ERA's lower with Burke behind the plate

[IlliniKrush]

Take what you want from this:

 

By Bob Foltman

Tribune staff reporter

 

July 16, 2004, 10:11 PM CDT

 

 

OAKLAND -- When the White Sox acquired Freddy Garcia, they paid a big price in catcher Miguel Olivo. But while Olivo may become a star, the Sox have gotten along nicely with Jamie Burke settling into the mix along with veteran Sandy Alomar.

 

In fact, Sox pitchers have a lower ERA with Burke catching than with Alomar, Olivo or Ben Davis behind the plate.

 

Coming into play Friday, Burke had caught 821/3 innings this season and Sox pitchers had a 4.15 ERA. With Olivo, the ERA was 4.62 in 366 innings, and it's 4.56 in 289 innings with Alomar. Davis has caught just 18 innings since coming over with Garcia.

 

Burke was behind the plate Friday night, catching Mark Buehrle. Normally, Alomar catches Buehrle, but Burke has found a connection with the left-hander as well.

 

Friday was the sixth time this season Burke has caught Buehrle. With Burke behind the plate, Buehrle has a 3.65 ERA in the previous five games, better than the 4.03 ERA Buehrle has overall.

 

Those numbers will go up some as Oakland scored four runs in six innings against Buehrle on Friday.

 

"I think he knows I have an idea what I'm doing," Burke said of Buehrle. "I study the hitters and I know what's working for him."

 

Buehrle seldom if ever shook off an Alomar sign, and Burke said Buehrle has shaken him off only once or twice a game.

 

"I think the reason why he doesn't shake much is because I try to go to his strengths," Burke said. "I tell him that if he makes his pitches, he'll get the hitters out every time."

[winninguglyin83]

Why is Ben Davis on the team?

 

shouldn't he be in Charlott getting some At bats?