Our STL player of the week is the veteran hurler Mark
Buehrle. Mark is a World Series champion and he is having a very good 2014
season. Technically he is not from STL but from nearby St. Charles. This would
be San Carlos for our readers in CA. Any who St. Charles is a nice city to visit,
as this was our first state capital and still retains many of the colonial
French homes and other buildings in their historic downtown. Mark Alan Buehrle
was born March 23, 1979. He grew up a huge Cardinals fan and attended Francis
Howell North H.S where he was cut from his school’s baseball team his sophomore
year. What? I wonder if he ever goes back and sticks his tongue out at ‘em.
Following graduation he attend Jefferson Community College in Hillsboro, MO.
Jeff CO as it is called, as always been a very good baseball school. The Chicago White Sox eventually chose Mark
in the 38th round of the 1998 draft. Mark started with Single-A Burlington Bees
and had a record of 7-4 with an ERA of 4.10; in 2000 he was 8-4 with a 2.28 ERA
with Double-A Birmingham Barons. As a result of this season he was named the
Southern League’s Most Outstanding Pitcher.
Mark made his major league with the big club on July 16,2000
as a relief pitcher. He threw one inning against the Brewers and gave up one
run. Mark joined the Sox rotation the following year going 16-8 with a 3.29 ERA.
He threw three complete games and a one hitter against the Angels of wherever.
Over the next five years he became one of the most consistent starters in
baseball. In 2005 he would be named an American League All-Star and was the
starting pitcher in the All-Star game after Roy Halladay couldn’t make the
start. In the AS game he threw two innings, struck out three, and allowed no
runs, which earned him the victory. The White Sox in 2005 would go one to win
the World Series and during their post-season run Mark would pitch a complete
game in the ACLS and a no decision in Game 2 of the World Series and his first career
save in Game 3.
He would have his first losing season in 2006 and would
throw a no-hitter against the Rangers on April 18, 2007. In 2009 he was chosen
to represent the White Sox in the ASG where he threw a perfect third inning.
Still in 2009 he would throw a perfect game on July 23, 2009 against the Rays.
In 2010 he would win his second Gold Glove being the only pitcher in MLB history
to throw multiple no hitters and win multiple Gold Gloves. On December 7, 2011
Mark signed a four-year deal with the Miami Marlins where he went 13-13 with a
3.74 ERA and 125 Ks in 2012. However, this would be his only season with the
Fish as he was part of blockbuster trade to the Jays on November 19,2012. Along
with Mark the Jays got Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, and Emilio Bonifacio. In
return the Fish got among others Adeiny Hechavarria and Yunel Escobar. In 2013
he had a record of 12-10, had an ERA of 4.15, and 139 Ks. It looks like his
2014 will be even better as he carries a record of 8 and 1 in 10 games, 2.16
ERA, 40 Ks, and 18 walks, with only two homes runs given up.
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