Haren vs Buehrle
Dan Haren, starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, is a fastball throwing, strike-out juggernaut. And Mark Buehrle, starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and recent architect of a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays, is the pitching boogie man of hitters everywhere. We are going to compare these pitching golden children of MLB and let the reader decide “who is the king of the mound?”
These behemoths have a remarkable history to pull from, so that we might predict what the future might hold for them. Buehrle’s origins come from the year after his debut to MLB(2000) in 2001, where he had a sublime ERA of 3.29 which is astounding for such a new pitcher. He kept climbing the pitching pyramid inside the American league from 2001 to 2004. He showed his merits in endurance by accomplishing five complete games in 2002, only bested by one other pitcher that year. In 2004, Buehrle out shined all other pitchers in the American League with most innings pitched(over 245), most games started(35), and most complete games(5). Buehlre’s early career looks like most pro’s seasoned careers; he showed a knack for the game and dedication that is unmatched.
Haren’s evolution through the ranks has been much more dramatic. Having finished his first year for the Cardinals in 2003 with below average pitching season of 5.08 ERA was sent back down to AAA. However, the next year, he smoked a nice 3.73 ERA with the Athletics in Oakland. Haren had some troubles in his early career due to lack of experience and endurance when it came to MLB. But what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger as we will see.
Coming closer to the present we see the tides shift a little. Like all great athletes, Buehrle hits a rocky season in 2006 with an ERA of 4.99. However, this stigma did not stick around for long as he threw his first no hitter against the Texas Rangers in 2007. Things got back to business as usual for Buehrle, taking out batters like a New York City garbage man. Finally in the 2008 season, he chucked a great 3.79 ERA. In most recent games, Buehrle threw his devastating second no hitter as well as a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Minus a season and a couple games, Buehrle has consistently excelled to the point that batters don’t have to worry about their dugout seat ever getting cold.
As we get closer to the present we see that Haren is becoming a more dominating force on the mound. In 2007 He strangled hitters with an impressive 3.07 ERA, which put him in the consideration for the Cy Young Award. Haren continued on finishing the 2008 season with a 3.33 ERA. Even right now he is terrorizing batters with a whopping 2.01 ERA in the 2009 season, which some pitchers would water board to get those kinds of numbers.
Side by side, these pitchers stand up taller compared to most. Buehrle being the constant pillager of the offense’s dreams, and Haren the up and coming wildcard that brings shame to the hitter’s box, it’s really up to the reader as to who is the better pitcher. One thing is for sure, these two giants aren’t done ripping up the mound and making base coaches a thing of the past.
~By Brandon Fenstermaker~
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