After Tom Glavine won his 300th game on Sunday, the immediate question became who will be the next pitcher to do it. If Randy Johnson doesn't (he's at 284), it could be a while. Some people are saying it will never happen again, which makes no sense to me. Never happened again, for the rest of time? It may not happen for 20 years, but someone is going to win 300 baseball games before the major leagues cease to exist. While he's not the first name you'd expect to hear in the conversation, I think Mark Buehrle has as good a chance as any current major league pitcher at reaching the milestone.
With 106 wins in seven full seasons, Buehrle has averaged just over 15 wins a season since he became a starter with the White Sox. At 28 years old, Buehrle could reach the milestone by his early 40's if he can keep his current pace up.
Because of the way Buehrle throws, he has a chance for that type of longevity. It's rare that a power pitcher like Clemens can pile up so many wins while relying on an upper 90's heater. Pitchers like Buehrle, in the Greg Maddux mode, rely on control and pitch selection, things that don't fade with age. That's why he might have a better chance of reaching the number then CC Sabathia or Johan Santana.
The only problem is Buehrle doesn't see himself being able to do it, because he doesn't want to pitch into his forties. Things can change, though, and if he decides to stick around long enough, hopefully on the South Side, Buehrle might have a chance to do it.
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Comments
Yes, brother Beau, health is the main component, and Buehrle has been incredibly durable during his career. The real issue is the bullpen, especially for the Sox. A good bullpen can lengthen a pitchers career for years, a bad one can kill his win totals.
But i really hate when people say no one will ever win 300 again. Oh really, if they play baseball for 1,000 more years no one is going to get 300 wins? Thats the dumbest things ive ever heard in my life. Maybe none of the current pitchers will do, but if one does, i think it could be MB.
Good take. When you look at all the factors it's hard not to consider him as a viable candidate.
Which will come 1st-- another 300 win pitcher or a Cubs World Series win?
the sox need to switch ozzie with that dog whisper guy, caesar. they look the same and if he can handle high strung shitzus who wont stop pissing on the couch, he can handle the young bullpen of the sox. who am i kidding the real savior would be that little kid from little big league. he managed the twins great in the movie
i think we should start a new segment called "the mind of Money$$" where Eddie Money gets one rant per week to tell everyone what sucks and what's cool. Little Big League? Definitely cool.
Rickau, this is a great topic. I am personally torn with this. The town main reasons people don't believe it will ever happen again is because of the games transition to more reliance on the bullpen and teams keeping a pitch-count on their starters. But on the other side of these variables also comes into play the fact that now-a-days fitness and training play such an important role in an athletes career year round. Having said this, I believe it can be done again but just as in Glavine's case (never being on the DL), it will be key for the pitcher to remain healthy and consistent.