Color me impressed. The Marlins signed Mark Buehrle from the White Sox as he will give the rotation a nice World Champion veteran arm with a few No Hitters on his resume.
Not sure if he has 4 more great years in him, but he will no doubt be a solid influence maybe like Charlie Leibrandt with the Braves in the early 1990s.
With about a month and a half left to the season, the number of legit playoff contenders are winding down. And the staff here at Sully Baseball decided to look at each contender and see what would be positive about their potential World Championships.
Which players or managers would benefit the most from a title. Which fan bases would savor it. And how the perception of each franchise would change slightly. Remember, this isn't a numbers crunching site... this is all about emotion and things that strike my fancy.
The first potential World Series contender will be the Chicago White Sox. Why the White Sox? Because they are so unpredictable that they could either be in first place by next week or fall totally out of contention. So if I want to include them, I had better do it NOW!
10 Reasons why the
Chicago White Sox
winning the 2011 World Series
would be good for baseball
1. Another World Series title moves Ozzie Guillen closer to Cooperstown
Ozzie Guillen's Hall of Fame resume is a long shot at this point. 2 post season appearances, even with a World Series title, isn't going to cut it. (Ask Cito Gaston who won back to back World Series titles and two other Division Titles. Forget the Hall of Fame, he couldn't get hired.)
But another World Series title, and this one with almost a brand new cast of characters would add to his luster that the team plays Ozzie's brand of baseball. And when (not if) he takes over the Marlins and wins with them, he'll get even closer.
The idea of Ozzie giving a Hall of Fame speech is a wonderful concept, if for no other reason than for the need of a 7 second delay.
2. It would justify Kenny Williams' wild GM style
In an era of calculators, bizarre new stats and hoarding prospects, it would be nice to see Kenny Williams methods be rewarded again.
He's always willing to bring in a free agent, even an ill fitting one. He's willing to say "prospects be damned, we're winning NOW!" And he has taken some chances in Cuba and by bringing up prospects super fast and throwing them into the fire.
Is it sometimes irresponsible? Sure. Does it blow up in his face sometimes? Ask Adam Dunn.
Is it cool to see a GM always trying? You bet.
And to see that GM win a SECOND World Series spitting in the face of convention... that would be too cool.
3. A Championship could justify the Adam Dunn signing
Speaking of Kenny Williams' style, let's talk about Dunn. Right now Adam Dunn looks like one of the biggest busts in Free Agency history.
I mean he is so terrible right now that you have to wonder if he had a twin brother that he suited up in his place. And they've got 3 more years of this.
But imagine if he got a big hit in the post season. Or clubbed a big homer off the bench in the World Series. Then it would be kind of like J. D. Drew... an injury filled disappointment overall, but contributed big to a ring.
Besides, he seems like a likable accountable guy. I'd like to see him happy. (As if $56 million wouldn't buy happiness.)
4. Multiple Rings will help people remember how to spell Konerko and Buehrle
I wrote a blog post that was basically a love letter to Paul Konerko and Mark Buehrle.
Guess what? I spelled in Kornerko every single time.
And I had to double check Buehrle whenever I typed it. I double checked it when I typed the previous sentence. Is it B-E-H? B-U-E? B-E-U?
None of it is instinctual.
Maybe another title will seal that.
5. Everyone loves seeing A. J. Pierzynski happy!
Speaking of members of the 2005 White Sox with difficult names to spell...
Sure you might not like A. J. Pierzynski. Sure he seems like he might be a jerk. But look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn't want an obnoxious pest like him on YOUR team.
6. If the White Sox win, maybe Juan Pierre will do another unbelievably awful rap
There are few subjects I know less about than rap. But even as a total NON authority, I can tell you that the rap Juan Pierre did at the 2003 Florida Marlins World Series celebration was awful.
He called it rap. For me? The C at the beginning was silent.
Maybe he will improve in Chicago. Or maybe it will be just as bad.
Take a listen. Tell me how it is good.
7. A ring for Omar Vizquel
Vizquel is making one of the least likely runs at 3,000 hits and may have already have punched a ticket for the Hall of Fame.
The greatest defensive shortstop of his generation has played over 4 decades, won 11 Gold Gloves and played on 6 Division Champs and in the 1995 and 1997 World Series.
A ring would be nice.
8. The President needs a Pick Me Up!
There have been lots of ups and downs for the President this past year and no doubt 2012 will be one tense year for him.
Up for reelection, the markets are going nuts, lots of people still out of work and maybe he needs a little reminder of how good "Hope" feels.
Maybe his team winning the World Series can kick start his campaign!
Do it for AMERICA, White Sox!
9. Another World Series title could help the White Sox enter the "Big Bad Bully Club".
The White Sox are consistently among the top payrolls, they bid for free agents and they act like one of the "Haves" instead of the "Have nots."
AND they play in a big media market! But they never get mentioned as one of the big bad franchises.
Another title will tie them with the Yankees and Red Sox in the 21st Century. That sounds big and bad for me.
10. It would make the White Sox and Cubs fan dynamic more interesting
Would the White Sox finally the choice of the casual sports fan in Chicago? Would the winning of the South Side out weigh the cute and cuddliness of Wrigleyville?
Two things are for sure.
- White Sox fans hold ALL the bragging cards. Another World Series title would mean the White Sox would have won as World Series in the 21st Century as the Cubs did in the 20th Century.
- If what doesn't destroy you only makes you stronger, then Cubs fans must be damn near invincible!
So there you have it for the White Sox... Hall of Fame credentials, inter city rivalries, spell check and a Presidential race could all be improved.
They are all good reasons.
But there are other teams in contention too.
And I will get to them all!
If you liked this then go ahead and read the entries for the other teams.
Tomorrow, the White Sox will continue to try and turn their season around and limp back into contention.
And the starting pitcher will be Mark Buehrle. Chances are Paul Konerko will be in the lineup, either at first base or as the designated hitter.
They have been a tandem for so long that it is truly worth a long salute here.
People talk about the great combination of teammates that Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera made for all of those seasons in New York.
And Buehrle and Konerko have not been together for as long as they have been nor have the success. But for a franchise best remembered over the decades for throwing a World Series instead of winning them, Buehrle and Konerko have seen a lot of winning. They contributed big time to the only World Series appearance in Chicago in more than half a century and the only Chicago title in 94 years.
Konerko was a product of the Dodgers organization and was later dealt to Cincinnati. He came over to the White Sox in a deal for Mike Cameron before the 1999 season. That was his third year in the big leagues and his third big league team. It is safe to say he found stability on the South Side of Chicago.
He cracked 24 homers his first year with the White Sox and posted an .862 OPS.
In 2000 he remained a solid hitter (.298 AVG, .844 OPS) was worth 21 homers, 97 RBI and a 111 OPS+. And the White Sox were back in the post season.
And in no small point for this post, he was joined that year by Buehrle. While Konerko was a first round pick and coveted prospect, Buehrle was picked 38th.
Not 38th overall. In the 38th round. He was the 1,139th pick overall. Right before him, the Pirates picked Shaun Skrehot. The infielder played 9 seasons and made it to AA Nashville and Indianapolis.
The pick after him has thrown 12 seasons in the majors.
The 2000 White Sox had the best record in the American League but were swept out of the playoffs by Alex Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners.
It has been a while since A-Rod has been a Mariner. But that whole time, these two players have represented the White Sox with clutch play and class.
While Konerko played behind the massive shadow of Frank Thomas, he put up solid if not spectacular numbers. In many ways, his career resembled his one time teammate and current coach Harold Baines. His stats may not have been elite but they were good enough to make 5 All Star teams and twice be a top ten finisher in the MVP vote. And play nearly every season injury free. He is on pace to play 150+ games again this year, which would be the 8th time he would pass that mark in 13 seasons.
And of course he came up big time for the 2005 White Sox, unquestionably the greatest Chicago baseball team since the First World War.
His home run off of Tim Wakefield helped sink the Red Sox hopes to repeat as World Series champions. His 2 homers, 7 RBI and .937 OPS crushed the Angels in the ALCS and earned him MVP honors as the White Sox won the pennant.
And finally his mammoth grand slam in Game 2 of the World Series turned the game around and helped set up the White Sox win.
The starter of that game? That would be Mark Buehrle.
Since 2000, Buehrly became one of the most reliable and durable starting pitchers in all of baseball. He recorded 200+ innings every year from 2001 to 2010 (and is on pace to do so again this year.) He had made 2 All Star teams by 2005 and finished 5th in the Cy Young vote that year.
In the 2005 playoffs, he won Game 2 of the Division Series against Boston and threw a complete game to win Game 2 of the ALCS.
He started Game 3 of the World Series and got a no decision. But when Game 3 went to the 14th and manager Ozzie Guillen had burned through his bullpen, he turned to Buehrle to protect a 7-5 lead. He earned the save, to date his only one in the majors. He joined Grover Cleveland Alexander as the only person to start and then save consecutive World Series games.
The next day the White Sox won the World Series for the first time since 1917.
After the title, Konerko was offered more money to go to the Angels or the Orioles but stayed in Chicago. He responded with three more All Star selections, a fifth place finish in the 2010 MVP vote and 2 homers in the 2008 Division Series against Tampa Bay.
He represented the White Sox in the 2010 and 2011 All Star Game.
Buehrle continued to be a steady and sometimes dominant starter. He was named to two more All Star teams and won the last two Golden Glove awards.
In 2007, he threw a no hitter against the Rangers. In 2009 he did that one better by throwing a perfect game against the Rays. He would retire a record 49 consecutive batters that year, breaking the record held by his teammate Bobby Jenks.
And there was something kind of bad ass about Buehrle, an avid animal lover, wishing ill to Michael Vick.
Not saying I condone wishing harm on others, but it is cool how he never gave a damn what anyone thought.
The two are still solid players and performers after 12 seasons as teammates. They won't be going to the Hall of Fame. Yet if anyone deserves to have a lifetime of standing ovations and love from White Sox fans, it would this duo of classy solid and champion players.
They don't get the press that players on the Yankees, Red Sox or even the Cubs would get. But when you put more than a decade into the same team, bring a championship, multiple playoff berths and class to a franchise that needed turning around, then you have earned our salute.
I picked the White Sox at the beginning of the season, yet here they are as a sub .500 team after the All Star Break.
They have fallen to third place and there are some rumblings that they might be trading some of their expensive pieces (possibly Edwin Jackson whose shutout yesterday made his value go up.)
So all is lost in the South Side, right?
Not so fast.
They are trailing the Tigers and the first place Indians. They beat the Tigers at home each of the last 2 games and are off to a quick 3-0 lead today.
And the Indians are up and down and can fall into a slump at any time. The White Sox can hit... They have a bunch of arms in their bullpen.
And there is talent in their rotation. Philip Humber, Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, Jake Peavy and John Danks all have talent. They just haven't as a group pitched to their ability. (The depth of their starting staff is what made me pick them back in March.)
Let's say the starting staff has a solid August and September. Let's say the Indians come back to Earth (they can't play the Orioles EVERY weekend) and the Tigers return to the pack.
None of those scenarios are outlandish.
Guess what? Even sub .500... even with the disappointing pitching staff... The White Sox are only 4 back in the standings and 5 back of the Indians in the loss column.
In 2 and a half months, they can make up some ground.
Don't be fooled with the .489 winning percentage. They are contending.
Mothers Day 2011 looks like it is going to be an intense day of sports. Now how can everything fall into place and make me feel like it was a perfect sports day?
Here's what needs to happen:
THE RED SOX NEED TO BEAT THE TWINS... Edge closer to .500
THE RANGERS NEED TO BEAT THE YANKEES... Have the Red Sox inch closer to first place. THE INDIANS TO WIN IN EXTRA INNINGS... The Indians continuing their surprising run will help keep the upcoming Sully Baseball video relevant, but I like seeing my pre season Cy Young pick Dan Haren do well. THE GIANTS NEED TO WIN IN WALK OFF STYLE It seems to be the only way they know how to. THE PIRATES NEED TO BEAT THE ASTROS But I can't disclose why or I will jinx it THE CARDINALS NEED TO LOSE Again, I can't spill the beans why. No Pirate fan will let me say it out loud. MARK BUEHRLE NEEDS TO THROW HIS THIRD NO HITTER He's due.
MY SAN JOSE SHARKS NEED TO WIN AND ADVANCE TO THE CONFERENCE FINALS I want a Bruins - Sharks Cup final! THE HAWKS NEED TO TIE THE SERIES WITH A WIN When I care about neither team, I wat 7 games. THE LAKERS NEED TO LOSE AND GET SWEPT And maybe that will end the Kobe/Michael comparisons.
The new golden age of pitching is upon us... and no hitters (and near no hitters) seem to be a weekly occurrence.
With Matt Garza's no hitter the other evening, the Rays have the most recent no hitter in baseball. Let's take a look at each franchise's most recent no hitter and see who has been waiting the longest.
Of course I am eliminating the Padres and the Mets from the discussion as they have yet to see their first (get on that, Oliver Perez!)
And I am not including the Armando Galaragga perfect game because officially, it wasn't. (F--- you Jim Joyce... yeah I know he was classy afterwards but still.)
THE MOST RECENT NO HITTERS FOR EACH FRANCHISE
TAMPA PAY RAYS Matt Garza - July 26th, 2010 5-0 over Detroit.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Edwin Jackson - June 25, 2010 1-0 over Tampa Bay
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES Roy Halladay - May 29, 2010 1-0 over Florida. (Perfect Game)
OAKLAND A'S Dallas Braden - May 9, 2010 4-0 over Tampa Bay. (Perfect Game.)
COLORADO ROCKIES Ubaldo Jimenez - April 17, 2010 4-0 over Atlanta.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX Mark Buehrle - July 23, 2009 5-0 over Tampa Bay. (Perfect Game.)
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Jonathan Sanchez - July 10, 2009. 8-0 over San Diego.
CHICAGO CUBS Carlos Zambrano - September 14, 2008. 5-0 over Houston.
BOSTON RED SOX Jon Lester - May 19, 2008. 7-0 over Kansas City.
DETROIT TIGERS Justin Verlander - June 12, 2007. 4-0 over Milwaukee.
FLORIDA MARLINS Anibal Sanchez - September 6, 2006. 2-0 over Arizona.
HOUSTON ASTROS Roy Oswalt, Peter Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner - June 11, 2003. 8-0 over New York Yankees.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS Bud Smith - September 3, 2001 4-0 over San Diego.
MINNESOTA TWINS Eric Milton - September 11, 1999 7-0 over Anaheim.
NEW YORK YANKEES David Cone - July 18, 1999. 6-0 over Montreal. (Perfect Game.)
PITTSBURGH PIRATES Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon - July 12, 1997. 3-0 over Houston. (10 innings.)
LOS ANGELES DODGERS Hideo Nomo - September 17, 1996. 9-0 over Colorado.
TEXAS RANGERS Kenny Rogers - July 28, 1994. 4-0 over California. (Perfect Game.)
ATLANTA BRAVES Kent Mercker - April 8, 1994. 6-0 over Los Angeles.
SEATTLE MARINERS Chris Bosio - April 22, 1993. 2-0 over Boston.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS Bret Saberhagen - August 26, 1991 7-0 over Chicago White Sox.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS (AS MONTREAL EXPOS) Dennis Martinez - July 28, 1991. 2-0 over Los Angeles. (Perfect Game.)
BALTIMORE ORIOLES Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson and Gregg Olson - July 13, 1991. 2-0 over Oakland.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS Dave Steib - September 2, 1990. 3-0 over Cleveland.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (AS CALIFORNIA ANGELS) Mark Langston and Mike Witt - April 11, 1990. 1-0 over Seattle.
CINCINNATI REDS Tom Browning - September 16, 1988. 1-0 over Los Angeles. (Perfect Game.)
MILWAUKEE BREWERS Juan Nieves - April 15, 1987. 7-0 over Baltimore.
CLEVELAND INDIANS Len Barker - May 15, 1981. 3-0 over Toronto. (Perfect Game.)
Bonus WASHINGTON SENATORS Bobby Burke - August 8, 1931 5-0 over Boston.
It's been too long for the Reds, Brewers and Indians who went all of the 1990s and 2000s without one.
And the Orioles, Astros and Pirates better get one soon. Those combined no hitters are a mess for a list like this.
And who would have thought with Smoltz, Maddux and Glavine on the Braves all of those years the most recent no hitter would have been Kent Mercker?
I threw in Bobby Burke's no hitter as well... the last one for the city of Washington.
So let's get on it pitchers... I want this list to be obsolete!
(Yeah, I know Sandy Koufax wasn't the most recent no hitter... but I like that picture. It's my blog. Sue me.)
