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White Sox ready to raise flag and start title defense
White Sox ready to raise flag and start title defense
By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer
April 1, 2006
CHICAGO (AP) -- Mark Buehrle does belly flops on the tarp during rain delays, catches ceremonial first pitches and eagerly douses rookies with a beer shower after their first major league win.
Buehrle knows how to pitch and how to enjoy some of the sideshows and traditions that surround the game.
That's why Sunday night, when he makes his fifth straight opening day start for the Chicago White Sox, he'll be sure to soak up what could be a once-in-a-career celebration and then tend to business.
The White Sox will hoist the World Series championship flag over U.S. Cellular Field before facing the Cleveland Indians in the first game of the season.
"I'm able to control my emotions pretty good. But it's a little different situation this year," Buehrle said. "I know I'm going to be more pumped than I have been in a little while."
The White Sox waited a mere 88 years to win the World Series. Now a little more than five months after sweeping Houston, they'll be back on the field for a regular-season game.
Even though they rode in a victory parade through Chicago last October, the White Sox did most of their celebrating on the road. Chicago clinched all three of its playoff series wins -- over Boston, the Angels and Houston -- away from U.S. Cellular Field.
Now they'll put up a banner and reflect on the accomplishment in their own stadium.
"It's the finishing touch," Buehrle said.
Not quite, because on Tuesday the White Sox will officially receive their World Series rings in another ceremony.
Manager Ozzie Guillen gave his team a season-opening speech before an exhibition in Atlanta on Friday night because he knows what a whirlwind it will be starting Sunday.
"I think it's something so many people were looking forward to for so many years," Guillen said. "You know, I played for the White Sox for so many years and I think this can be the biggest opening day we've ever had in so long. I think when guys see that they're going to feel real, real special."
Guillen wants his players to enjoy the festivities and then get ready to play the Indians. Cleveland almost overtook Chicago late last season when a 15-game lead nearly evaporated before the White Sox held on to win the AL Central.
Beating teams in their division was a key for the White Sox in 2005. Chicago was 52-22 against the AL Central last season, including 14-5 versus the Indians. In one-run games, the White Sox were 9-0 against Cleveland.
"I think the most important thing will be when the flag comes out and we're World Champions," Guillen said. "It was nice for the people and for baseball. The next three days we're home, they're going to be tough ones. There's going to be a lot going on besides the baseball games. ...We have to be prepared for that and not get caught up in what's going on the field. We have a job to do and we've got to concentrate."
While the White Sox got in and then went on an 11-1 roll throughout the postseason, the Indians were agonizing on how the playoffs got away. They were the game's hottest team after July 30, but in the final week staggered home with one win in their final seven games and were swept in three games by the White Sox at Jacobs Field to end the season.
So after a 93-69 season, all they got was a trip home. That will make watching the White Sox's festivities a little hard to stomach.
"I was so disappointed, especially when I was watching the playoffs knowing that, man, that could have been us," said Indians lefty C.C. Sabathia, who will start Sunday night.
The Indians feature center fielder Grady Sizemore, who recently signed a six-year, $23.45 million contract. He is a budding star and a key to what the Indians hope to do this season. Guillen has called him the "best all-around player in the AL Central."
Buehrle's job Sunday, before an ESPN audience and a frenzied stadium, will be to keep Sizemore off base.
Buehrle, who has logged more than 220 innings and at least 32 starts in each of the last five seasons, got the opening day nod even though Jose Contreras was Chicago's best pitcher in the second half last season. Contreras, who got a three-year contract extension Saturday, was 11-2 after the break, 3-1 in the postseason and started Game 1 in all three postseason series.
"We've got five No. 1s," Buehrle said of Chicago's deep rotation.
"So for them to come down and honor and respect what I've done and the years I've been here, it's going to be one of the most important starts I've had."
^AP Sports Writers Tom Saladino in Atlanta and Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.
Updated on Saturday, Apr 1, 2006 2:14 pm EST
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i cant wait to start work!! i got a ton of new pants from express!! omg i'm so excited...better not rain out!
White Sox ready to raise flag and start title defense
By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer
April 1, 2006
CHICAGO (AP) -- Mark Buehrle does belly flops on the tarp during rain delays, catches ceremonial first pitches and eagerly douses rookies with a beer shower after their first major league win.
Buehrle knows how to pitch and how to enjoy some of the sideshows and traditions that surround the game.
That's why Sunday night, when he makes his fifth straight opening day start for the Chicago White Sox, he'll be sure to soak up what could be a once-in-a-career celebration and then tend to business.
The White Sox will hoist the World Series championship flag over U.S. Cellular Field before facing the Cleveland Indians in the first game of the season.
"I'm able to control my emotions pretty good. But it's a little different situation this year," Buehrle said. "I know I'm going to be more pumped than I have been in a little while."
The White Sox waited a mere 88 years to win the World Series. Now a little more than five months after sweeping Houston, they'll be back on the field for a regular-season game.
Even though they rode in a victory parade through Chicago last October, the White Sox did most of their celebrating on the road. Chicago clinched all three of its playoff series wins -- over Boston, the Angels and Houston -- away from U.S. Cellular Field.
Now they'll put up a banner and reflect on the accomplishment in their own stadium.
"It's the finishing touch," Buehrle said.
Not quite, because on Tuesday the White Sox will officially receive their World Series rings in another ceremony.
Manager Ozzie Guillen gave his team a season-opening speech before an exhibition in Atlanta on Friday night because he knows what a whirlwind it will be starting Sunday.
"I think it's something so many people were looking forward to for so many years," Guillen said. "You know, I played for the White Sox for so many years and I think this can be the biggest opening day we've ever had in so long. I think when guys see that they're going to feel real, real special."
Guillen wants his players to enjoy the festivities and then get ready to play the Indians. Cleveland almost overtook Chicago late last season when a 15-game lead nearly evaporated before the White Sox held on to win the AL Central.
Beating teams in their division was a key for the White Sox in 2005. Chicago was 52-22 against the AL Central last season, including 14-5 versus the Indians. In one-run games, the White Sox were 9-0 against Cleveland.
"I think the most important thing will be when the flag comes out and we're World Champions," Guillen said. "It was nice for the people and for baseball. The next three days we're home, they're going to be tough ones. There's going to be a lot going on besides the baseball games. ...We have to be prepared for that and not get caught up in what's going on the field. We have a job to do and we've got to concentrate."
While the White Sox got in and then went on an 11-1 roll throughout the postseason, the Indians were agonizing on how the playoffs got away. They were the game's hottest team after July 30, but in the final week staggered home with one win in their final seven games and were swept in three games by the White Sox at Jacobs Field to end the season.
So after a 93-69 season, all they got was a trip home. That will make watching the White Sox's festivities a little hard to stomach.
"I was so disappointed, especially when I was watching the playoffs knowing that, man, that could have been us," said Indians lefty C.C. Sabathia, who will start Sunday night.
The Indians feature center fielder Grady Sizemore, who recently signed a six-year, $23.45 million contract. He is a budding star and a key to what the Indians hope to do this season. Guillen has called him the "best all-around player in the AL Central."
Buehrle's job Sunday, before an ESPN audience and a frenzied stadium, will be to keep Sizemore off base.
Buehrle, who has logged more than 220 innings and at least 32 starts in each of the last five seasons, got the opening day nod even though Jose Contreras was Chicago's best pitcher in the second half last season. Contreras, who got a three-year contract extension Saturday, was 11-2 after the break, 3-1 in the postseason and started Game 1 in all three postseason series.
"We've got five No. 1s," Buehrle said of Chicago's deep rotation.
"So for them to come down and honor and respect what I've done and the years I've been here, it's going to be one of the most important starts I've had."
^AP Sports Writers Tom Saladino in Atlanta and Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.
Updated on Saturday, Apr 1, 2006 2:14 pm EST
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i cant wait to start work!! i got a ton of new pants from express!! omg i'm so excited...better not rain out!