I was fortunate enough to be in the stands at U.S. Cellular Field on April 18, 2007. I never thought I'd see Mark Buehrle pitch a better game than he did that night.
Buehrle no-hit the Texas Rangers on that date. He struck out eight and faced the minimum 27 batters in a 6-0 win. He walked Sammy Sosa, and promptly picked the steroid-using slugger off first base.
But Thursday's performance was even better: 27 up, 27 down against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 5-0 victory. Buehrle struck out six in pitching the 18th perfect game in the history of Major League Baseball and the second perfect game in the history of the White Sox. It was the 17th no-hitter in White Sox history.
It's always amazing when a guy throws a perfect game, but the Rays are a tough team to do it against. Tampa Bay's lineup is full of speed. There's a lot of spray hitters in that lineup, guys like Carl Crawford and Jason Bartlett. Players like that are tough outs because they get a lot of infield hits.
But when you look at this game, there was really only one outstanding defensive play required, and that came in the ninth inning. DeWayne Wise leaped over the fence to rob Gabe Kapler of a home run. Wise bobbled the ball as he came down, but he hung on. At that moment, you knew it was in the cards for Buehrle to close the deal. Other than that one play, this was domination.
And, oh yeah, Eric Cooper was behind the plate. He was also behind the plate on 4/18/07. Cooper is a pitcher's umpire, and that doesn't hurt. He calls the inside strike, and when Buehrle gets the inside strike, that makes his change away more effective.
This game was just a pitching clinic. Anyone who likes pitching should try to watch a replay of this game. Simply awesome.
UPDATE: Two other interesting coincidences: 1) Both of Buehrle's no-hitters featured a grand slam. Jermaine Dye hit one off Kevin Millwood on 4/18/07. Josh Fields went deep off Scott Kazmir this afternoon. 2) Both games took exactly two hours and three minutes.
This was the third time in Buehrle's career he faced the minimum 27 batters. The two no-hitters, and a 14-0 win over Cleveland on 7/21/04.
Couple of things:
1) Great job by the Sun-Times in capturing the moment on both front and back page. Front page with Buherle with a nice title ,and Wise in the back page. The Sun-Times do a great job of covering big events concerning Chicago sports teams.
2) Props to the Rays for applauding what Buherle. You rarely ever seen an opposition cheer on this moment. It'a a credit to how Joe Maddon has raised his players with his infectious personality. I gained a lot of respect for them because it couldn't have been easy to do that. I am not a fan of fratenrization with the enemy in sports, and I often think this is all show and all, but I felt this applause was from the heart,.
How about Props to *Buehrle? Who, ya know, actually hurled a perfect game...
The fact I even took the time to comment about this should be good enough. It's not my role to praise someone that plays or coach for Chicago sports. I am not even a Chicago sports fan so go get a clue.
Last I check this is a forum for CHICAGO SPORTS FANS. I only come to post just to call out people who are homerish, which this blog is all about, and I come in to set things straight not to troll.
I liken myself to Jay Mariotti, who is the best columnist Chicago ever had. Like myself, Mariotti have the courage to speak out on Chicago sports while the sportswriters at the Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune are too homerish when it comes to Chicago sports teams. I thrive on that role of defining what goes on in Chicago sports, and that's why I post here to set things straight. There have been too much entries on this site that defines homerism here to the point it makes me wretch.
I could have went out there and ignore it. Maybe you should have posted something about it or HEATHERFROMCHICAGO if it was that good or readers that allegedly read this blog (according to HEATHERFROMCHICAGO, the people at the newsroom of this community paper laugh at me)
ROTFLMAO.
Timberwolf see's logic like Kirby Puckett saw out of his right eye
So the Chicago newspapers write a front page on Buherle's allegedly perfect game. Last I check, didn't he lost the game last night? This proves my point Chicago newspapers have zero journalistic standards. Does any newspaper in town focuses on a pitcher that was perfect halfway? I guess there is nothing to see when it comes to Chicago newspapers. This is the same newspapers that actually made a big deal about Da Cubs in first place on Monday so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Buehrle set a Major League Baseball record by retiring 45 consecutive hitters. That's news. They reported it.
What does that matter? Did they win? No. End of story.
Even NY newspapers don't go that far, and they hype their sports teams as if it's their best team ever.
Who cares if the White Sox lost? The White Sox have lost 50 ballgames already this season. Before the year is over, they'll probably lose 30-35 more. Whoop-dee-doo. The Sox losing is not a big story. That happens three or four times a week.
No pitcher in the history of baseball has EVER retired 45 consecutive batters. That's a terrific accomplishment. It's something we may never see again. It was history, and it was big news.
Are you so stupid that you can't see the uniqueness of the story? If you can't, you're not a very good journalist. Even the Minnesota fans gave Buehrle a standing ovation last night. Even they recognized the accomplishment.
You really seriously think Minnesota sports fans gave Buherle a standing ovation? DId you read what Frater was saying in the post-game thread last night? He was at the game, and there is no reason for me to think he is lying. That was nothing more than a scarcastic reply. Also, keep in mind White Sox fans always outnumber Twins fans at the Metrodome.
I get the uniqueness part, but I don't focus on what could have been. I focus on who wins or who loses. If a softball pitcher or a baseball pitcher is throwing several more perfect innings yet loses the game, I ain't writing that. I don't care if it's little league or high school. Maybe I have strict standards when it comes to storyline.
When I write op-ed columns on baseball for sites, I focus on who wins or loses. I am not the type that focuses on feel-good stories. This is not Little League.
If that's the journalist approach in the country, it's no wonder why newspapers are dying.
I'd like to thank Timberwolf for proving my point
Why don't you go contribute something at Jay the Joke, whitesox901?
The front-page photo on the Tribune sports section today is of Buehrle tipping his cap to the applauding Minnesota fans. The same photo ran in today's Beacon News.
There are 162 games in a baseball season. You have to find angles beyond the winning and losing. That's what the best baseball beat reporters in the country do.
You should have left this one alone, whitesox901. For you to go take a shot at me for contributing something was uncalled for. I did not go rip Buherle for my first post so to go take a shot at me just shows you what a lowlife you are.
Why don't you go contribute something at Jay the Joke? I showed you that site last month, and I was hoping to see you at that site. I am disappointed you have not shown up there.
Every time you send me that link you want me to go on there and talk shit about you. Who does that? lol
Keep it clean, please, whitesox901. I've already used the word "pussy" on the blog a couple times today, and that might put me on thin ice. :)
Jason, When do I ever use profanity on here? :D
whitesox901: I have a history over there. I used to troll there. Just mention the word "CPK" and you will fit right there.