Guillen leaves no doubt, names Buehrle Opening Day starter
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Before taking the mound for the first workout of spring training at Camelback Ranch Sunday morning, Mark Buehrle was gushing about starting rotation mate Jake Peavy.
"The guy goes out there and dominates every time," Buehrle said. "He's obviously going to have his bad starts, but it's almost guaranteed he's going to have 8-10 strikeouts every time. He's got everything."
One thing Peavy doesn't have? The nod to start the White Sox' April 5 season opener against the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field.
While he usually waits a few weeks into spring training before making the announcement, Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said Buehrle is going to get the ball in the first game.
"I think Mark earned that spot, the respect and love we have for him," Guillen said. "No. 2 is going to be Peavy, and the rest we haven't decided yet."
Buehrle is currently tied with Billy Pierce for the most Opening Day starts (7) in franchise history.
Peavy, among many others, is happy the workhorse left-hander is going to get the record this year.
"I was hoping that would be the case and I'm glad that's going to be the case," said Peavy, who started Opening Day for the San Diego Padres the past four seasons. "Mark is very deserving of that and he's owed that."
After Buehrle and Peavy, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Freddy Garcia are likely to follow.
"I don't really think it matters because we're going to be throwing a No. 1 at you a lot of nights," said Peavy, who joined the White Sox in a July 31 trade. "We're capable of doing some good things."
As the season approaches, the Sox are viewed as a legitimate contender largely due to their starting rotation.
Buehrle stumbled (2-7, 4.78 ERA) after throwing the 18th perfect game in major-league history last July, but he's the only pitcher in baseball to record at least 10 wins, 30 starts and 200 innings in each of the last nine seasons.
Since 2003, Peavy ranks third among major-league pitchers in strikeouts (1,276), fifth in ERA (3.17) and sixth in opponents' average (.227).
Danks won 13 games last season while ranking 10th in the AL with a 3.77 ERA. Floyd has won 28 games over the past two years and Garcia has 94 wins since 2001.
"I feel as good about our starting rotation as I've felt coming into a spring training," said Kenny Williams, who is in his 10th season as White Sox general manager.
The Sox' offense is loaded with question marks, but Guillen is confident the starting five can pick up as much slack as necessary.
"I've got five guys I don't have to worry about," Guillen said. "To me, on paper, I say we don't have the best, but we'll compete. Anytime we go to the mound, we've got a shot to win. And that's the best feeling."
This season's rotation is already drawing comparisons to the 2005 unit that featured Buehrle, Garcia, Jose Contreras, Jon Garland and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez.
Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is not so sure about that.
"I think we have some guys that are proven, guys that have been through it, guys that have been to the playoffs, guys that have been to the World Series, guys that have done it all," Pierzynski said. "It's definitely something positive, but 2005 is actually still the best staff that I can remember just because we won everything and they carried us through. If they come close to matching that, they'll be right in there with them."
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