Buehrle Outduels Chen

Game Date: July 2, 2009
Chicago @ Kansas City
White Sox 4, Royals 1 / Box Score
WP: Buehrle (8-2), LP: Chen (0-2), SV: Jenks (19)
KC Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 33-45 / Record in July 0-2

I hate to see Mark Buehrle’s name on the probable starter list against Kansas City. He’s made a living against the Royals, winning his 20th game against us last night. He works fast naturally and that just makes our offense look even more inept at fast forward speed. Very few Royals stepped out against him and he had them reaching at pitcher’s pitches all night.

Bruce Chen wasn’t bad; he just wasn’t good enough. But I liked what I saw. I don’t know if he has enough speed variance between his fastball (which topped out around 89 mph) and his change up (somewhere between 76-80), but the White Sox took a lot of poor looking swings against his change, so it must have been enough.

I didn’t really understand the two base running errors by Willie Bloomquist and Mark Teahen—normally two good base runners. After the game Hillman said, “You gotta be able to check and pick up the ball when you're in motion like that.” So, why didn’t they?

The top of the order (the first four guys) was just 2-for-15 and that pretty much tells the story. As a team, the Royals didn’t draw a single walk. But Mark Buehrle is good. We know that. We’ve heard that. And we’ll continue to hear that every time he faces us.

It was funny to see Buehrle throw the ball back to the dugout after getting Mark Teahen out late in the game. Teahen is 22-for-50 against Buehrle and he had two more two hits last night. So getting him out must have felt like a milestone moment for Buehrle—enough so that he made a little fun of himself. I like that.

Tonight, Zack Greinke (10-3, 1.95) goes up against John Danks (6-6, 4.08). Greinke is 5-8 in his career against the White Sox with a 4.20 ERA in 111.1 IP. Danks is 1-0 against the Royals with a 3.25 ERA in 36.0 IP.