...AND CREW CHIEF WAS THERE TO SEE IT IN PERSON WITH HIS NIECE!!
We've been texting each other all game...!!
GO GO SOX!!
Full Version: Perfect game for Mark Buehrle!
Lucky!
Congrats to Buehrle!
And what a f**king catch by Wise!
Congrats to Buehrle!
And what a f**king catch by Wise!
Great job. Way to go Buehrle!
Photo gallery from the Chicago Tribune, including Dwayne Wise's spectacular catch of He Who Shall Not Be Named's drive in the 9th inning.
Photo gallery from the Chicago Sun-Times. Article with video of the final out.
Photo gallery from the Chicago Tribune, including Dwayne Wise's spectacular catch of He Who Shall Not Be Named's drive in the 9th inning.
Photo gallery from the Chicago Sun-Times. Article with video of the final out.
QUOTE(MiamiSpartan @ Jul 23 2009, 03:12 PM) 
...AND CREW CHIEF WAS THERE TO SEE IT IN PERSON WITH HIS NIECE!!
We've been texting each other all game...!!
GO GO SOX!!
We've been texting each other all game...!!
GO GO SOX!!
Indeed I was, MS! I WAS WITNESS TO HISTORY!!! I was so jazzed--and still am--I can't explain it. As a baseball fan it's awesome. As a diehard, lifelong White Sox fan, it's beyond awesome! I was shaking like a leaf during the 9th inning especially. In the 8th when that line shot down the 3rd base line occurred, I thought for sure Laz would call it fair, but it was inches foul and he called it foul. We erupted in a big cheer--for a foul ball!
Then the top of the 9th begins and I see Podsednik moved to left with Wise taking over center--a good move by Ozzie, whom I admit I don't totally like. Pods stinks in center and is better as a left fielder. He NEVER would have made that catch. For one thing, he's much shorter and can't leap that high. But Wise--whoa!!! Did you guys see just how remarkable that catch was? He gloved it OVER the line to steal the home run, then as he's coming down, the ball is falling out of his mitt, so he grabs it with his bare hand, falls down and hits the ground, rolls over, and holds on to the ball! Unbelievable!!! Once that happened, I just knew he HAD to get the perfect game. Fate was on his side.
Some eerie stats, btw:
Buehrle's April 18, 2007 no-hitter
Time of game: 2:03
Number of batters faced: the minimum 27 (he picked off a guy on 1st)
Home plate umpire: Eric Cooper
Cooper's Uniform #: 56
Buehrle's uniform #: 56
Sox hit a grand slam
Buehrle's July 23, 2009 perfect game
Time of game: 2:03
Number of batters faced: the minimum 27
Home plate umpire: Eric Cooper
Cooper's Uniform #: 56
Buehrle's uniform #: 56
Sox hit a grand slam
I've been to some memorable games in my life, but this absolutely ranks up as THE single most memorable game I have ever seen in person. Ever. I had tears in my eyes at the end of the 9th when the final out was made. I didn't want to leave; we didn't want to leave. All of us fans stayed and hung around for about 20 minutes watching Buehrle and the media on the field. As we walked out, grown men and women were on their cell phones in the parking lot calling whomever they were calling, admitting they were crying over what they had just witnessed; and I even took a picture of my 9-year-old niece standing in front of my car in the lot and sent it to MS. What a cutie, huh, MS?
What's the difference between a perfect game and a no-hitter?
A no-hitter is when, as stated, a team gets 0 hits. They can still get runs; they get guys on base, but by official scoring, they got NO hits.
A perfect game is when no one legally reached base; there were NO base runners. Period. The former is rare, the latter even rarer. That's why in the history of Major League Baseball, there have been only 18 perfect games (17 in regular season, 1 in the post-season: Don Larsen's in the World Series). Buehrle's was the 18th one.
To date, there have been 263 no-hitters thrown.
A perfect game is when no one legally reached base; there were NO base runners. Period. The former is rare, the latter even rarer. That's why in the history of Major League Baseball, there have been only 18 perfect games (17 in regular season, 1 in the post-season: Don Larsen's in the World Series). Buehrle's was the 18th one.
To date, there have been 263 no-hitters thrown.
QUOTE
From Wikipedia:
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher (or combination of pitchers) pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher (or pitchers) cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any other reason—in short, "27 up, 27 down". The feat has been achieved only 18 times in the history of major league baseball—16 times since the modern era began in 1900.
By definition, a perfect game must be both a no-hitter and a shutout. Since the pitcher cannot control whether or not his teammates commit any errors, the pitcher usually must be backed up by solid fielding to pitch a perfect game. An error that does not allow a baserunner, such as a misplayed foul ball, does not spoil a perfect game. Weather-shortened contests in which a team has no baserunners and games in which a team reaches first base only in extra innings do not qualify as official perfect games under the present definition. The first confirmed use of the term "perfect game" was in 1908; the current official definition of the term was formalized in 1991. Although it is possible for multiple pitchers to combine for a perfect game (as has happened nine times at the major league level for a no-hitter), to date, every major league perfect game has been thrown by a single pitcher.
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher (or combination of pitchers) pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher (or pitchers) cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any other reason—in short, "27 up, 27 down". The feat has been achieved only 18 times in the history of major league baseball—16 times since the modern era began in 1900.
By definition, a perfect game must be both a no-hitter and a shutout. Since the pitcher cannot control whether or not his teammates commit any errors, the pitcher usually must be backed up by solid fielding to pitch a perfect game. An error that does not allow a baserunner, such as a misplayed foul ball, does not spoil a perfect game. Weather-shortened contests in which a team has no baserunners and games in which a team reaches first base only in extra innings do not qualify as official perfect games under the present definition. The first confirmed use of the term "perfect game" was in 1908; the current official definition of the term was formalized in 1991. Although it is possible for multiple pitchers to combine for a perfect game (as has happened nine times at the major league level for a no-hitter), to date, every major league perfect game has been thrown by a single pitcher.
Thank You
You're welcome. 
A perfect game is the work of the entire team; one error by the lowliest utility guy on the field, and it's gone. Out of the pitcher's control.
I was trying to explain the significance of the perfect game to my non-sports loving husband...
He said his definition of a perfect game is one that he doesn't have to attend!
He said his definition of a perfect game is one that he doesn't have to attend!
Tell that hubby: 162 games x 30 teams = 4860 times per year (regular season only) that a pitcher on either team can be perfect. Multiply 4860 x the number of years there have been 30 teams. That's a subtotal. Then multiply 4860 x the number of years there were 28 teams (before Tampa Bay and Arizona). Add that to the subtotal. Then do the same for the number of years there were 26 teams (before Colorado and Florida). Add that to the subtotal. Etc. Etc. Etc. Add in postseason games, subtract strike/lockout canceled games, etc. You get the point. A zillion games have been played and this has only happened 18 times. Figure out the odds. If that doesn't impress him, dump him. 
Love that post, Joe!
Now if you can be so helpful to approximate how many MLB games that comes to during its history, that would be nice.
Now if you can be so helpful to approximate how many MLB games that comes to during its history, that would be nice.
God I would have loooooved to have been there!!!! Nice job CC!:) Someday I'll get to see a no hitter or perfecto...a lifelong dream of mine as a spectator.
(Though I did witness Carlos Delgado's four home run night in Toronto back in 2003. I've never heard 10k or so fans make as much noise as they did after Delgado's fourth left the yard)
One thing keeps coming back to me about that game: Did Ozzie Guillen have some sort of vision prior to the ninth inning??? I mean, the guy puts in Wise as a defensive replacement? Think about that, why in the world would a manager make any kind of changes for defense with a five run lead heading to the ninth knowing that his pitcher has plowed through every. single. batter. he. has. faced??????
Like Beurhle was going to break down and start spraying hits all over the field? HA! The move doesn't make a shred of sense to me....but hey, it sure as heck worked.
(Though I did witness Carlos Delgado's four home run night in Toronto back in 2003. I've never heard 10k or so fans make as much noise as they did after Delgado's fourth left the yard)
One thing keeps coming back to me about that game: Did Ozzie Guillen have some sort of vision prior to the ninth inning??? I mean, the guy puts in Wise as a defensive replacement? Think about that, why in the world would a manager make any kind of changes for defense with a five run lead heading to the ninth knowing that his pitcher has plowed through every. single. batter. he. has. faced??????
Like Beurhle was going to break down and start spraying hits all over the field? HA! The move doesn't make a shred of sense to me....but hey, it sure as heck worked.
I actually witnessed Jack Morris' no hitter in person at old Comiskey back in 84...What a freaking cold day it was, but there was no way I was leaving early...even tho I hate the Tigers...
QUOTE(blueraider @ Jul 24 2009, 10:24 PM)
Did Ozzie Guillen have some sort of vision prior to the ninth inning??? I mean, the guy puts in Wise as a defensive replacement? Think about that, why in the world would a manager make any kind of changes for defense with a five run lead heading to the ninth knowing that his pitcher has plowed through every. single. batter. he. has. faced??????
Probably because he was treating it like closer than a one-run game, ie, he wanted his best defense on the field to prevent any hits or errors? The game wasn't particularly in doubt, Guillen's mindset was all about preserving the perfect game. I only saw highlights, but while Buehrle pitched superbly, I don't think you can call it "plowing through" unless he'd struck out 15-20 batters. Surely there were a few other balls hit that, given an inch's difference on the bat or slightly different defensive positioning, might've become hits?
Recent analytical thinking suggests that what pitchers control most are walks, strikeouts, and home runs. Chance plays a great part in everything else.
Skyline Club Box, right at third base, for $45? And what a game!
I hate you.
I hate you.
QUOTE(Crew Chief @ Jul 23 2009, 10:29 PM)
Hey! YOU could've come to the game. All you had to do was be my boyfriend or something. 
Actually, even a buddy of mine would be cool. I've been trying to get this friend of mine to go to a game all season, and Thursday was the closest he's come. The night before he texted me and told me he couldn't go. Thursday after the game he was pissed. As I told him, "You had your chance and blew it."
Actually, even a buddy of mine would be cool. I've been trying to get this friend of mine to go to a game all season, and Thursday was the closest he's come. The night before he texted me and told me he couldn't go. Thursday after the game he was pissed. As I told him, "You had your chance and blew it."
QUOTE(fenwayguy @ Jul 26 2009, 04:12 PM)
I hate you.
Wait in line. There are many people ahead of you.
So Mark was perfect going into the 6th inning in his next game, retiring an MLB record 45 in a row before giving up a walk...
Unfortunately, the Sox lost to the Twins yet again....
Unfortunately, the Sox lost to the Twins yet again....
Figures. I was watching the game on one of my rare nights off from umpiring and began to get a wee bit nervous come the 6th inning, but as soon as Buehrle walked that guy, I turned to my cat and said, "The Sox will lose this game, you watch. They never win in the Terror Dome."
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