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MSNBC.com baseball analyst Ted Robinson gives his take on the hits and misses by players, managers, umpires and owners in Major League Baseball.

Robinson has an extensive background in covering the sport. He called the play-by-play on NBC's Major League Baseball Game of the Week telecasts from 1986-89. Additionally, he has been the lead play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Twins, the television and radio play-by-play voice of the San Francisco Giants, and a member of the New York Mets broadcast team.



Buerhle's discount deal, Cubs poised for push

Posted: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 5:18 PM

Baseball in Chicago at the All-Star break:

The buzz is over Mark Buerhle's new four-year deal with the White Sox, and the Cubs having gone 12-4 leading up to their four days off.

Both developments are worthy of smiles from Windy City baseball fans.

Is this a steal for Chicago after the winter standard established by Barry Zito's signing (seven-years, $126 million) with the Giants?

Let's take compare the two pitchers, who both broke into the big leagues in 2000.

Buehrle's numbers:
103-70, .595 winning percentage
1,543 IP
3.77 ERA
1.249 WHIP

Zito's numbers:
108-72, .600 winning percentage
1,535 IP
3.64 ER
1.264 WHIP

Sure looks like a good deal for the White Sox, one which raises some questions:

1)  Why did Buerhle agree to a contract that appears so below-market?

2)  Why did Buerhle agree to pass on full no-trade protection, another factor that on the surface makes this
deal look spectacular for the White Sox?
(He did get no-trade protection for the rest of this season and all of 2008, and will gain vested no-trade protection in July 2010 as a 10-year veteran with five years with the same team).

3) After Zito's poor first half (6-9, 4.90 ERA), what must the Giants think when they see the details of the Buerhle deal?

And White Sox general manager Kenny Williams, having assured that the heart of his rotation stays intact, now says he may well be a buyer as the trade deadline approaches at the end of this month. Words that will play well in his clubhouse, and with the majority of the team's fans, but they don't change the reality of being 13 games out of first place in a tough division at the All-Star break.

For the Cubs things are quieter after their rocky times earlier in the season. They stand second in the NL Central, a notch above .500 in a weak division. The freedom exists to recharge at the All-star break and prepare for a strong second-half push knowing one is achievable.

The talk in the papers is that the team is more comfortable with manager Lou Piniella. I can't help but wonder if the makeup of the roster has something to do with it.

Piniella has now changed out four starters from Opening Day: Cesar Izturis (shortstop), Michael Barrett (catcher), Matt Murton (left field), and Jacque Jones (right field) have been supplanted. The Cubs would now seem to be truly Piniella's team, and they should be judged as such in the second half.

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Comments

Bud Selig is a racist, and a jerk.  To date there has been nothing but unsubstaniated rumors concerning Berry Bonds yet MLB wants to pin all this negative press on one man.  Yet all the white players that this incident circles around have been cleared by the silent treatment from MLB and the press.  I say to Mr. Selig after Bonds breaks the record he should give the ball to you so you can stick it up your ass.

Keith Pollard, Woodbridge Va (Sent Monday, August 06, 2007 1:15 PM)



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