QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 20, 2011 -> 09:49 PM)
For schnitz and griddles
Buehrle's FIRST start of the year (so not technically opening day, but I'm pretty sure his only non-opening day start was 2006)
2002 - 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K (W)
2003 - 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 K (L)
2004 - 6.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K (ND, Sox lost)
2005 - 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K (W)
2006 - 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K (rain-delay halfway through, hence the lack of innings...Sox won)
2007 - 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K (ND, Sox won)
2008 - 1.2 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 1 K (ND, Sox lost)
2009 - 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 K (ND, Sox won)
2010 - 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K (W)
Totals - 46.2 IP, 41 H, 19 R (18 ER), 14 BB, 21 K
Average - 5.1 IP, 4.5 H, 2 R, 1.6 BB, 2.3 K
Peripherals - 3.47 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, 4 K/9
I would say that the notion that Buehrle has been a bad opening day starter is way overblown. In fact, I would argue that, outside of 2 starts, he's been exceptional on Opening Day.
And of those two, he was hurt in one of them.