2009 MLB Season Thread

[floydnimrod]

Nice!

That catch by Wise was spectacular.

He was actually my favorite MudHen a few years ago (and remember his days with the Blue Jays? I have his rookie card haha).

I remember his short-lived stint with the Reds. And I've also thought Mark Buehrle was underrated.

[DDR]

Is Buerhle a potential Hall of Famer? My first thought would be "no." But, consider the following:

Buerhle's 30. If he averages 15 wins over the next ten years after this season, he'll be approaching 300 wins. He'd be 40 or 41 at the time. And, he's not a power pitcher (by any means) that might lose velocity (and thus, effectiveness) over time. He now has both a perfect game and a no-hitter. Only the sixth pitcher to do that. The other five are in the Hall, or headed there. He's got a World Series ring. Only 4 All-Star teams, but still counting, and he started one of those. And he's a workhourse. Always near the top of starts and innings pitched. Never sniffed a Cy Young, though he's headed towards consideration for this year, and again, he's only 30.

Looking at the numbers, it's entirely possible. He'll need to stay healthy and pitch for another decade, obut averaging 15 isn't out of the question Possibly reign in a Cy, or at least a couple top-3 finishes. Who knows?

[njmeadowlanders]

There have been 387,584 Major League games dating back to 1876, 18 of which have been perfect games, or 0.00464% of games played which translates to 1 perfect game out of every 21,533 games played.

[DEAD!]

Buehrle had to end the press conference a bit early...to talk to the president, who had called to wish him congratulations. Nice.

And its his team too, so he really meant the congratulations.

On a side note

Mark Buehrle might just be the most underrated pitcher in baseball. Nobody talks about him among the best but now he has two No Hitters, one of them is perfect, and he leads a decent pitching staff in Chicago.

Wow. I agree with Tank. Although, this is a new, gentler Tank. You're different lately.

Well, considering this has nothing to do with Mets, then of course this is a gentler side of Tank... Mark Buehrle is a great pitcher and is definitely underrated.... maybe it has to do something with the all that focus on the north side. I think Buehrle can be around for the next ten seasons and post at least a dozen wins per season. Hall of Fame material? It's too early to tell, but he's got the stuff and plays for a decent club to get to that point.

Today, we are all White Sox.

There will never be a day in which we are ALL White Sox...

I'm wearing white socks...

So am I... at least that makes two of us...

[BBTV]

Is Buerhle a potential Hall of Famer? My first thought would be "no." But, consider the following:

Buerhle's 30. If he averages 15 wins over the next ten years after this season, he'll be approaching 300 wins. He'd be 40 or 41 at the time. And, he's not a power pitcher (by any means) that might lose velocity (and thus, effectiveness) over time. He now has both a perfect game and a no-hitter. Only the sixth pitcher to do that. The other five are in the Hall, or headed there. He's got a World Series ring. Only 4 All-Star teams, but still counting, and he started one of those. And he's a workhourse. Always near the top of starts and innings pitched. Never sniffed a Cy Young, though he's headed towards consideration for this year, and again, he's only 30.

Looking at the numbers, it's entirely possible. He'll need to stay healthy and pitch for another decade, obut averaging 15 isn't out of the question Possibly reign in a Cy, or at least a couple top-3 finishes. Who knows?

That's such a big "if", it isn't really worth considering unless he does it over the next five. Then it may be worth it to speculate. There's not a pitcher in the game that I would bet any money on to average 15 wins / year over the next 10 years, even the Lincecums of the world, just because it's so tough, and too many things can happen to a pitcher that would make it impossible.

[BBTV]

Just read that in the unlikely event that the Phillies can trade for Halladay at the deadline, he wouldn't have to change hotel rooms, because the Phillies are @ San Fransisco, and the Jays are @ Oakland, and both road teams are staying in the same hotel.

[DDR]

Is Buerhle a potential Hall of Famer? My first thought would be "no." But, consider the following:

Buerhle's 30. If he averages 15 wins over the next ten years after this season, he'll be approaching 300 wins. He'd be 40 or 41 at the time. And, he's not a power pitcher (by any means) that might lose velocity (and thus, effectiveness) over time. He now has both a perfect game and a no-hitter. Only the sixth pitcher to do that. The other five are in the Hall, or headed there. He's got a World Series ring. Only 4 All-Star teams, but still counting, and he started one of those. And he's a workhourse. Always near the top of starts and innings pitched. Never sniffed a Cy Young, though he's headed towards consideration for this year, and again, he's only 30.

Looking at the numbers, it's entirely possible. He'll need to stay healthy and pitch for another decade, obut averaging 15 isn't out of the question Possibly reign in a Cy, or at least a couple top-3 finishes. Who knows?

That's such a big "if", it isn't really worth considering unless he does it over the next five. Then it may be worth it to speculate. There's not a pitcher in the game that I would bet any money on to average 15 wins / year over the next 10 years, even the Lincecums of the world, just because it's so tough, and too many things can happen to a pitcher that would make it impossible.

No, I gotcha. You're right. But, Buerhle's so consistent that it seems possible. And he's the type of pitcher (control, good command of the strikezone, not reliant on power) that seems to point towards his arm not breaking down. The point is, if he remains his same solid self, he'll put up some noteworthy numbers. And that's even if he doesn't put up any 20 win seasons between now and then.

[JayJaxon]

Buerhle is actually thinking about retiring after the 2011 Season, so we can wait and see what he does after that. He has also expressed interest in playing in St. Louis before he hangs it up.

[BBTV]

Just saw the highlights from the perfect game. Those announcers should never broadcast another game. One of the biggest, rarest, most special moments in the history of the game, and all they can do is scream "yes! yes! YES! YES! YES!". I don't care if your a White Sox fan or not, stuff like that just has to make your skin crawl.

[twi]

So when I got home today and went to look up the Rays' final I did not expect to see this! Congrats to Buerhle, a perfect game just boggles my mind at all the, well perfection, that has to go just right.

[DDR]

Just saw the highlights from the perfect game. Those announcers should never broadcast another game. One of the biggest, rarest, most special moments in the history of the game, and all they can do is scream "yes! yes! YES! YES! YES!". I don't care if your a White Sox fan or not, stuff like that just has to make your skin crawl.

Preaching to the choir, my friend. A good portion of White Sox fans watch the game on mute and put on the radio broadcast with Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson. Ken "Hawk" Harrelson is an unapologetic homer, which would be fine except that he's also unreasonable, irritable and stuck in his own past.

Edit: I went back and watched the last two innings on MLB.TV, and yes, his call of the actual moment was pretty bad. Not even a "YES! YES! YES! YES! Mark Buerhle has thrown the 18th Perfect Game in Major League history!" But, his call over the last two innings was pretty solid. Of course, where it matters in historical terms (the last out) he failed miserably.

[alwaysr92]

The Angels are on a roll tonight with their MLB leading 31st come from behind win against one of the best closers in the game and only losting 1 game since the All Star Break.... *sniff* *sniff* smells a lot like 02

*granted, i'm aware they played against the Royals and the A's for 7 games, but they also swept the Yankees before the All Star Break

[DEAD!]

Just saw the highlights from the perfect game. Those announcers should never broadcast another game. One of the biggest, rarest, most special moments in the history of the game, and all they can do is scream "yes! yes! YES! YES! YES!". I don't care if your a White Sox fan or not, stuff like that just has to make your skin crawl.

Can you blame them for having such an orgasm? They haven't been this excited since their wedding nights.

[BrySmalls]

Just saw the highlights from the perfect game. Those announcers should never broadcast another game. One of the biggest, rarest, most special moments in the history of the game, and all they can do is scream "yes! yes! YES! YES! YES!". I don't care if your a White Sox fan or not, stuff like that just has to make your skin crawl.

Can you blame them for having such an orgasm? They haven't been this excited since their wedding nights.

Bet they were pretty stimulated excited during the month of October in 2005 too.

[DEAD!]

Just saw the highlights from the perfect game. Those announcers should never broadcast another game. One of the biggest, rarest, most special moments in the history of the game, and all they can do is scream "yes! yes! YES! YES! YES!". I don't care if your a White Sox fan or not, stuff like that just has to make your skin crawl.

Can you blame them for having such an orgasm? They haven't been this excited since their wedding nights.

Bet they were pretty stimulated excited during the month of October in 2005 too.

Yes, but at least they paced themselves.

[Cujo]

ESPN reports that the A's have traded OF Matt Holliday to the Cardinals for, get this, more prospects!

[FiddySicks]

ESPN reports that the A's have traded OF Matt Holliday to the Cardinals for, get this, more prospects!

I figured this was gonna happen after the A's dropped outta contention (about game 3). Glad to see him go to a team I like at least. So with DeRosa and now Holliday, does this make the Cards the favorites in the NL?

[Cujo]

ESPN reports that the A's have traded OF Matt Holliday to the Cardinals for, get this, more prospects!

I figured this was gonna happen after the A's dropped outta contention (about game 3). Glad to see him go to a team I like at least. So with DeRosa and now Holliday, does this make the Cards the favorites in the NL?

I've still got the Cards behind the Dodgers and on par with the Phillies. However, this move makes them the definite frontrunner in the NL Central. I don't know how the Cubs, Astros, or Brewers can retaliate to the acquisition of Holliday.

[Gary]

Today, we are all White Sox.

I am a Tiger, never will I ever be a White Sox, the day I root for the White Sox is the last day on earth

[BrySmalls]

ESPN reports that the A's have traded OF Matt Holliday to the Cardinals for, get this, more prospects!

I figured this was gonna happen after the A's dropped outta contention (about game 3). Glad to see him go to a team I like at least. So with DeRosa and now Holliday, does this make the Cards the favorites in the NL?

I've still got the Cards behind the Dodgers and on par with the Phillies. However, this move makes them the definite frontrunner in the NL Central. I don't know how the Cubs, Astros, or Brewers can retaliate to the acquisition of Holliday.

Is he considered a rental player or does he hope to stay in St. Louis for awhile?