WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF JUNE 24, 2017 “Even-keeled Buehrle regular guy amid success” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Pelfrey struggles vs. A’s; bats stymied in loss” … Scott Merkin and Jane Lee, MLB.com “Shields faces A’s in 2

nd start since return” … Jane Lee, MLB.com

“‘Consistent’ Buehrle set for jersey retirement” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Renteria, birthday boy Anderson ejected vs. A’s” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “White Sox 7

th-rounder tops No. 3 seed in CWS” … Jim Callis, MLB.com

“Hansen earns promotion to Winston-Salem” … Fabian Ardaya, MLB.com “Breakthrough Series has Chicago flavor” … Fabian Ardaya, MLB.com “Baseball is a family tradition for Matthews” … Fabian Ardaya, MLB.com “Tim Anderson’s birthday present from home plate umpire was first major-league ejection” … Paul Roumeliotis, CSN Chicago “Why Mark Buehrle thinks getting his jersey retired ‘doesn’t really make sense’” … JJ Stankevitz, CSN Chicago “White Sox offense can’t stay hot in loss to A’s” … Paul Roumeliotis, CSN Chicago “Don Cooper remembers what made Mark Buehrle so special” … JJ Stankevtiz, CSN Chicago “Adam Engel making the most of his opportunity with White Sox” … Paul Roumeliotis, CSN Chicago “Mark Buehrle relishing life after baseball, and his new softball position” … JJ Stankevtiz, CSN Chicago “Tim Anderson and Rick Renteria tossed as A’s shut out White Sox 3-0” … Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune “Mark Buehrle on White Sox number being retired: ‘It doesn’t make sense’” … Paul Skbrina, Chicago Tribune “Struggling Todd Frazier trying to ‘sit back and enjoy the show’” … Steve Greenberg, Chicago Sun-Times “‘Unflappable’ Mark Buehrle all set to have White Sox No. 56 retired” … Steve Greenberg, Chicago Sun-Times “Mark Buehrle pens essay in The Players’ Tribune thanking Chicago” … Elan Kane, Chicago Sun-Times “Anderson, Renteria ejected in White Sox’s 3-0 loss to Oakland” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “A personal look at Chicago White Sox great Mark Buehrle” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “As White Sox prepare to retire No. 56, Buehrle still in disbelief” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “Anderson, Renteria ejected as another odd dispute turns into quick hooks” … James Fegan, The Athletic “How the rebuild is taking its toll on White Sox pitching” … James Fegan, The Athletic “Davis, Joyce homer, A’s beat White Sox 3-0” … Matt Fortuna, Associated Press “Buehrle braces for emotional day as White Sox retire number” … Andrew Seligman, Associated Press “White Sox’s Renteria, Anderson tossed from game against A’s” … Associated Press

Even-keeled Buehrle regular guy amid success Lefty resonated with fan base from Day 1, will have number retired by White Sox on Saturday By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | June 23, 2017 CHICAGO -- It was a Friday night in September 2008, with the White Sox playing at Kauffman Stadium. Or at least that's how I remember it. I was working ahead for an off-day story, and I needed another educated voice in the article. Enter Mark Buehrle, who was sitting at his locker with a personal computer on his lap. I asked him for a few minutes, and he agreed -- but with a strange look on his face. Buehrle has talked about not having a love for interviews, but he was always a good quote and always amenable unless he had work to do. As he answered my first question, I started thinking of the White Sox rotation. Suddenly, I realized where that weird look came from: Buehrle was pitching in that night's game. It's an understood rule that starting pitchers don't do interviews on gameday until after they've pitched. There are a few starters I've covered who didn't even like talking the day before. After I quickly and profusely apologized, a smiling Buehrle told me to continue with the questions. He eventually earned the victory over the Royals with a quality start, and as we gathered around him for a postgame interview, he smiled again, looked at me and said, "Man, are you lucky."

This tale paints a small picture of Buehrle's value as one of the most even-keeled All-Stars I've covered, and after Saturday, one of the most even-keeled players with his jersey number retired by the White Sox. During Spring Training, Buehrle would joke with us about talking before a start instead of after because he was going to say the same thing: "Got my work in, felt good." In reality, he was regular-season ready in Arizona after one or two trips to the mound. Buehrle never wanted to become a pitching coach because he said it was tough to show other pitchers how he threw certain pitches, but countless hurlers -- make that countless players -- learned simply by watching or being around him. "He was one of the best teammates that I ever had," White Sox left fielder Melky Cabrera said through interpreter Billy Russo. Cabrera played with Buehrle in Toronto from 2013-14. "When he was on the mound, he always wanted to pitch until the end of the game. "When he was on the bench, he was cheering for you. He was supporting you. He's a really funny guy. For me, he was one of the best lefties in the game during his time." Tom Glavine won his 300th game in August 2007, and I remember asking Buehrle about getting to that mark because he was on the same pace at that point. Buehrle said it would not be him, as he didn't want to miss important family time to pursue that total. Trappings of fame never mattered to the veteran, who once got in trouble for tarp diving during a rain delay and attributed a skipped Spring Training start to that rare bout of Dutch elm disease in his left shoulder. Buehrle was and is a regular guy, a blue collar and unwaveringly steady performer, resonating with the White Sox fan base from Day 1.

Pelfrey struggles vs. A’s; bats stymied in loss By Scott Merkin and Jane Lee / MLB.com | June 23, 2017 CHICAGO -- Khris Davis and Matt Joyce homered to lead Oakland to a 3-0 victory over the White Sox, spoiling the South Siders' return home to Guaranteed Rate Field. Friday's contest marked the start of a 10-game homestand for the White Sox, with Mark Buehrle's jersey No. 56 being retired prior to Saturday afternoon's game. Jharel Cotton earned the victory for the A's by throwing five-plus shutout innings. The right-hander needed only 66 pitches to get to that point, including 42 strikes, but he left after allowing Kevan Smith's lead-off single due to a blister on his right thumb. Cotton yielded three hits and walked one while striking out three. "We've seen him really good and we've seen him struggle with command, and today, for the most part, command wasn't an issue," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "When he's throwing the ball where he wants to and he's using all his pitches, he usually has some success." Mike Pelfrey took the loss, giving up three runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. Davis connected for a two-run homer in the first off Pelfrey, and Joyce's was a solo shot to lead off the fifth. Pelfrey walked five and struck out four as he slipped to 3-6. "Five walks, and I think probably all of them were with two outs, which is a cardinal sin," Pelfrey said. "I don't think I did a lot to be successful, which is tough, because I think we were all excited to be home for a long stretch. Not a good way to start on my part, especially two out walks and a homer. Not very good." The White Sox had only one runner, Yolmer Sanchez in the third, get as far as second base over the first eight innings. Melky Cabrera and Jose Abreu singled to start the ninth against A's closer Santiago Casilla, but he escaped unscathed when Matt Davidson flew out to the warning track in center field on a 1-2 pitch to end the game. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Two-out action: Davis connected on a two-out sinker from Pelfrey with such authority that it made the partisan crowd in Chicago audibly wince. But the drive to center, which left the bat at 107 mph and traveled 437 feet per Statcast™, doesn't get a chance to happen if not for Jed Lowrie's two-out, four-pitch walk. "It was important to jump out and score first, so I was keeping that aggressive mindset early on," Davis said. "I noticed that he walked [Lowrie] on four pitches, so I thought he was just going to be around the plate, so thought that would be the best one to get." Keeping it close: The White Sox remained three runs behind the A's going into the bottom of the fifth because of a great defensive play made by right fielder Avisail Garcia to end the top half of the inning. With Davis on second and Yonder

Alonso on first, Ryon Healy hit a drive down the right-field line that would have scored two, but Garcia made the running one-handed grab and crashed into the wall after the play. QUOTABLE "[Melvin] told me he wanted to give me a kiss because we jumped out to an early lead. Before the game, he talked to us about how we had been playing on the road. I think he just wanted to see us compete every pitch, and that's mostly what he talked about." -- Davis, on his first-inning homer "Again, we had the potential tying run at the plate and the go-ahead run in the on-deck circle. We got to go in there a little bit at the end. We just fell a little short."-- White Sox manager Rick Renteria, on an unsuccessful ninth-inning rally A CRUMMY BIRTHDAY Tim Anderson received his first career ejection in the fifth inning after a grounder he tapped in front of the plate. A's catcher Bruce Maxwell grabbed the ball in fair territory and tagged out Anderson, who had not left the box thinking the ball was foul. Anderson had a few words for home-plate umpire Jim Wolf before he was tossed, on his 24th birthday. Renteria continued the argument and was ejected for the ninth time overall and for the second straight home game. "You just got to learn from it and keep going," Anderson said. UPON FURTHER REVIEW The White Sox challenged an out call at second base to end the fifth inning. Yolmer Sanchez tried to stretch an infield single after A's shortstop Chad Pinder couldn't make a play on the ball and then waited an extra moment or two to pick it up. Pinder nailed Sanchez on a toss to Lowrie, and after video review, no angle clearly showed Sanchez touching the base before the tag was applied. WHAT'S NEXT A's: The A's will send rookie right-hander Daniel Gossett to the mound for Saturday's 11:30 a.m. PT matchup with the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Gossett, who will be making just the third start of his big league career, held the Astros to two runs across 6 2/3 innings on Monday. White Sox: James Shields is set to make his fifth start of the season and his second since coming off of the disabled list in Saturday afternoon's contest against the A's with a first pitch of 1:30 p.m. CT. Shields is 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA and 11 quality starts lifetime against Oakland.

Shields faces A’s in 2

nd start since return

By Jane Lee / MLB.com | June 23, 2017 White Sox veteran James Shields is scheduled to pitch opposite A's rookie Daniel Gossett when the two clubs meet for the second of a three-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field on Saturday. Prior to the game, the White Sox will retire left-hander Mark Buehrle's No. 56 in a special ceremony. Shields will be making his fifth start of the season and second since returning from the disabled list, where he was stationed for nearly two weeks with a right lat strain. Upon his return Sunday, the right-hander allowed three runs on seven hits, including a home run, in 5 2/3 innings in Toronto. Gossett, meanwhile, will be making the third start of his big league career. After allowing seven runs, six earned, in 3 1/3 innings in his debut in Miami, the right-hander settled down to get through 6 2/3 innings against the Astros on Monday, yielding two runs. Three things to know about this game • Shields is 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 16 career starts against Oakland. • Second baseman Jed Lowrie has seen Shields more than any other A's player, going 5-for-26 against the veteran starter. One of those hits was a home run, however, and five other Oakland hitters have homered off him: Josh Phegley, Matt Joyce, Adam Rosales, Yonder Alonso and Khris Davis. • Ten of Davis' 19 home runs this season have given the A's the lead.

‘Consistent’ Buehrle set for jersey retirement White Sox great will be honored before game vs. A’s Saturday By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | June 23, 2017 CHICAGO -- Those wondering if Mark Buehrle misses the Major Leagues after amassing 214 wins and 3,283 1/3 innings pitched over 16 Major League seasons can take solace in the fact he's still playing. "Signed a contract with a beer league softball team, so I'm doing that on Sunday nights. Just trying to stay active and have fun," Buehrle said during his Friday press conference at Guaranteed Rate Field prior to his No. 56 being retired Saturday afternoon. "I'm playing first base," added a smiling Buehrle. "Hitting fourth, if that tells you anything." Buehrle's forte certainly was not hitting, although he finished with two doubles and one home run among nine career hits. His rise to stardom came from consistency on the mound and in the clubhouse. The southpaw never made a trip to the disabled list, and he put together 14 straight seasons with at least 200 innings pitched, 30 starts and double-digit victories. He added four Gold Gloves, five All-Star appearances and started and saved games on back-to-back nights in the 2005 World Series sweep of the Astros. But equal to this talent was Buehrle's ability to enjoy his career and mentor teammates without even really trying to lead. "I don't think there was a time where I said, 'I'm good.' It was always never taking anything for granted," Buehrle said. "Go out there and you got to make outs. If you are not getting outs, you are going to be in the Minors." "He was consistent. That's what you hope for a pitcher," White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said. "Before ballgames, he was signing autographs for the fans. That's what he would do to unwind a little bit." Jamie Buehrle, Mark's wife, his 9-year-old son Braden and 8-year-old daughter Brooklyn sat off to his left Friday as Buehrle answered questions with his self-deprecating but confident tone. Brooklyn will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday before the White Sox host the A's, and Braden will sing the national anthem. When Buehrle was asked if he was excited to see his son sing, he of course answered yes, "because I'll be done talking." He quickly added his son nailed a practice run and is ready to go. Having his name added as the 11th White Sox number retired -- joining Nellie Fox (2), Harold Baines (3), Luke Appling (4), Minnie Minoso (9), Luis Aparicio (11), Paul Konerko (14), Ted Lyons (16), Billy Pierce (19), Frank Thomas (35), Carlton Fisk (72) and Jackie Robinson (42) -- still makes little sense to a player who grew up watching Thomas play. He humorously described his emotional expectations for Saturday as a "complete disaster," adding he's lost sleep in what will be the most nerve-wracking and quite possibly one of the most treasured events of his life. "Public speaking is probably my worst fear, and I have to get out there, try to soak it in, try to have fun with it," Buehrle said. "My kids keep asking me, 'Dad, why are you so nervous? Just go out there and talk.' "I'm trying to get [Braden] to actually talk. It's going to be awesome. Probably won't remember most of it until I watch it on video a little bit later. Just try to go out there and soak it in. "I've I got a few pointers and a few things that I want to I guess mention and say. But when this [microphone] gets in front of my mouth and I look up and there's people, I don't know what's going to come out." One of the quickest workers in the game left little doubt as to the speech's length. "It's not going to be long," Buehrle said. "I can tell you that."

Renteria, birthday boy Anderson ejected vs. A’s White Sox shortstop, who turned 24 on Friday, and skipper tossed in fifth vs. A’s By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | June 23, 2017 CHICAGO -- When White Sox designated hitter Matt Davidson connected on a 1-2 slider from A's closer Santiago Casilla with two outs and two on in the ninth inning of a 3-0 loss to Oakland on Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field, manager Rick Renteria and shortstop Tim Anderson thought Davidson had tied the game with his 18th home run. "I thought he did. It came off the bat pretty good and I thought, 'Here it is,'" Renteria said after Davidson's drive was caught on the warning track and the White Sox were shut out for the fifth time this season. "But obviously just a little short." "We all jumped up and were excited," Anderson said. "But it kind of fell short." Renteria and Anderson had to watch that last play, and much of the game, on television from the home clubhouse, because they both were ejected by home-plate umpire Jim Wolf in the fifth. The play in question saw Anderson tap a ball in front of the plate, which A's catcher Bruce Maxwell grabbed and tagged Anderson to record the second out. Anderson hadn't moved out of the batter's box, thinking the ball was foul. And from here, it gets a little confusing based on Anderson's explanation for what led to the ejection. "Yeah, I told him that it was foul, and his response was, 'I know, but he caught it,'" Anderson said. "And I told him that was BS, and he tossed me." There was no challenge requested by the White Sox on the play. There also was nothing particularly demonstrative done by Anderson in the argument, although he might have said the magic word or two to earn his first career ejection on his 24th birthday. "It was a birthday gift from him. I thank him for it," a smiling Anderson said. "I was walking away. But you know, you just got to learn from it and keep going. Just got to learn, if I say certain things to sensitive umpires." The ejection of Anderson was followed by Renteria's argument and his ninth career ejection, as well as the second straight home game he was tossed. Renteria didn't want to go too deeply into the moment, but he thought the ejection was a bit quick in the heat of a close game. "Just a normal baseball situation, and again, whether you are managing or playing or you think a play went a certain way and it's called a different way and you disagree, we should be allowed to be disagreeable without getting tossed," Renteria said. "Emotions go high for everybody, including the umpires. "They are out there trying to do their job. But the players are the ones that should be deciding the fate of their club, and we all need to understand that the emotions that coaches and players experience should be weathered a little bit better."

White Sox 7th

-rounder tops No. 3 seed in CWS By Jim Callis / MLB.com | June 23, 2017 OMAHA, Neb. -- The easy way didn't work for Texas Christian University at the 2016 College World Series, so now the Horned Frogs are trying the hard way. TCU won its first two games in Omaha a year ago to get within a victory of its first championship series appearance, only to get upset twice by Coastal Carolina University. This time around, the Horned Frogs got shut out by Florida in their CWS opener last Sunday, which meant they'd need four straight wins to get to the finals. After beating Texas A&M on Tuesday and Louisville on Thursday, TCU staved off elimination again on Friday night by toppling the Gators, 9-2, at TD Ameritrade Park. The teams will meet again at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the best-of-three finals on Monday. The Horned Frogs are making their fourth consecutive CWS appearance. Junior catcher Evan Skoug has been part of the teams that got knocked out in the semifinals in each of his first two seasons, and he doesn't want to experience that feeling again.

"The first two years we had a sour taste in our mouth because we haven't been able to finish the deal," Skoug said. "So I think now that we're so close again, we know what it feels like to be in the Final Four and get kicked out. ... So we have that taste in our mouth, and I think that's going to help because it brings us a sense of urgency." Florida sophomore right-hander Jackson Kowar, a projected first-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, began the game by striking out seven of the first eight hitters before TCU got its bats going. Senior shortstop Ryan Merrill singled and junior center fielder Austin Wade (the Indians' fifth-round selection) and freshman designated hitter Zach Humphreys followed with RBI doubles. "Jackson on their side was beyond amazing," Horned Frogs coach Jim Schlossnagle said. "I started thinking, after he was punching us out there so much in the first two-plus innings, 'Has there ever been a 20-strikeout game in the College World Series?' "But then Merrill got on the ball and Austen, the wind was blowing, and he hit it good. He got the ball up in the wind, and Humphreys did the same thing. That just gave us some life." When the Gators tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the third, TCU retook the lead in the top of the fourth with a two-run triple from sophomore left fielder Josh Watson. Kowar left after five innings with a career-high 11 strikeouts, losing for the first time this season after 12 straight wins. The Horned Frogs broke the game open with four runs in the sixth, three on a bases-loaded double from Skoug, a seventh-round choice by the White Sox. Freshman right-hander Charles King earned his first collegiate win with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless middle relief. A highly regarded recruit who generated some first-round buzz early in his senior year of high school, he battled his command this spring and brought a 5.86 ERA to Omaha. King was sharp against the Gators, permitting just one hit and two walks while striking out five. "He didn't have his 'A' stuff today," Skoug said. "He can usually run that fastball into the mid-90s, but he didn't quite have that today. He made pitches when he needed to, he got ground balls when he needed them. I think without having his best stuff, he did an amazing job of competing." When No. 3 national seed Florida (49-19) and No. 6 national seed TCU (50-17) square off for a third time on Saturday, they're expected to start the same pitchers from their initial matchup. Junior right-hander Alex Faedo (8-2, 2.40 ERA), a first-round pick (No. 18 overall) by the Tigers, earned the 3-0 victory by striking out 11 in seven innings. Redshirt sophomore righty Jared Janczak (9-1, 2.19 ERA) took his first loss of the year after surrendering three runs in four innings. In the 2 p.m. CT semifinal on Saturday, No. 1 national seed Oregon State University (56-5) will face No. 4 national seed Louisiana State University (51-18). The Tigers stayed alive by ending the Beavers' 23-game winning streak on Friday afternoon, thanks to a strong pitching performance by Cubs first-round pick Alex Lange.

Hansen earns promotion to Winston-Salem Right-hander had 2.48 ERA in 13 starts with Class A Kannapolis By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com | June 23, 2017 CHICAGO -- While Avisail Garcia is trying to put the final touches on an All-Star campaign in the big leagues, several members of the White Sox farm system enjoyed All-Star festivities of their own. With the break in play for the Minor League All-Star break, a series of roster moves saw 25 prospects change affiliates for the second half of the Minor League season. Also, 31 of the 40 White Sox Draft picks are under contract and will soon join the system. Here are the highlights from this week in White Sox Minor League baseball: Alec Hansen, Class A Advanced Winston-Salem Hansen headlined a list of Minor League promotions. The club's No. 10 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, earned a promotion to Winston-Salem from Class A Kannapolis after going 7-3 with a 2.48 ERA in 13 starts. He was dominant at the end of his run, striking out 50 batters and allowing six runs over his last five starts. Zack Collins, Class A Advanced Winston-Salem Collins has been solid both at and behind the dish for the Dash this season. While he is known mostly for his bat, his progression on the defensive end has been encouraging. The White Sox No. 7 prospect and 2016 first-round Draft pick has thrown out 32 baserunners attempting to steal, tops in the Carolina League.

Luis Robert, Dominican Summer League White Sox Robert, the club's No. 3 prospect, is still working to find his stride in professional baseball but knocked his second multi-hit game in a week on Thursday. Robert is expected to spend this season with the DSL squad, re-acclimating himself after nearly a year off from organized baseball. Worth noting • Double-A Birmingham right-hander Michael Kopech, the club's No. 2 prospect and the No. 2 right-hander in all of baseball, had his start in the Southern League All-Star game rained out. He was slated to start for the Northern Division. • White Sox No. 16 prospect Jameson Fisher made an instant impact upon his callup to Winston-Salem. The outfielder knocked a walk-off RBI single in his very first game with the Dash. • Triple-A Charlotte second baseman Yoan Moncada, the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, has shown added patience at the plate and has actually drawn more walks (12) than he has struck out (11) in his last 10 games, including at least one walk in each of his last four games entering play Friday.

Breakthrough Series has Chicago flavor By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com | June 23, 2017 CHICAGO -- When at the Breakthrough Series, you can look out past the batter's eye at Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium and see Willis Tower dominating the skyline. To the 60 high school players, however, they see a way out of the inner cities through the game of baseball. The three-day series, which launched in 2008 and made its first trip to the city of Chicago, wrapped up Friday with a pair of showcase games before giving the kids the chance to attend a Major League Baseball game. For Khyle Radcliffe, a rising Morgan Park High School junior outfielder who is one of 11 kids participating in the event from the host city of Chicago, it's an opportunity he doesn't take for granted. "I don't think it can get any bigger than this, really," Radcliffe said. "It's a lot of fun. I don't think scouts usually go to the inner cities to get people." This year's Breakthrough Series has had a distinct Chicago flavor to it. Some of the notable guest speakers have ties to the city, such as former White Sox outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. and Bo Jackson and former White Sox manager Jerry Manuel. Instructors and former big leaguers Marvin Freeman and Lou Collier grew up in the area, and Breakthrough Series director Del Matthews --the son of former big leaguer Gary Matthews Sr. -- attended high school in the Chicago area and worked in the White Sox organization before claiming his current post. "[It's amazing] to have Ken Griffey Jr., who played for the White Sox, come in and reiterate those lessons," Matthews said. "Bo Jackson, Marvin Freeman, [Tom] Flash Gordon -- all these guys that played here in the city of Chicago come to talk to them and give them their perspective about the game. These kids are very grateful for it." The series, which seeks to diversify the game of baseball through a showcase event, will wrap up Friday evening, as the participants will attend a Chicago White Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field and meet longtime club executive Ken Williams. The Breakthrough Series gives opportunities for kids with a passion for the game of baseball to overcome financial barriers and be seen. Radcliffe has always had a passion for baseball -- his great-uncle was Negro Leagues star Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe, while his father, Ernest, and older brother, Kendall, played in the Minors -- and now will have the chance to have the spotlight himself. Rising Kenwood Academy High School senior outfielder Jaylen Patterson grew up on baseball fields, falling in love with the way his uncle, Lonnie, played the game for the independent Joliet Jackhammers. That passion translated to his desire to keep playing the game and in events like the Breakthrough Series. "It's actually a privilege," Patterson said. "It feels good to be here, to be selected. I feel honored, and I think it's a great opportunity to show off all my skills and pick up different pieces of information from all these guys."

Harlan Community High School rising junior Henry Perry has been playing the game for as long as he could remember, but he didn't fully realize there was a future in the sport until he began with the White Sox Amateur City Elite (ACE) program at the age of 15. Now, he's hoping the game can help him with his future. "Ever since I started with the White Sox [ACE program], it's been huge," Perry said. "Before I got with them, I didn't even know about scholarships or getting scouted playing baseball. [Baseball] gives us chances to succeed in life."

Baseball is a family tradition for Matthews Breakthrough Series director’s dad, brother played in big leagues By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com | June 23, 2017 CHICAGO -- Del Matthews grew up surrounded by the game of baseball, soaking in the conversations of the big leaguers around him in the time he spent with his father, Gary Matthews Sr. His brother, Gary Jr., followed dad's footsteps by reaching the big leagues. Del's mission in baseball has been different -- to give others a chance to reach that pinnacle, particularly those who wouldn't have the opportunity otherwise. Matthews serves as the director of the Breakthrough Series, an initiative founded in 2008 through a partnership between Major League Baseball, the MLB Players Association and USA Baseball to help increase diversity in the game and give opportunities for high school players in the inner cities to showcase their talents. It also gives them a chance to learn from big leaguers such as Ken Griffey Jr. and Bo Jackson -- just like Matthews did from his father. "In any profession -- whether you're a doctor, you're a lawyer, or you're an athlete, whatever it may be -- if your parents have worked in that industry and you take an interest to it, they have an instinctive knowledge about the profession," Matthews said. "They're in it, they're around it every day and they're the best at what they do. In athletics, it just gives you a unique perspective with how things operate, how people communicate with each other, how the game's played, just how the things that are happening at the elite level [happen]." One of the biggest goals of the Breakthrough Series, Matthews said, is to increase participation among African-Americans in the sport. "I think when you look at where our game has been and some of the issues that have been raised, decline in the number of African-Americans in [baseball], we're trying to address the issue," he said. "Hopefully it gives these kids the opportunity to break through and get to the next level, whether that be in college or professionally. They get some mentorship along the way. It means a lot." The Breakthrough Series is stopping in Chicago for the first time -- the first of three stops for the series this year, along with Compton, Calif., and Bradenton, Fla., that will help around 180 high school athletes gain attention through showcases. This first stop means the most for Matthews, who grew up in the area and graduated from high school in Chicago before attending the University of Illinois-Chicago, where the Breakthrough Series is being held. • Breakthrough Series has Chicago flavor "It's really a homecoming for me, so it's really special to do it here," he said. "To look out of the press box and see the skyline of Chicago and know that we're impacting the kids from the city here -- given what's gone on recently in the last couple of summers with the crime rate and the different things that have happened in Chicago -- it gives these kids a ray of light to be able to know that they can come to a ballpark and they can come to the Breakthrough Series here and there's a chance for them to continue to go on in something that they love." The Breakthrough Series, along with several of MLB's youth programs, have started to have an impact. Matthews pointed out 2017 No. 2 overall Draft selection Hunter Greene and Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks as proof of the success of the work he's done. With over 160 Breakthrough Series alumni having been drafted, including 16 in this year's Draft, he's hoping the numbers keep going up. "Hopefully at the end of the day, we'll start to see more numbers," Matthews said. "We're planting seeds now, and hopefully in the future we'll be able to see the fruits of our labor."

Tim Anderson’s birthday present from home plate umpire was first major-league ejection By Paul Roumeliotis / CSN Chicago | June 23, 2017 On his 24th birthday, Tim Anderson’s present from home plate umpire Jim Wolf was his first major-league ejection. In the fifth inning of the White Sox 3-0 loss to the Oakland Athletics, Anderson fouled off a pitch that landed in the opposing batter’s box. But A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell picked it up in what was ruled to be fair territory and threw the ball to first for the out. Anderson pleaded his case saying the ball went foul. Wolf agreed, according to Anderson, which only further confused the White Sox shortstop. “I told him that was BS,” Anderson said. “And he tossed me.” Anderson said that he was surprised to be ejected so fast. So was manager Rick Renteria, who was thrown out moments after Anderson. “I don’t want to get in trouble,” Renteria said. “The players having emotion, they are battling. I just think we need to grow a little thicker skin.” Anderson said that he was appreciative of his manager coming to his defense. “He kinda had a point and let me know he had my back,” Anderson said of Renteria. “Speaks a lot of him.” A day after scoring nine runs on 18 hits, the White Sox failed to generate any offense on Friday. The team’s best chance came in the ninth inning. But with runners at the corners and two outs, Matt Davidson put a good rip on the ball to center field, only to fly out at the warning track. Anderson and Renteria were watching the game together in the clubhouse, and both believed the White Sox had tied the ballgame. “We all jumped up and were excited but it kind of fell short,” Anderson said.

Why Mark Buehrle thinks getting his jersey retired ‘doesn’t really make sense’ By JJ Stankevitz / CSN Chicago | June 23, 2017 On Saturday, Mark Buehrle will become the 11th player in White Sox history to have his number retired, joining a select group of players who are synonymous with baseball on 35th and Shields. Nellie Fox. Harold Baines. Luke Appling. Minnie Minoso. Luis Aparicio. Paul Konerko. Ted Lyons. Billy Pierce. Frank Thomas. Carlton Fisk. And, beginning Saturday, Buehrle’s No. 56 will be never be worn again, instead enshrined between a pair of Hall of Famers in Thomas and Fisk. “It doesn't really make sense, to be honest with you,” Buehrle said. “Trying to wrap my head around it -- I watched Frank Thomas as a kid growing up and even when I came here and played with him, I couldn't believe it. I’m, like, a fan of Frank Thomas, who's right there. It just doesn't make sense that I'm up there with those guys, Again, I went out there and tried to do what I could do every day and had fun with it and obviously had a good, long successful career. And now here we are getting my number retired. I can't really explain it. It's pretty hard.” Buehrle is one of only three pitchers to have his number retired by the White Sox, joining Lyons (the franchise leader in wins) and Pierce (the franchise leader in strikeouts). Buehrle won 161 games in 12 seasons with the White Sox, threw a no-hitter and a perfect game, saved Game 3 of the World Series and never threw fewer than 200 innings in a season after his 2000 debut. While he didn’t seek out the spotlight, Buehrle’s consistency — plus those historic moments and a few tarp dives mixed in — made No. 56 one of the White Sox most popular players during his time in Chicago. He was well-liked by his teammates and coaches, too, after working his way from being a 38th round draft pick to becoming a five-time All-Star in his career.

“I think that's one of the best compliments I can get, people liking me,” Buehrle said. “I wanted to be liked by everybody. I had fun at the field, tried to stay loose, try to joke around with guys. “I think at the end of the day I'm just a normal dude who was fortunate to play professional baseball and play that long and be healthy.” Part of Buehrle’s sense of disbelief over his jersey retirement is that he’s only 38 and pitched his last game 21 months ago. While he’s enjoying life after baseball — and is playing first base and hitting cleanup for his beer league softball team — he’s not that far removed from it, unlike even Frank Thomas, who last played nine years ago. “I was just a kid playing baseball, little leagues a few years back, and here I am getting my number retired,” Buehrle said. “It’s hard to soak it all in and figure it out.” Don’t expect Buehrle’s address to the crowd at Guaranteed Rate Field Saturday to go long — just like his starts here — as he said he a “complete disaster” emotionally thinking about the pregame ceremony. His nine-year-old son, Braden, will sing the national anthem and his eight-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, will throw out the first pitch, though Buehrle said he won’t be nervous for those moments since his speech will be over with. It's a moment that'll be special for him and h is wife, Jamie. But Saturday’s festivities weren’t something Buehrle was expecting when he debuted with the White Sox on July 16, 2000 — or even when he last started for the franchise on Sept. 27, 2011. “You don’t think of getting numbers retired or any stuff like this,” Buehrle said. “You just go out there and play the game and the numbers take care of themselves. I knew I would come back but not for something like this, no. No chance.”

White Sox offense can’t stay hot in loss to A’s By Paul Roumeliotis / CSN Chicago | June 23, 2017 A day after having quite the offensive party, the White Sox didn’t save any production for Friday. The White Sox couldn’t muster any offense in a 3-0 loss to the Oakland Athletics in their series opener at Guaranteed Rate Field in front of 25,370 fans. After recording 18 hits in Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, the White Sox were held to just seven on Friday, but it felt like fewer. They went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Mike Pelfrey, who fell to 3-6 on the season, took a step back after delivering a strong performance in his last outing against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 33-year-old struggled with his command against the A’s all night. He pitched 4 2/3 innings and issued five walks. Pelfrey also allowed all three runs on four hits and two homers. The A’s got on the board early with a two-run shot to center field by Khris Davis. In the fifth, Pelfrey allowed another homer, a solo shot, to Matt Joyce to make it 3-0. The White Sox bullpen staved off any further production and combined for 4 1/3 shutout innings between four relievers. But they weren’t able to generate any of their own. Not even ejections from Tim Anderson and Rick Renteria could spark an offense that put up nine runs the day before. The White Sox best chance came in the bottom of the ninth, where Melky Cabrera and Jose Abreu opened with back-to-back singles. After an Avisail Garcia flyout, Todd Frazier popped one over A’s first baseman Yonder Alonso, but Abreu was thrown out at second. Matt Davidson flew out to center field at the warning track to end the game. Friday marked the start of a season-long 10-game homestand, somewhere the White Sox were happy to be after playing 15 of their last 19 on the road.

Don Cooper remembers what made Mark Buehrle so special By JJ Stankevitz / CSN Chicago | June 23, 2017 Mark Buehrle didn’t have the kind of attributes found in most of the dominant pitchers of the post-steroid era. He was a 38th-round draft pick with a fastball that, on a good day, would scrap the upper 80’s. On Saturday, Buehrle will become the third pitcher to have his number retired in White Sox history, joining Ted Lyons (No. 16) and Billy Pierce (No. 19). For Don Cooper, who was Buehrle’s pitching coach from 2002-2011, it’s not hard to see why the St. Charles, Mo. native’s name will forever be a part of White Sox history. “Reliable, consistent, dependable, winner, good guy, unflappable, these are words that come to mind when I think about him,” Cooper said. Cooper was flooded with plenty of memories of Buehrle during the dozen minutes he spent chatting with the media on Friday. He said he learned a lot from working with Buehrle, watching him fill up the strike zone and induce early, weak contact while working at a brisk pace. One of Cooper's memories that stood out was this one: “I can remember in the bullpen, he’d be warming up, he’d throw about 10 pitches,” Cooper said. “He’d look at me, I’d look at him. He wasn’t throwing very good. He turned to me and said, ‘Come on, let’s go, this isn’t going to get me any better.’” But that was Buehrle — “In many ways, you could just wind him up and you’re throwing him out there every five days,” Cooper said. He battled through days where he didn’t have his best stuff — not that his stuff was electric to begin with — and turned in 14 consecutive years with 200 or more innings. Buehrle, of course, threw a no-hitter in 2007 and a perfect game in 2009, and along with save in Game 3 of the World Series represent some of the crowning achievements of his career. Cooper was happy to have been a part of it from his perch on the White Sox bench. “I think he was blessed,” Cooper said. “He was given a lot of gifts. The sinking fastball, the changeup, the cutter. His curveball, by scouts’ assessments, would probably be rated an average curveball. But as time went and as his stuff went down, we started to use that more. When he was at his best, we would throw about 8-10 of those. But as he started losing his stuff we had to mix more of those in. And listen, the career he had, his number being retired, the kids, his family — blessed. He’s been a blessed guy.”

Adam Engel making the most of his opportunity with White Sox By Paul Roumeliotis / CSN Chicago | June 23, 2017 Adam Engel is making the most of his second opportunity with the White Sox. Engel had his best game of the season in Thursday’s finale against the Minnesota Twins, where he went 4-for-5 with three singles, a double, and two RBIs in the White Sox 9-0 win. He became the first White Sox outfielder with a four-hit game within their first 11 career MLB games since Harold Baines (10th game) on April 20, 1980, according to CSN stats guru Chris Kamka. "Some days you hit it, some days you don’t," Engel said. "Yesterday was the day that I hit it.” After nearly a five-hour rain delay, the White Sox came out hot right from the get-go on Thursday. In fact, by the time Engel was ready to bat for the first time, the White Sox were already leading 4-0 and Twins starter Nik Turley had been yanked from the game. “It was awesome,” Engel. “(The) team is winning, getting some hits. It’s a great feeling. Obviously the goal is to try and help the team win.” Engel made his major league debut on May 27 and then was optioned back to Triple-A Charlotte on June 9. His wife Jaime had a child on June 12, and almost a week later, he was recalled again by the White Sox to replace an injured Leury Garcia. Engel, who's hitting .344/.382/.406 entering Friday's game, will look to keep his hot streak going with his wife and newborn in attendance.

Mark Buehrle relishing life after baseball, and his new softball position By JJ Stankevtiz / CSN Chicago | June 23, 2017 Mark Buehrle was known for plenty of things in his 16-year career, whether it was winning 214 games, being a five-time All-Star, throwing a perfect game and a no-hitter, winning a World Series and throwing 200 or more innings in 14 consecutive seasons. Now, the 38-year-old is relishing life as a dad and husband. Oh, and as the first baseman and cleanup hitter for his beer league softball team. Hey, Buehrle’s probably the only one on the team to hit a home run in the major leagues, in addition to that whole other list of pitching accomplishments. But socking softball dingers hasn’t given Buehrle the itch to get back into baseball, at least not yet. “I honestly thought I'd miss it more, the first year at home sitting on the couch and watching games and thinking, 'Man, what am I doing? I probably should still be playing,’” Buehrle said. “But the little ones have kept me busy and the wife's honey do list is not getting any shorter. But no, I enjoy being home and running the kids around and doing all the stuff we're doing. I haven't really missed it at all.” Buehrle led the American League in complete games in 2015 and finished that year with a 15-8 record and 3.81 ERA, though he fell 1 1/3 innings shy of making it 15 consecutive seasons with 200 or more innings pitched. But he was isolated in Toronto, with his family still in St. Louis, and knew that even though he probably had more left in the tank, he didn’t want to continue playing. So Buehrle didn’t have a retirement tour, reportedly turned down some one-year offers and bought an RV after the 2015 season. “I was sitting in my apartment too much saying, ‘I’m a family guy, I’m a dad. I’m not a single college student,’” Buehrle said. “That’s what I felt like. I knew I was done that whole year leading up to it. I didn’t want to make a big deal of it. I wanted to go off in the sunset kind of quiet. I didn’t want all the attention.” Someday, Buehrle expects he’ll want to get back into the game in some capacity. His kids are eight and nine (going on 10) years old, though, so it probably won’t be anytime soon. Unless you count getting back in the game as playing some beer league softball. “Right now we are so busy at home and enjoying that, I wouldn’t want to have to keep leaving again,” Buehrle said. “Eventually I would like to do something to stay involved.”

Tim Anderson and Rick Renteria tossed as A’s shut out White Sox 3-0 By Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune | June 23, 2017 What Tim Anderson thought was a foul ball put the White Sox shortstop in a foul mood Friday. And so on his 24th birthday, the White Sox shortstop was ejected for the first time in his career. Anderson chopped a ball in front of home plate in the fifth inning, which was caught by A's catcher Bruce Maxwell, who subsequently tagged out a standing-still Anderson during the Sox's 3-0 loss. On his way to the Sox dugout, Anderson shared some words of discouragement with home plate umpire Jim Wolf that drew his ire — and a swift right arm signaling the end of Anderson's night on the field at Guaranteed Rate Field. "I told him it was foul," Anderson said. "His response was, 'I know.' I told him that was (bull) and he tossed me. "It was a birthday gift from him. I thank him." Umpires were not available for comment after Anderson made his late Friday night. Sox manager Rick Renteria quickly came to Anderson's defense — and quickly joined him in on a couch in the home clubhouse after Wolf threw him out, too.

The two watched the rest of the game together, side-by-side and both thought the Sox had tied it in the ninth when Matt Davidson flew out to deep center field with two on and two out. Renteria's ejection meant he wasn't around to argue the play after Anderson was tossed, when Yolmer Sanchez tried for second on an single that A's shortstop Chad Pinder misplayed only to be called out. Replays suggested he might have been safe, but the call stood after review. The ejections were the early highlights of an otherwise nondescript start to a 10-game homestand for the Sox, who have played 44 of their 72 contests on the road. The Sox managed seven hits, including two to start the ninth, but no runs a day after topping the Twins 9-0 in Minnesota after a 4-hour, 50-minute rain delay. The A's had just five hits against five Sox pitchers, including four against starter Mike Pelfrey. Pelfrey retired the first two A's in the first, then unraveled during his next five pitches —walking Jed Lowrie on four before Khris Davis hit a 429-foot home run to center field. Leadoff hitter Matt Joyce tagged Pelfrey for a leadoff home run in the fifth to make it 3-0. Pelfrey's day was done shortly thereafter, after he had allowed four hits, five walks and struck out four in 4 2/3 innings. "Pretty bad. Five walks, all of them with two outs, which is a cardinal sin," Pelfrey said. "I don't think I did a lot to be successful. If I don't walk (Lowrie) maybe (Davis) doesn't come up. That's the crappy part about it." Renteria felt the same way about Wolf's quick hook on Anderson. "I don't want to get in trouble," Renteria said. "The players have an emotion. … I just think we need to grow a little thicker skin."

Mark Buehrle on White Sox number being retired: ‘It doesn’t make sense’ By Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune | June 23, 2017 Mark Buehrle on Saturday will become the first player on his Sunday-night beer-league softball team to have a major-league team retire his number. He also will become the 11th player in White Sox history to be honored in such a way, joining former teammates Paul Konerko and Frank Thomas, among others, during a ceremony at Guaranteed Rate Field. The left-hander's pitching days are far behind him. He's a first baseman now, batting cleanup and trying to hit softballs for fun one day a week. "Signed a contract," he joked Friday, a day before the Sox will retire his No. 56. "Just trying to stay active and have fun." Buehrle did plenty of that during his 16 big-league seasons, 12 of which were spent with the Sox. He threw two no-hitters, one of which was a perfect game. He helped the Sox to the 2005 World Series title. He was an All-Star four times during his career and won Gold Gloves. He started nine opening days for the Sox. He pitched at least 200 innings in 14 consecutive seasons and had at least 10 victories 15 years in a row. Oh, and he drank a beer or three before saving Game 3 of the World Series. A 38th-round pick of the Sox in 1988, Buehrle was 161-119 with a 3.83 ERA for them and 214-160 with a 3.81 overall. The man who was cut from his high school's baseball team as a sophomore finished his career with a year in Miami and three more with the Blue Jays before retiring after the 2015 season. "It doesn't really make sense, to be honest with you," Buehrle said of having his number retired. "Trying to wrap my head around it. "I watched Frank Thomas as a kid growing up and when I came here and played with him, I couldn't believe it. I'm like a fan of Frank Thomas, who's right there. It just doesn't make sense that I'm up there with those guys."

It makes perfect sense to Sox pitching coach Don Cooper, who referred to Buehrle as a "stud." Cooper said he texted the 38-year-old a couple of years ago, half in jest, and told him to start throwing with his son. "I said 'Hey, go out and play catch in your backyard with Braden,'" Cooper said. "'If it feels good, keep throwing and then we'll set you up with a schedule for you and bring you back.'" Buehrle never returned to the South Side in a Sox uniform. He said he hasn't given much thought to taking on a role with any big-league teams in the near-future. He keeps plenty busy with his son, Braden, 9, daughter Brooklyn, 8, and wife Jamie. Braden is scheduled to sing the national anthem before Saturday's game, while Brooklyn will throw out a ceremonial first pitch. As for Buehrle, he's scheduled for an emotional breakdown, he said. "Yeah, a complete disaster," he said. "My kids keep asking me, 'Dad, why are you so nervous? Just go out there and talk. … It's going to be awesome."

Struggling Todd Frazier trying to ‘sit back and enjoy the show’ By Steve Greenberg / Chicago Sun-Times | June 23, 2017 As has been the case for him all season, White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier failed to follow up on an explosive game at the plate with another outing that might suggest he is ready to get something going offensively. Frazier homered and had his first multihit game in nearly two weeks Thursday against the Twins. But in the Sox’ 3-0 loss Friday to the Athletics, his 0-for-4 included a rally-killing double play in the seventh inning and a fielder’s-choice pop-up with two on and one out in the ninth. ‘‘I feel fine,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m streaky, that’s it.’’ In danger of seeing his batting average fall below .200, Frazier — who does have 12 homers and 35 RBI — is overdue for a hot streak. The Sox would settle for a warmish streak. Todd Frazier had a couple of opportunities to extend Sox rallies Friday, bot no dice. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) ‘‘You’ve got to come to grips with yourself and understand what you can do,’’ he said. ‘‘When I get hot, I know I can carry a team. And when I’m not, I’m going to need some help. That’s basically it.’’ Frazier, 31, has been working on putting less pressure on himself — a challenge he started dealing with, he recalled, as a 12-year-old. ‘‘I told [manager Rick Renteria] the other day that I put a little too much pressure on myself sometimes,’’ he said. ‘‘I told him I’m trying to just sit back and enjoy the show sometimes. I don’t have to reinvent the wheel here.’’ Pleading in the fifth Well, that sure was a strange bottom of the fifth. With one out and the Sox trailing 3-0, shortstop Tim Anderson bounced a pitch from A’s starter Jharel Cotton right in front of the plate. Umpire Jim Wolf called the ball fair. Anderson, apparently thinking it was foul, never got out of the box, was tagged out by catcher Bruce Maxwell and — in the blink of an eye — was ejected by Wolf. It was the first ejection of his big-league career. Seconds later, Renteria was given the heave-ho, too. Then Yolmer Sanchez bounced a single up the middle off the glove of A’s shortstop Chad Pinder. While Pinder — in the outfield grass, his back to first base — stared blankly at the ball for what seemed an interminable length of time, Sanchez eventually tried to sneak into second. Pinder, roused from his reverie, got the ball just in time to second baseman Jed Lowrie, who tagged Sanchez for a highly questionable out.

After a long review, the call was upheld. It easily could have — probably should have — been overturned. Maybe the Sox had no one left to argue. Rodon in action Left-hander Carlos Rodon made his fourth rehab start — and his third at Class AAA Charlotte — as he continues to try to work his way back from bursitis in his left biceps. He allowed eight runs (seven earned) and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out seven, walked two and threw 91 pitches, 54 for strikes.

‘Unflappable’ Mark Buehrle all set to have White Sox No. 56 retired By Steve Greenberg / Chicago Sun-Times | June 23, 2017 On Saturday at his old South Side stomping grounds, Mark Buehrle will stride to the pitcher’s mound and face the music one more time. What’ll he have in store for White Sox fans? ‘‘A complete disaster,’’ the retired left-hander warned. ‘‘I don’t think I’ve been so nervous in my life.’’ Ah, well. The Sox will go ahead and immortalize his No. 56 anyway. Buehrle, 38, will become the 11th Sox star to have his number retired. He’ll join beloved former teammate Paul Konerko and six Hall of Famers — and make no mistake about how clearly the former 38th-round draft pick belongs among them. ‘‘Reliable, consistent, a winner, a good guy, unflappable,’’ longtime Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said. ‘‘These are words that come to mind when I think of him.’’ Unflappable? Definitely not when it comes to public speaking. If you’re at the game or watching from home, you’d better focus extra hard the instant Buehrle’s lips start moving. Whatever he says to the crowd, it’ll be short. It’s anybody’s guess on the sweet. ‘‘Speech? What speech?’’ Buehrle said before the Sox’ series opener Friday against the Athletics. He might not be prepared to channel Lou Gehrig, but Buehrle always was prepared to pitch. He did it nine times for the Sox as the starter on Opening Day. He did it to the tune of 161 victories for the Sox and 214 for his career. He demonstrated it by throwing at least 200 innings for 14 consecutive seasons (the last three with the Marlins and Blue Jays), joining icons Greg Maddux, Phil Niekro and Christy Mathewson as the only players to accomplish that. Buehrle was a five-time All-Star (four with the Sox) and fielded his position so soundly that he won four consecutive Gold Gloves. And talk about preparation: He didn’t throw the ball as fast as the other great pitchers of his time, but he worked faster than anyone in the game. Every delivery was simply a means to the next one. ‘‘It was always, ‘Never take anything for granted,’ ’’ he said. ‘‘Go out there and get outs. If you’re not getting outs, you’re going to be in the minor leagues.’’ Buehrle insists he doesn’t miss playing the game. He has his family: wife Jamie, 8-year-old daughter Brooklyn and 9-year-old son Braden, who will sing the national anthem Saturday. He putters around his garage looking for things to fix. He’s getting ready for deer season. Oh, and he’s playing beer-league softball. Imagine Buehrle as a cleanup-hitting first baseman if you can. ‘‘At the end of the day, I’m just a normal dude who was fortunate to have played professional baseball,’’ he said. But a normal dude didn’t no-hit the Rangers in 2007 and deliver a perfect game against the Rays in 2009. A normal dude didn’t throw a complete-game victory against the Angels in Game 2 of the 2005 American League Championship Series, perhaps the key to that whole glorious postseason. A normal dude didn’t enter the 14th inning of Game 3 of the World Series — after having started Game 2 — and retire Adam Everett with the tying runs on base and Astros fans in a frenzy. ‘‘I could sit here and tell you I was the hardest worker, that I was the first one here and the last one to leave,’’ Buehrle said. ‘‘I wasn’t. I just went and did what I had to do.’’ And he did it so well. On Saturday at his old South Side stomping grounds, Buehrle will get what’s coming to him.

Mark Buehrle pens essay in The Players’ Tribune thanking Chicago By Elan Kane / Chicago Sun-Times | June 23, 2017 With the White Sox set to retire Mark Buehrle’s No. 56 jersey Saturday, the left-hander recounted his memories of playing in Chicago, pitching a perfect game in 2009 and winning the World Series in 2005 in The Players’ Tribune. “I didn’t win every game, and sometimes I kind of sucked, but I always worked as hard as I could to get us those W’s,” Buerhle wrote. “And I hope that on at least a few occasions I made Sox fans proud, because I can tell you for sure that I was extremely proud to put on that uniform and represent for the South Side of Chicago.” Buerhle posted a 161-119 record with a 3.83 ERA for the White Sox from 2000 to ’11, making four American League All-Star teams, winning three Gold Gloves, making nine Opening Day starts in a 10-year period and helping the White Sox win a World Series in 2005. In 2009, Buerhle pitched a perfect game against the Rays. Mark Buehrle wore No. 56 on his White Sox jersey and it will be retired on Saturday. | On Sall/Sun-Times “What I remember most is not being able to keep my mouth shut between innings during that one,” Buerhle wrote. “I talked guys’ ears off. I basically did the opposite of everything you always hear about when no-hitters and perfect games are discussed.” In addition to having his number retired Saturday, Buerhle will throw out the first pitch, and his 9-year-old son, Braden, will sing the National Anthem. “Having my number retired by this team, and getting to come back and show my appreciation to the fans who showed me so much love over the years, is going to be one of the greatest honors of my life,” Buerhle wrote.

Anderson, Renteria ejected in White Sox’s 3-0 loss to Oakland By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald | June 23, 2017 Tim Anderson remembers being ejected from a game when he was playing for Class AA Birmingham. He said he deserved it. The White Sox's mild-mannered shortstop was ejected from his first major-league game in Friday night's 3-0 loss to the Oakland A's at Guaranteed Rate Field. Well after the game was in the book, Anderson was still baffled by being ejected by home-plate umpire Jim Wolf. Sox manager Rick Renteria was also ejected. In the fifth inning, Anderson bounced a ball in front of home plate and was thrown out at first base by A's catcher Bruce Maxwell. Thinking the ball was foul, Anderson stayed in the box and could not believe Wolf's call -- for good reason. "I didn't say anything direct," Anderson said. "I told him it was foul and he said, 'I know.' I told him it was b.s and he tossed me. Learn from it and keep moving." On the White Sox's last homestand, Avisail Garcia was also ejected for arguing with an umpire, as was Renteria. In both cases, Renteria said umpires should have "thicker skin." "I think the players have an emotion, they're battling," Renteria said after Friday's loss. "I think we should be allowed to be disagreeable without getting tossed. Again, emotions go high for everybody, including the umpires. They are out there trying to do their job "But the players are the ones that should be deciding the fate of their club and I think we all need to understand that the emotions that coaches and players experience should be weathered a little bit better."

Rodon update: On the disabled the entire season with left biceps bursitis, Carlos Rodon made his fourth rehabilitation start Friday night. Pitching for Class AAA Charlotte, Rodon allowed 8 runs (7 earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks in 4⅓ innings. The left-hander also had 7 strikeouts while throwing 91 pitches. Rodon has made 4 rehab starts, the first with high Class A Winston-Salem, and he's 0-4 with a 10.06 ERA. Logging innings is the most important thing for Rodon, so he might make his next start for the White Sox, possibly against the Yankees Wednesday or Thursday.

A personal look at Chicago White Sox great Mark Buehrle By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald | June 23, 2017 In Thursday's Daily Herald, we presented 56 highlights of Mark Buehrle's stellar 16-year career, the first 12 spent with the Chicago White Sox. In advance of Saturday's ceremony at Guaranteed Rate Field -- Buehrle's uniform No. 56 is going to be retired before the Sox play the Oakland Athletics -- the highlight list was both exhaustive and exhilarating. My favorite Buehrle factoid? While averaging a staggering 205⅔ innings per season, the left-hander never went on the disabled list. Getting off the statistics and superlatives, allow me to take a more personal look at Buehrle, whom I got to know quite well beginning in 2000, when he made the jump from Class AA Birmingham to the White Sox. It was in 2001, Buehrle's first full season in the majors, when I ran into him in the lobby of a downtown Cleveland hotel where we were both staying. Talking about something other than baseball, I believe it was fishing, a group of Sox fans headed our way. "They're coming for autographs," I said. "Not for mine," Buehrle said. "I'm sure they don't know me, and that's the way I like it." As the years went by and Buehrle pitched a perfect game, no-hitter and became one of the top starters in baseball, the early attitude never changed. He was always just a regular guy from St. Charles, Missouri, and Buehrle never looked down on teammates, reporters or fans. That's why he always caught the ceremonial first pitch at home games, ran the NCAA Tournament pool every March and signed endless autographs. That's why he would talk to reporters before games he was starting, typically about any subject but baseball. Buehrle always enjoyed talking about hunting and fishing, and I remember the time during spring training in Tucson, Arizona, when he shot a javelina that was wandering near his residence. "You know that's illegal, right," said a security guard at the White Sox's complex. "Do now," Buehrle replied. Nothing was ever off limits with Buehrle, and that's where he's particularly missed. Near the end of the disappointing 2003 season, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf visited the clubhouse and player after player declined to discuss what was said behind closed doors. Not Buehrle.

"He just told us we had no heart and were stealing money," Buehrle said with a shrug. "He told the truth." Late in the 2002 season, William Ligue and his son William Jr. decided it would be a good idea to run on the field and attack Kansas City Royals first-base coach Tom Gamboa. After the game, most White Sox players were willing to talk about what happened, but Buehrle was nowhere to be found in the clubhouse. He finally appeared, after walking back from the holding cell. "Just wanted to see what they looked like and what they were thinking about," Buehrle said. Fans can get one last look at Buehrle on Saturday, when he becomes the 11th Sox player to have his number retired.

As White Sox prepare to retire No. 56, Buehrle still in disbelief By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald | June 23, 2017 In his 16 seasons as a major-league pitcher, the first 12 spent with the Chicago White Sox, nothing ever seemed to rattle Mark Buehrle. The soft-tossing lefty never stressed when in a jam, and he was easy going on the field and in the clubhouse. Buehrle never enjoyed being in the spotlight, and that's why he's a little off his game approaching Saturday afternoon, when the White Sox are going to retire his uniform No. 56. "A complete disaster," Buehrle said of his emotional state. "I don't think I've been so nervous in my life before leading up to something for this long, losing sleep. Public speaking is probably my worst fear and I have to get out there. Try to soak it in, try to have fun with it." Buehrle had more fun than most playing baseball, and he is looking forward to becoming just the 11th player in Sox history to have his number retired. "My kids keep asking me, 'Dad why are you so nervous? Just go out there and talk,'" Buehrle said. "It's going to be awesome. Probably won't remember most of it until I watch it on video a little bit later. Just try to go out there and soak it in." A capacity crowd is expected at Guaranteed Rate Field to salute one of the greatest players in franchise history. "I'm thinking about the constant years of service at 200-plus innings," said Don Cooper, who took over as White Sox pitching coach on July 22, 2002. "If you do it for more than two, three years, you're pretty good. You do it for as many years as he did it, you've go to be a stud. "Reliable, consistent, dependable, winner, good guy, unflappable, these are words that come to mind when I think about him." A 38th-round draft pick out of Jefferson (Mo.) Community College, Buehrle pitched for the Sox from 2000-11, going 161-119 while logging over 200 innings in each full season. Buehrle was a key piece on the White Sox's 2005 World Series championship team, and he also pitched a perfect game and no-hitter. Still, the workhorse pitcher doesn't think he is worthy of having his number retired. That is vintage Buehrle. "It doesn't really make sense, to be honest with you," he said. "Trying to wrap my head around it. I watched Frank Thomas as a kid growing up and even when I came here and played with him, I couldn't believe it. I'm like a fan of Frank Thomas, who's right there. "It just doesn't make sense that I'm up there with those guys. I went out there and tried to do what I could do every day and had fun with it and obviously had a good, long successful career. And now here we are getting my number retired. I can't really explain it. It's pretty hard."

Buehrle retired after the 2015 season, his third with the Toronto Blue Jays. He also pitched for the Miami Marlins in 2012 and finished his career with a 214-160 record and 3.81 ERA. Buehrle said he doesn't miss baseball at all, and is enjoying being at home with his wife Jamie, 9-year-old son Braden and 8-year-old daughter Brooklyn. He's also playing beer league softball on Sunday nights back home in St. Charles, Mo., but Buehrle is now a first baseman and cleanup hitter. Braden is going to sing the national anthem Saturday before the White Sox play the A's, and Brooklyn will throw the ceremonial first pitch to her dad. "I enjoy being home and running the kids around and doing all the stuff we're doing," Buehrle said. "I haven't really missed (baseball) at all."

Anderson, Renteria ejected as another odd dispute turns into quick hooks By James Fegan / The Athletic | June 23, 2017 It’s not like it was a Friday night that was going well to begin with. Working on your 24th birthday might carry a different connotation for Tim Anderson and baseball players living their dream in general. But by the time he was digging in for his fifth-inning at-bat, he was already 0-for-1, having been robbed on a hot smash up the middle turned into an inning-ending double play, the White Sox were losing 3-0–and on their way to losing by the same score–and a Matt Davidson bloop to short right-center was their only hit. Not that frustration from that was the reason Anderson, and subsequently manager Rick Renteria were ejected; the real root cause was much stranger and harder to pin down. Anderson disagreed with the ruling that a tapper he hit just in front of home plate landed in fair territory–it looked fair from the fourth level of Guaranteed Rate Field–and his seemingly casual and reserved words of disagreement contained language home plate umpire Jim Wolf deemed worthy of a quick ejection, the very first of Anderson’s young major league career. “I told him that it was foul, and his response was, ‘I know, but he caught it,’” Anderson said. “And I told him that was BS. And he tossed me.” Renteria, who just earlier this month picked up his first ejection of the season for raging against an early hook for Avisail Garcia, went down for the same principle Friday night; his players are getting tossed before he can mediate the conflict. “Again, I think we’ve talked about it before,” Renteria said. “I don’t want to get in trouble…The players having emotion, they are battling. I just think we need to grow a little thicker skin.” The explanation is a little confusing, considering a dispute over a foul ball would theoretically be reviewable, and A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell catching the ball off the bounce would only affect the play if Wolf was acknowledging that the ball was going foul rather than it landed in foul territory. A request to the league for clarification on the call had not been answered at the time of publishing, but it’s easy to see how this could have been the case of a player and an umpire talking past each other, and the latter being intolerant for anger at the confusion. Anderson has been visibly frustrated during his sophomore-year struggles for a while, whether it was when he slammed his helmet in the dugout Wednesday, or the multiple times he’s been noticeably upset with himself at the plate while suffering through a pair of sub-.600 OPS months in April and now June. But both he and Renteria said this wasn’t a continuation of that. “It was different,” Anderson said. “Because if I was more frustrated it would’ve been a lot more than what it was. I feel like I was walking away and let it be. But if it was more I would’ve gave him more.” Anderson expressed appreciation that Renteria showed for the umpteenth time that he has his players’ backs, but it also gave him a TV-watching buddy as they both took in the rest of the game from the clubhouse. When Davidson connected on what looked like it might a game-tying, three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, they both wanted to believe. “It came off the bat pretty good and I thought ‘Here it is.' But obviously just a little short,” Renteria said. “I was watching in the clubhouse, in the middle, with all my friends.”

“We all jumped up and were excited but it kind of fell short,” Anderson said. It was enough entertainment for Anderson to be in good spirits afterward, even if the 25,370 drawn in by Country Music Night weren’t thrilled by a shutout, and starter Mike Pelfrey chastised himself in his typically ruthless fashion for any off night. At the end of the night, Anderson had jokes for Wolf, rather than harsh words. “It was a birthday gift from him,” Anderson said. “I thank him for it.”

How the rebuild is taking its toll on White Sox pitching By James Fegan / The Athletic | June 23, 2017 If you want proof the White Sox are in a rebuild, look no further than the starting rotation. As a franchise, they are coming off back-to-back years finishing third in baseball in quality start percentage, and haven’t had a season where they finished below league average since 2004. A consistent floor of quality starting pitching has been a hallmark of the Don Cooper era. This year the White Sox have just 25 quality starts in 71 games entering Friday’s action — the lowest total in the American League, and bad enough for the third-lowest percentage in all of baseball. A stretch of five quality starts in 28 tries will do that, as downturns from Derek Holland and Miguel Gonzalez in June aligned with absences from Carlos Rodon and James Shields. The dip in quality has in turn, torn down another Sox pitching hallmark. The Sox are averaging just 5.4 innings per start in 2017, the third-lowest mark in the American League. They haven’t been below major league average in the average innings per outings they received from starters, regardless of the quality, since 2001, back in the Nardi Contreras era. They haven’t even averaged less than six innings per start since 2002, and finished in the top-five in baseball in innings per start 10 times during that span. This is also looking like the first time since 2011 the White Sox will not finish in the top-three for pitches thrown per start. Manager Rick Renteria obviously hopes for more, but there are limits. Dylan Covey coming right out of the Rule 5 Draft into the rotation obviously merited cautious treatment and early hooks, and the same could be said for David Holmberg, who hasn’t exceeded 80 pitches in any of his five starts. But 10-year veteran Mike Pelfrey is also only pulling five innings per start, and likely won’t be pushed much beyond that since Renteria publicly castigated himself for leaving him in too long in Anaheim. Things were always going to dip after the Sox traded away the current AL innings leader, and Jose Quintana averaging roughly two outs less per outing really adds up after a while. But Derek Holland was eating innings and Miguel Gonzalez was leading the team in innings per start until a rough June overcame both. “I think all our pitchers I'm hoping will continue to extend their usage,” Renteria said. “It also depends on the availability of our pen. If you're able to shorten your pen, you can't do it all the time because then you're using your pen all the time. You have to be able to give those guys opportunities to go out there and eat up some innings.” Despite this, the White Sox rank 10th in reliever innings in the AL, and 11th in relief appearances. Dan Jennings’ 33 appearances make him the only Sox reliever among the top-30 in the AL in the category, and Anthony Swarzak’s 33 innings makes him the only top-30 guy on the team for actual outs accumulated. Not that he feels particularly encumbered. “Really don’t even think about it like I’ve been having this huge workload,” Swarzak said. “I really don’t. I’ve always been a long guy. I’ve thrown close to 100 innings out of the bullpen multiple years in my career. I’m ready for this. I feel great.” Bad results during an awful schedule has helped lighten the load. The White Sox have played 43 road games already and lost 27 of them, which deletes a lot of ninth innings of work. They’ve been regularly rolling with an eight-man bullpen since they swapped Cody Asche for Gregory Infante in mid-May, and between injuries to Nate Jones and Zach Putnam and steady roster churn, Swarzak, Jennings, Tommy Kahnle and closer David Robertson are the only relievers who have been tasked with a full-season workload. The setup gives Renteria plenty of options to go to instead of Kahnle and Robertson when the Sox fall behind, which, as the rotation’s performance sags, becomes increasingly frequent. As a result, the only great casualty of the collapse of the starting pitching staff's performance is lost ballgames, the universal currency that the rebuilding Sox can afford to spend.

Davis, Joyce homer, A’s beat White Sox 3-0 By Matt Fortuna / Associated Press | June 23, 2017 CHICAGO -- Khris Davis and Matt Joyce homered, Jharel Cotton pitched three-hit ball into the sixth inning before leaving with a blister on his right thumb and the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago White Sox 3-0 on Friday night. Davis hit a two-run homer in the first. Joyce connected leading off the fifth against Mike Pelfrey (3-6) and the Athletics picked up the win coming off four-game sweep by Houston. Cotton (5-7) and four relievers combined on Oakland's second shutout of the season. Cotton gave up a leadoff single to Kevan Smith and left after he came up shaking his hand following the first pitch to Adam Engel. Liam Hendriks, Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle each worked a scoreless inning before Santiago Casilla ran into trouble in the ninth. He allowed singles to Melky Cabrera and Jose Abreu before getting out of the jam, picking up his 12th save in 15 chances. Pelfrey gave up three runs and four hits. He was lifted for Chris Beck after allowing consecutive walks with two outs in the fifth inning. Beck came in, and Avisail Garcia possibly saved two runs when he ran into the right-field wall to catch Ryon Healy's fly. White Sox manager Rick Renteria and shortstop Tim Anderson were ejected by plate umpire Jim Wolf in the fifth inning. Anderson, apparently thinking his groundout to catcher Bruce Maxwell should have been called a foul ball, argued and was ejected or the first time in his career. TRAINER'S ROOM Athletics: SS Chad Pinder was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth because of a strained left hamstring. . SS Marcus Semien, who had right wrist surgery April 18, was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Friday with Class-A Stockton. Melvin said Semien would play six innings Friday, play DH Saturday and have off Sunday. . Melvin said 3B Matt Chapman, who was placed on the 10-day DL with a bacterial skin infection on his left knee (retroactive to June 19), is making progress and could leave the hospital Saturday. UP NEXT The A's will send RHP Daniel Gossett (0-2, 7.20 ERA) to the hill for his third career start. The White Sox will counter with RHP James Shields (1-0, 2.42), who is making his second start since missing two months with a right lat strain. Shields gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision Sunday in Toronto.

Buehrle braces for emotional day as White Sox retire number By Andrew Seligman / Associated Press | June 23, 2017 CHICAGO -- Calm and composed throughout his 16-year big league career, Mark Buehrle is bracing for the worst when the Chicago White Sox honor their longtime ace by retiring his No. 56 on Saturday. "Complete disaster," he said. Buehrle figures he will be a wreck when he steps onto the field prior to Chicago's game against Oakland for a ceremony 12 seasons in the making. He will become the 12th player to have his number retired by the White Sox, joining former teammates Paul Konerko and Hall of Famer Frank Thomas. And it sure will be a fitting tribute. After all, Buehrle played on a World Series winner, threw a perfect game as well as another no-hitter and made four All-Star teams during his time in Chicago. As nervous as he is about the ceremony, Buehrle also knows this: "It's going to be awesome," he said. "I probably won't remember most of it until I watch it on video a little bit later. Just try to go out there and soak it in."

He said his speech will be short - no surprise for a guy known to work fast on the mound. But there is plenty of territory he could cover. Buehrle was 161-119 with a 3.83 ERA in 12 seasons in Chicago, pitching a no-hitter against Texas in 2007 and a perfect game against Tampa Bay in 2009. The left-hander was 161-119 with a 3.83 ERA for the White Sox and 214-160 with a 3.81 ERA during a 16-year career that included time with Miami and Toronto. He pitched more than 200 innings in 14 consecutive seasons. He started Game 2 of the 2005 World Series and earned the lone save of his career in Game 3 against Houston after having a few beers in the early innings, thinking there was no way he would pitch. But with a two-run lead and two men on, the White Sox turned to Buehrle to get the final out in the 14th inning. He retired Carl Everett on a pop fly, and Chicago took Game 4 by 1-0 to complete the sweep. Buehrle did all that without a blazing fastball. He won with guile, by mixing pitches and changing speeds. "So, reliable, consistent, dependable, winner, good guy, unflappable," White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said. "These are words that come to mind when I think about him." He remembers a pitcher who was rarely rattled, who hardly ever shook off a catcher because he believed in whatever he was throwing. Buehrle was the guy always signing autographs for fans prior to games, sliding head first on the soaked tarp during rain delays and tossing baseball superstitions aside by chatting up teammates as he closed in on that perfect game against Tampa Bay. "I wanted to be liked by everybody," he said. "I had fun at the field, tried to stay loose, try to joke around with guys. I think at the end of the day I'm just a normal dude who was fortunate to play professional baseball and play that long and be healthy." Buehrle recalled watching Thomas growing up, then becoming his teammate. Now, his number will be retired - just like The Big Hurt's. Buehrle joked that he thought the White Sox were offering a contract when they called to tell him they were retiring his jersey. He said he's happy shuttling his kids to their sports events, knocking items off the to-do list at home and playing on a beer league softball team. On Saturday, Buehrle will have a large contingent of friends, family and teammates on hand. His son Braden will sing the National Anthem and daughter Brooklyn with throw out a first pitch. "You don't think of getting numbers retired or any stuff like this," Buehrle said. "You just go out there and play the game and the numbers take care of themselves. I knew I would come back but not for something like this, no. No chance."

White Sox’s Renteria, Anderson tossed from game against A’s By Associated Press | June 23, 2017 CHICAGO -- White Sox manager Rick Renteria and shortstop Tim Anderson have been ejected from Friday night's game against the Oakland Athletics. The two were tossed by plate umpire Jim Wolf in the fifth inning. Anderson, apparently thinking his groundout to catcher Bruce Maxwell should have been called a foul ball, argued and was ejected or the first time in his career. Renteria came out to defend Anderson and got thrown out for the ninth time in his career. Alen Hanson entered the game in the sixth inning at second base, with Yolmer Sanchez moving from second to short.