White Sox release Buehrle

KANSAS CITY, MO — Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle was pulled from Monday night’s game in Kansas City and immediately sent home, according to White Sox general manager Kenny Williams. Williams said that the team will finalize Buehrle’s release tomorrow.

After the lefty allowed a second inning double to the Royals’ Esteban German, Buehrle and manager Ozzie Guillen got into a heated discussion on the field and Buehrle was pulled for reliever Boone Logan. Williams told a group of reporters during the game that he agreed with Guillen’s decision to pull the veteran pitcher.

“I’ve been around the game for a long time and I can tell when someone isn’t trying,” Williams said. “Buerhle set a precedent with his last start, and if he isn’t going to live up to that precedent, he isn’t going to be part of this team. We want grinders out there.

“Our only goal is reaching the World Series. To do that, we have to be consistent. How does a pitcher go from throwing a no-hitter to allowing a second inning double? We can’t have someone that unpredictable on our roster.”

Buerhle seemed upset about the situation, but he said that he understood. “I made a mistake, and that’s not something that champions do,” he said. “At least I didn’t get released by the Cubs – now that would have been embarrassing.”