Buehrle says he won't win 300

[Linnwood]

Buehrle says he won't win 300

08/04/2007 8:32 PM ET

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

 

DETROIT -- Mark Buehrle won't win 300 games during the course of his stellar career. And it's not that the southpaw lacks a realistic chance to hit such an incredible mound milestone.

Although he doesn't feature a 98-mph fastball to overpower opposing hitters, Buehrle's victory on Friday night over Detroit gave him a 102-71 record in his seventh full season as a starter (106-72 overall). Tom Glavine, who needs to beat the Cubs on Sunday night at Wrigley Field to become the 23rd pitcher in baseball history to turn 300, carried a 106-71 ledger at the end of his seventh season as a full-time member of the rotation.

 

So, why not Buehrle reaching this incredible plateau somewhere around 2019 or 2020? The answer is very simple, according to the new father, he is a player who has no intention of sticking around the game 21 years like the Mets left-hander.

 

"First off, I would be fortunate for someone to want me to still have a chance to be around for 14 more years," said Buehrle, talking about the possibility of making history. "But I really don't think I would even want to play that long, especially with the baby. I'm already missing her just being away for a week or two at a time.

 

"I can almost guarantee, unless some miracle happens where I win 50 starts a year, I don't see me doing it. Unless I start pitching every two or three days and getting every win, that's about the only way I would get to 300 wins."

 

Some pundits have surmised that Glavine's achievement could be the last of its kind, even with Randy Johnson and his balky back sitting at 284 victories. Others believe young talents such as Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia (95 wins over seven years as a starter) or Minnesota's Johan Santana (89 wins over six years as a starter) have the staying power to reach this elite level.

 

Buehrle feels another 300-game winner eventually will emerge, and it's a far more obtainable target in his mind than Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hit streak or the consecutive games played by Cal Ripken Jr. But Buehrle also pointed out how difficult it really is for a starting pitcher to pick up a victory, even on a night when all his pitches are working at their best.

 

"There's so much stuff that has to happen for you to win," Buehrle said. "You have to work deep in games, your offense has to score, your bullpen has to help you. That's why it's so tough to be a 20-game winner.

 

"You see guys now like Sabathia and [Josh] Beckett. Those guys had 12 or 13 wins and then they give up one or two runs in their next two starts and got two losses in a row. So, you have to get run support every game you are out there or not get matched up against another team where their ace is going.

 

"But unless a miracle happens, it ain't going to be Mark Buehrle. I won't be around that long," Buehrle added. "I'll shoot for possibly 200 but that might be a stretch."

 

Notes: Buehrle says he won't win 300

 

[briguy27]

There goes my long shot.

[claydude14]

Just Buehrle being Buehrle- realistic.

[WilliamTell]

I don't think he'll reach it either. There's a chance, but it's probably pretty slim.

[Dogfood22]

It all really depends on whether or not he takes up gambling. If he does that, he's a shoe-in to pitch past 40 and win 300.

[RME JICO]

The interesting thing about Glavine is that he won 20 games 3 times before turning 28, then only won 20 twice after that. Based on age, Buehrle is actually slightly ahead of Glavine at this point in his career with no 20 win seasons. He would need to average 14.5 wins a year until age 41 (13 seasons). If he gets a couple of 20 win seasons or even a couple of 18 win seasons, he would have a shot. It just sounds like he does not plan on pitching beyond 35 with the comments about even winning 200.

 

A better article would have been "Contreras says he won't win 100".

Edited August 5, 2007 by RME JICO

[SkokieSox]

Does this put a damper in the Sox 20 year plan?

[DrunkBomber]

I think its going to be hard for him to get anything higher that 12-13 wins a year in the upcoming seasons. Unless we go nuts in free agency.

[Gregory Pratt]

Buehrle's going to significantly decline over time, IMO, when he starts to lose a little velocity -- like last year. Not necessarily soon, but I have doubts about his staying power with his current arsenal.

 

I do hope he believes he'll win much more than 200.

[Milkman delivers]

I love Mark Buehrle.

[shoota]

The interesting thing about Glavine is that he won 20 games 3 times before turning 28, then only won 20 twice after that. Based on age, Buehrle is actually slightly ahead of Glavine at this point in his career with no 20 win seasons. He would need to average 14.5 wins a year until age 41 (13 seasons). If he gets a couple of 20 win seasons or even a couple of 18 win seasons, he would have a shot. It just sounds like he does not plan on pitching beyond 35 with the comments about even winning 200.

 

A better article would have been "Contreras says he won't win 100".

 

[kwolf68]

 

In this day and age, it is very unlikely what with all the relief specialists taking opportunities away from starters. I think the new benchmark for pitchers may become 250. Can Buehrle get that? Maybe...depends. I definately like him for 200.

[BearSox]

he says that now, but I'll believe it when I see it.

[Rowand44]

He shall win 500.

[BearSox]

He shall win 500.

You mean Gavin Floyd, right?

[Rowand44]

You mean Gavin Floyd, right?

Gavin should be so lucky. I only see about 430 out of him.

[southsider2k5]

Buehrle doesn't have the ego to win 300. He will retire when he feels like he has played long enough and made enough money. He's not the kind of guy who is going to look at a big round number as something that defines his life. He'll walk away long before he gets to 300, and never look back.

[Balta1701]

Buehrle doesn't have the ego to win 300. He will retire when he feels like he has played long enough and made enough money. He's not the kind of guy who is going to look at a big round number as something that defines his life. He'll walk away long before he gets to 300, and never look back.

But he also seems like he has so much fun playing the game too. If his body holds up, might he just keep doing it because he likes it? Think about Maddux, what else does he have to prove or to earn? He could have retired 3 years a go a guaranteed HOF with loaded bank accounts, but it sure seems like he enjoys getting his butt out on the mound.

[southsider2k5]

But he also seems like he has so much fun playing the game too. If his body holds up, might he just keep doing it because he likes it? Think about Maddux, what else does he have to prove or to earn? He could have retired 3 years a go a guaranteed HOF with loaded bank accounts, but it sure seems like he enjoys getting his butt out on the mound.

 

I've never really paid attention to Maddux, or his attitude on life, but to me Mark doesn't need baseball to be happy. He would be just as happy with his family or in a deerstand, as he is on the mound.

[DrunkBomber]

But he also seems like he has so much fun playing the game too. If his body holds up, might he just keep doing it because he likes it? Think about Maddux, what else does he have to prove or to earn? He could have retired 3 years a go a guaranteed HOF with loaded bank accounts, but it sure seems like he enjoys getting his butt out on the mound.

Maddux just likes pissing on rookies in the shower and anywhere else you do that youre looking at a lawsuit

[WCSox]

Buehrle's going to significantly decline over time, IMO, when he starts to lose a little velocity -- like last year. Not necessarily soon, but I have doubts about his staying power with his current arsenal.

 

I agree with that. Mark's upper 80's fastball is already borderline and he just may lose a few mph once he hits his mid-30's. Then again, as has been posted earlier, I don't think that he's interested in pitching into his 40's.

 

I'm just glad that we've had Mark in his prime. He's a great example of how much heart can make up for limited raw talent and, dare I say, somewhat of an inspirational figure.

 

[southsideirish71]

Buehrle's going to significantly decline over time, IMO, when he starts to lose a little velocity -- like last year. Not necessarily soon, but I have doubts about his staying power with his current arsenal.

 

I do hope he believes he'll win much more than 200.

 

I disagree with this. Marks issue late last year was not his velocity, it was more of command of his pitches. His velocity was the same in the first part of the season where he pitched decent. His command went south and he started to leave balls up. For Mark Buerhle to be successful, he needs to pound righties in with his cutter, and then go away. The cutter keeps the right handers honest about diving over the plate to hit the change and curve. When Mark cannot command his cutter, he has a problem.

 

 

If he can keep his command, his velocity will be fine, and he will be an effective pitcher.

[Hideaway Lights]

Buehrle won't win 300, but he will win 250, and be a shoo-in for the hall of fame because by then 250 will be the new 300. It would only take 10 more years of winning 14 games a year (after 2007) to get there.

 

Nobody (outside of maybe one or two statistical outliers every 50 years or so) will ever win 300 again, IMO.

[WCSox]

Buehrle won't win 300, but he will win 250, and be a shoo-in for the hall of fame because by then 250 will be the new 300. It would only take 10 more years of winning 14 games a year (after 2007) to get there.

 

Mark is no lock for the HOF. In fact, I think that he'll have a very tough time getting in, as he's never been a dominant pitcher (e.g., a serious Cy Young candidate). Pitchers who don't dominate at one point or another had better have a very long career and close to 300 wins for serious HOF consideration.

 

[Marky Mark]

Yes I agree, as good of a pitcher as he has been for us, he would have to become an even better pitcher and stay that way to become a HOFer. He is viewed by other teams as a good pitcher but not a great one. When he is on top of his game he still is not quite that close to how Santana, Clemens, or Pedro are when they're on top of their games. He's more of a White Sox hall of famer than a MLB hall of famer.