubarb on Sep 28, 2011 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Did you ask him for a ride?!?!

by U-God on Sep 28, 2011 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions

He doesn't sport a moustache

but no, I drove so i didn’t need his services. Those chunky gals seriously looked stupified for a half an inning there. The way Liz squeezed into that Buehrle jersey didn’t leave much to the imagination. I could have put a cigarette out in her rolls and she would have been non-the-wiser. Also, I forget who it was, either TP or SSE but i had to tell one of them, “she’s 13 months, asshole!”

by Rhubarb on Sep 28, 2011 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions