KC bats have been hot.
Buehrle is a corner specialist. If he draws a HP ump like Iassogna, then his whip will go way over his usual. But doesn't happen much....
newspaper pieces below
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Hopin' as they open
Buehrle would like to set tone for Sox early
Monday, March 31, 2003
By Joe Cowley
Staff writer
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. ? The Kansas City Royals used a coin toss to determine their Opening Day starter.
Right-hander Runelvys Hernandez won, getting the honors over lefty Jeremy Affeldt.
Things weren't as simple for the White Sox, who actually had a decision to make.
The January acquisition of Bartolo Colon left Manager Jerry Manuel to choose between the 20-game winner or 19-game winner Mark Buehrle. All the way through mid-March, Manuel refused to reveal his choice, saying, "It really won't matter for the regular season, because of all the off days and possible rainouts. What really matters is who that Game 1 pitcher would be if we reach the playoffs. That tells you who the true ace is."
But Manuel knew even before spring training began who the Opening Day starter would be. And it wasn't based on a coin flip. He simply wasn't going to bump a dependable "incumbent" in Buehrle for a player putting on the Sox uniform for the first time.
It didn't hurt that Buehrle had history on his side.
The southpaw is no stranger to the Royals, having faced them more than any team except Detroit over his three-year stint on the South Side. And to say that Buehrle has dominated Kansas City would be an understatement. He is a career 6-2 against the Royals, with a 2.94 ERA, including 3-1 with a 2.91 ERA at Kauffman Stadium.
That's where the Sox will begin their 2003 campaign today (2:05 p.m., WGN-Ch. 9). And that's where Buehrle will begin his quest to win 20 games and do what he can to make sure the Sox do not underachieve for a third straight season.
"It's really an honor to be on the mound for Opening Day two straight seasons," Buehrle said. "It's an accomplishment because I still don't consider myself an ace by any means.
"You see Bartolo win 20 games last season and can throw 100 mph late in a game, and here's me throwing junk in the mid-80s. I'm not going to complain about it, but I seriously wouldn't have minded if (Colon) would have been the Opening Day starter."
Even with his past success against the Royals, the 24-year-old Buehrle won't take them ? or any team ? for granted.
True, the Royals were a dismal 62-100 last season, and trimmed their payroll even further during the offseason. And, yes, their best player ? center fielder Carlos Beltran ? is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle.
But Buehrle says there won't be any letdown on his part.
"I've never been in any position to overlook an opposing team," he said. "I'm not even close to that level yet."
That's probably a good mind-set to have, as the Royals appear to be carrying a lot of confidence into the season.
While the Sox broke camp using clich?s about being excited to leave Tucson, Ariz., and start playing games that mean something, the Royals have been figuratively pounding their chests, to some extent, after going a major league-best 19-10 in exhibition play.
"We've got a chance to win some games and surprise some people," Royals outfielder Michael Tucker told a Kansas City reporter. "A lot of people are counting us out. All we have to do is have the same game plan that we have right now."
Easier said in the spring, however, than done in the regular season. The Royals will start the season not only with Beltran on the shelf, but with a rookie closer in Mike MacDougal, a rookie shortstop in Angel Berroa, a rookie designated hitter in Ken Harvey, and a starting rotation that has a combined 21 career wins at the major league level.
"There's a lot of panic (on the part of Royals fans) because of the young pitchers on this team," Hernandez ? the coin-toss winner ? conceded. "Even though we have a great team in talent, people don't see that. Well, we don't care what the people say. They say we're going to lose 100 games. That's bull. We're not going to lose 100 games."
Whether or not that proves to be the case doesn't matter to Buehrle. His immediate goal is to hand Kansas City one loss today.
"Some guys would rather not talk about personal goals, but I have nothing to hide," Buehrle said. "I want to win 20 games ? the same goal I had last year. I want this team to reach the playoffs and win a World Series.
"And trust me, if we get that far, I couldn't care less who starts Game 1."
