Mark Buehrle throws to first in a July game. (Phil Velasquez/Tribune)
By Mark Gonzales
White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle capped his memorable 2009 season by earning his first American League Gold Glove Award for his fielding.
Buehrle, 30, led the AL with eight pickoffs and has picked off 67 base runners in his 10-year career with the Sox. During that same span, Buehrle has helped limit base stealers to a 42.1 percent success rate.
"It's weird to say, but I rank it just as high as the perfect game," Buehrle said during a conference call.
He becomes the first Sox player to win the award since third baseman Robin Ventura won his first Gold Glove award with the Sox in 1998.
Buehrle has gained a strong reputation around the league because of his
ability to field his position and succeed without an overpowering
fastball. Buehrle joins left-hander Jim Kaat (1974-75) as the only Sox pitchers to win Gold Glove awards.
Despite his fielding prowess, Buehrle has seen the likes of Kenny Rogers and Mike Mussina, whom each have since retired, win eight of the past nine AL Gold Glove Award for pitchers.
"I think you should have to earn it," said Buehrle, who assisted in five double plays and committed one error in 55 total chances.
Despite the Sox's second half slide, Buehrle was responsible for the zenith of the Sox's season - a perfect game against Tampa Bay on July 23 that vaulted the Sox into a tie for first place in the American League Central.
Buehrle found some amusement with pitching coach Don Cooper, who has jabbed Buehrle in the past about his spring training routine, over the award. Buehrle said he sent a text message to Cooper, who didn't believe the award and wanted proof.
"I told him I'd sent it to him," Buehrle said. "But he'd probably sell it."
The perfect game was the second no-hitter of Buehrle's career. It also was the first perfect game in the majors since Arizona's Randy Johnson accomplished the feat at Atlanta on May 18, 2004.
Buehrle's perfect game marked the last time the Sox owned a share of first place. Buehrle went on to set a major league record by retiring 45 consecutive batters over three starts that ended on a two-out walk to Alexi Casilla in the sixth inning at Minnesota on July 28.
Buehrle said he started an arm exercise program earlier this month and said he's been able to gradually intensify his workouts.
His workout program started just before the Sox acquired third baseman Mark Teahen from Kansas City in exchange for second baseman Chris Getz and infielder Josh Fields.
"I text (general manager) Kenny Williams and told him Teahen is going to get 10 or 15 fewer hits without getting to face me," quipped Buehrle, who has surrendered 24 hits in 53 career at-bats against Teahen (.453) with eight doubles and one home run.
Despite his fielding prowess, Buehrle has seen the likes of Kenny Rogers and Mike Mussina, whom each have since retired, win eight of the past nine AL Gold Glove Award for pitchers.
"I think you should have to earn it," said Buehrle, who assisted in five double plays and committed one error in 55 total chances.
Despite the Sox's second half slide, Buehrle was responsible for the zenith of the Sox's season - a perfect game against Tampa Bay on July 23 that vaulted the Sox into a tie for first place in the American League Central.
Buehrle found some amusement with pitching coach Don Cooper, who has jabbed Buehrle in the past about his spring training routine, over the award. Buehrle said he sent a text message to Cooper, who didn't believe the award and wanted proof.
"I told him I'd sent it to him," Buehrle said. "But he'd probably sell it."
The perfect game was the second no-hitter of Buehrle's career. It also was the first perfect game in the majors since Arizona's Randy Johnson accomplished the feat at Atlanta on May 18, 2004.
Buehrle's perfect game marked the last time the Sox owned a share of first place. Buehrle went on to set a major league record by retiring 45 consecutive batters over three starts that ended on a two-out walk to Alexi Casilla in the sixth inning at Minnesota on July 28.
Buehrle said he started an arm exercise program earlier this month and said he's been able to gradually intensify his workouts.
His workout program started just before the Sox acquired third baseman Mark Teahen from Kansas City in exchange for second baseman Chris Getz and infielder Josh Fields.
"I text (general manager) Kenny Williams and told him Teahen is going to get 10 or 15 fewer hits without getting to face me," quipped Buehrle, who has surrendered 24 hits in 53 career at-bats against Teahen (.453) with eight doubles and one home run.
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It's funny that you mentioned the Bears because the Cubs suck and cubs are baby bears and the Bears suck. LOLOLOLOLOL!!!! It's like a chip off the ol' block!!!! LOL!!!!
Could all the Cubs fans just go kill yourselves? Your cursing the Bears now...
All of you stupid Sox fans are congratulating this guy, well you know what!? This will be forgotten in a week, but the homerun race will never be forgotten. Was there a sox in that? No, it was Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire. It just proves that the National League is better.
did obama win the cy young?
Alls I gotta say is that Obama prefers the Sox, and if Obama likes the Sox so do I. OBAMA 4 LYFE!
I'd rather go to the circus than watch the Sox blow it, MJ
Takes one to know one MJ
look at the cub fans bashing. Hey cub fans your team won an award this year too. THE BEST CIRCUS IN TOWN.
You Cub fans are the idiots, Gonzalez was talking about his age when he said 30, not the number of pick-offs. He even went on to say he had 8 this season. So sad for the jealousy.
Tim B. San Antonio on November 10, 2009 4:53 PM
I'm a Cubs Fan and Mark Gonzalez, author of the story, is more than likely a Sox fan. 3o Pick-off's for Burhle for 2009? He only had 8. There goes another Sox fan trying to make the sox stats better than they really are. I did; however, enjoy his perfect game.
Try "Reading for Dummies". The first sentence said he was 30 years old and had 8 pickoffs. Are you saying sportswruters are not allowed to be sports fans? Stick to a Texas paper and leave your idiocy out of this one.
Way to go Buerhle. I was at his fit no-no and I seen his first career home run in Milwaukee. He's a class act. I love going to Buerhle games because they are almost always great games.
I'm a Cubs Fan and Mark Gonzalez, author of the story, is more than likely a Sox fan. 3o Pick-off's for Burhle for 2009? He only had 8. There goes another Sox fan trying to make the sox stats better than they really are. I did; however, enjoy his perfect game.
I'm a Cub fan but think Buerhle's the man -- I love great pitching and try to watch him as often as I can. I saw his win over Baltimore the start before his perfect game and it was just a joy to watch, he was outstanding that day as well. Great pitcher and a class act. The Sox are fortunate to have a guy like that wearing the uniform.
Buehrle had 30 (THIRTY) pick-offs this past season, nearly half of his 67 total in his 10-year career?
Anyway, he most certainly deserves it and should have won it sooner. I was fortunate to be at his Perfect Game. It is something I will remember the rest of my life, right there with the World Series championship!
Congrats, Mark!!
Couldn't have happened to a better pitcher/person. I am still excited about the NO HITTER!! I was at work when it happened and still have yet to see it in its entirety.
Congrats Buehrle!
Go White Sox!
Cuz he threw a perfect game the seaoson is considered memorable??? What garbage!!! There was nothing memorable outside of his first half, and that game. The second half for him couldnt have been worse. I'm not saying he doesnt deserve it. It just could have been written better.
Congrats Buerhle!
btw the Gold Glove Robin Ventura won in '98 was his last with the Sox, not his first. He won his first of 5 gold gloves in '91. My favorite player as a child!
Congrats!!!!!