The Sox Should Re-Evaluate The Buehrle Situation

At this point I don't think there's anything that's going to change the mind of Ken Williams. Mark Buehrle is gone. It sucks, I don't like it, but there's nothing I can do.

But the worst part is it doesn't have to happen.

The White Sox have a policy not to sign pitchers to deals longer than three years due to injury concerns. In most cases, it's a smart stance to take.

The problem is, I don't think it should apply to Buehrle.

Quick, how much time has Mark Buehrle spent on the disabled list since he began his career with the White Sox in 2000?

The answer is none.

There's no reason to believe he will, either. You see, that three-year policy is effective when it comes to the power pitchers. Those guys put so much stress on their arms from throwing so hard that they have a lot more arm problems.

Buehrle is not that kind of pitcher. Far from it. He's the real estate pitcher - everything he does is all about location, location, location. Same as Tom Glavine, Kenny Rogers, and Jamie Moyer.

What do those other lefties have in common?

They're all pitching into their 40's, and they're pitching well.

Buehrle is going to be the same kind of guy if he wants. So signing him to a 5-year deal is not going to bite the Sox in the ass.

The fact is, at only 28-years old, Mark could still have 14 years left in him, and the Sox want to get rid of him because he'll be 33 by the time the 5-year deal he wants would be done.

Nevermind the fact that trading one of the most popular players on the current team is bound to affect ticket sales. The White Sox just started to gain popularity in this city again, and now they're about to shoot themselves in the foot.

Unfortunately, Ken Williams has already made up his mind, and nothing anybody says is going to change it. Mark Buehrle is scheduled to make his next start on Wednesday.

Don't be shocked when it's in a Red Sox uniform.

All we have left to hold onto is the hope the Red Sox don't sign him to an extension right away, and that Kenny wakes up this offseason and brings Mark back home.

(UPDATE: Jesus, I hate when this happens. It's rare, but it happens. After posting this blog this morning - I wrote it last night - I go looking through the papers for other stories of interest and what do you know? Mariotti wrote the same fucking thing. I feel so....dirty.)