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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

ESPN: Buehrle sets MLB mark

Congratulations.

Chicago White Sox ace Mark Buehrle has set a major league record by retiring 45 straight batters.

Coming off a perfect game in his last start against Tampa Bay, Buehrle retired the first 17 Minnesota Twins batters to surpass the record of 41 straight set by and San Francisco’s Jim Barr in 1972 and tied by teammate Bobby Jenks, a reliever, in 2007.

Buehrle retired 27 in a row against the Rays in his last start, then breezed through the first five innings against the Twins to break the record.

His bid for a second consecutive perfect game ended with a walk to Alexi Casilla on a close call with two outs in the sixth. The Metrodome crowd stood and cheered Buehrle. Then Denard Span followed with a single to break up the no-hitter.

AndrewJ Posted: July 29, 2009 at 02:28 AM | 28 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: white sox

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1. Jeff K. Posted: July 29, 2009 at 05:55 AM (#3271898)

Jesus, I can't imagine what was going through Buehrle's head during this.

\"#### Johnny Vander Meer. They're going to start calling quality starts 'Marks' and perfect games 'Buehrles'. Inducted into the Hall of Fame? The MBWAA will be voting on who gets to come to dinner at my house."

2. Athletic Supporter leads the nation in drifters Posted: July 29, 2009 at 06:05 AM (#3271901)

My favorite part was the shots of Buehrle they kept showing -- he had this permanent smirk glued to his face, like, "I can't believe this is happening, WTF." I think it's awesome that he knows what's up and appreciates it, as evidenced by the fact that during his perfect game and his no-hitter he was constantly chatting up teammates in the dugout.

3. Repoz

Posted: July 29, 2009 at 06:06 AM (#3271902)

A shitload of grounders didn't go through and then some did...OMG! OMG!

4. ValueArb Posted: July 29, 2009 at 06:08 AM (#3271904)

When i think of domination, I think of Buehrle.

5. Best Regards, Larry M. Posted: July 29, 2009 at 06:12 AM (#3271905)

My favorite part was the shots of Buehrle they kept showing -- he had this permanent smirk glued to his face, like, "I can't believe this is happening, WTF." I think it's awesome that he knows what's up and appreciates it, as evidenced by the fact that during his perfect game and his no-hitter he was constantly chatting up teammates in the dugout.

On September 1st, 1998, David Wells retired the first 20 A's before Jason Giambi singled. As he passed him after the inning, Wells said "thank you" to Giambi.

Didn't need *that* kind of stress again!

6. Shock Posted: July 29, 2009 at 06:26 AM (#3271910)

A shitload of grounders didn't go through and then some did...OMG! OMG!

Well, yes.

But it's still fun to watch. Repoz is holding out for the 27 K game, eh? :)

7. Lassus Posted: July 29, 2009 at 06:50 AM (#3271920)

A shitload of grounders didn't go through and then some did...OMG! OMG!

I am starting to think Repoz really isn't that much fun of a person.

8. puck Posted: July 29, 2009 at 06:52 AM (#3271921)

Jesus, I can't imagine what was going through Buehrle's head during this.

"My brother-in-law sure as hell never bowled two perfect games."

9. Harry Balsagne's transparent jealousy

Posted: July 29, 2009 at 07:42 AM (#3271932)

Then he was all like, "Holy ####, 45 straight and I walk Alexi ####### Casilla."

10. The Most Interesting Man In The World Posted: July 29, 2009 at 12:58 PM (#3271994)

"My brother-in-law sure as hell never bowled two perfect games."

Buehrle's brother-in-law is John Burkett??

The things one might learn on BTF...

11. Up2Drew Posted: July 29, 2009 at 01:37 PM (#3272020)

A shitload of grounders didn't go through and then some did...OMG! OMG!

Frankly, as an occasional contributor, the smarminess factor on this forum can be counterproductive.

12. Sox Machine Posted: July 29, 2009 at 02:26 PM (#3272098)

A shitload of grounders didn't go through and then some did...OMG! OMG!

Frankly, as an occasional contributor, the smarminess factor on this forum can be counterproductive.

Well, he managed to dismiss Bobby Jenks retiring 41 straight hitters because he faced the bottom of the order more often than the top. Now that Buehrle did it against one of the best offenses in baseball and in one of the toughest road parks, it's just "luck."

13. WillYoung Posted: July 29, 2009 at 02:27 PM (#3272100)

It's amazing he got to 45 considering how badly the White Sox defense butchered the subsequent balls in play. What the hell was Podsednik doing on Mauer's "double" and what was Getz doing on Crede's "single"?

14. Craig in MN Posted: July 29, 2009 at 02:28 PM (#3272103)

Then he was all like, "Holy ####, 45 straight and I walk Alexi ####### Casilla."

I'm not sure what threw him more, this or getting an ovation in the Metrodome.

15. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: July 29, 2009 at 02:29 PM (#3272106)

What the hell was Podsednik doing on Mauer's "double" and what was Getz doing on Crede's "single"?

Those were awful plays.

There's something about the Metrodome that just brings out the worst in the White Sox. I can't wait until Corporate Name Field opens.

16. Sox Machine Posted: July 29, 2009 at 02:32 PM (#3272110)

Then he was all like, "Holy ####, 45 straight and I walk Alexi ####### Casilla."

At least he did it on a 3-2 changeup, and not a 3-2 fastball. That's what worked for him the entire time when he fell behind in the count, so he went down firing his best shot.

17. The Essex Snead Posted: July 29, 2009 at 02:53 PM (#3272151)

Of course I tuned into the game just before Buerhle gave up the ghost, but I was stunned that they actually scored that Pods play a double -- how can you be that fast and pull up short (that's right, not COME up, PULL up -- another step and he would've been under the damn thing) on a hard-hit but catchable fly ball, and how can an official scorer call that a hit & not want to crawl into a bag of Big League Chew?

18. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: July 29, 2009 at 02:55 PM (#3272158)

how can an official scorer call that a hit & not want to crawl into a bag of Big League Chew?

It's funny that that happened on the same day that an article about the Twins' official scorer gets posted here.

19. Shredder Posted: July 29, 2009 at 03:02 PM (#3272170)

A shitload of grounders didn't go through and then some did...OMG! OMG!

I was watching the first five or six innings in a bar, so we didn't have sound, but it's not that grounders just didn't go through. It's that they didn't have a chance of going through. No one was making solid contact. I don't care for the Sox, but it was impressive to watch.

20. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: July 29, 2009 at 03:06 PM (#3272178)

I was stunned that they actually scored that Pods play a double

Didn't it bounce over the fence?

21. SoSH U at work Posted: July 29, 2009 at 03:08 PM (#3272180)

Didn't it bounce over the fence?

The fact that a player gets two bases for a ball that bounces over the fence doesn't preclude an official scorekeeper from charging an error on the play.

22. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: July 29, 2009 at 03:11 PM (#3272189)

Could the HR off Canseco's head have been an error?

23. DL from MN Posted: July 29, 2009 at 03:13 PM (#3272193)

We scored it an error at home, just brutally misplayed. I imagine the official scorer would want to help out Mauer's average.

I get that same smirk when I strike someone out in slow pitch softball.

24. SoSH U at work Posted: July 29, 2009 at 03:14 PM (#3272197)

Could the HR off Canseco's head have been an error?

Yes. I think it should have been.

25. SouthSideRyan Posted: July 29, 2009 at 03:16 PM (#3272201)

Official scorers never give errors if the fielder doesn't touch the ball. It's stupid, but it's what they do.

26. DCA Posted: July 29, 2009 at 03:24 PM (#3272212)

Unless it goes through their legs.

27. SouthSideRyan Posted: July 29, 2009 at 03:28 PM (#3272221)

Yeah, guess I should have specified on fly balls.

28. NotLikely20 Posted: July 29, 2009 at 03:29 PM (#3272223)

That was an error if I've ever seen one, but oh well, Mauer deserves some home-cooking at home. Congrats to Burls, one of the most impressive baseball feats any of us will ever see. 15+ straight perfect innings, taking it to the 6th. He may not be the first pitcher anyone thinks of when talking about the aces in the game, but he most certainly is one, and I'd take him as my #1 any day of the week. Inning after inning, game after game, year after year, just solid.

Once the Twins lose their home-field dome advantage against the Sox, I'm going to cry. That dome guarentees 6+ wins against Chicago.

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ESPN: Buehrle sets MLB mark

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