TUCSON -- If imitation truly is the highest form of flattery, then the Colorado Rockies clearly hold White Sox pitchers Mark Buehrle and Javier Vazquez in high regard.
That point was made clear by Colorado manager Clint Hurdle following the White Sox 5-2 victory at Hi Corbett Field on Tuesday, a game in which Buehrle allowed one run on four hits over six innings, striking out five and walking four.
Hurdle wants Franklin Morales, his 22-year-old southpaw who pitched twice during Boston's World Series sweep last season and also happens to wear Buehrle's jersey No. 56, to follow the mound pattern and style exhibited by Buehrle. Hurdle's plan is to have Morales watch tape of the White Sox Opening Day starter, and the same will hold true for Ubaldo Jimenez, 24, but the hard-throwing right-hander will study Vazquez's technique.
"We're definitely going to put that in play," said Hurdle of having his pitchers watch tape of the White Sox top two pitchers. "Obviously, they have more experience. But the give and take of watching them can't hurt by any means.
"I hope they paid attention to what the other guy did. They got to see Vazquez pitch over there [at Tucson Electric Park] and Buehrle pitch here. Talk about being able to repeat a delivery, that and the [low total] of pitches, putting the ball glove-side, arm-side, changing speeds. When you repeat your delivery, you can do a lot of things."
This usage of White Sox pitchers as teaching tools actually took root early last year, when the Indians had Fausto Carmona watch tape of sinkerballer Jon Garland to give him an idea as how to best work his nasty sinker. Carmona went on to win 19 games and become a bona fide Cy Young candidate.
Buehrle smiled when apprised of his style being studied, possibly forgetting how much he has accomplished over the past seven years as a starter. Repeating the delivery never has been a problem for Buehrle, who has always employed an easy-flow process, without any herky-jerky motions. But re-learning the craft of pitching is something that can be studied by even the most talented of hurlers going from Minor League success to the Majors.
"Definitely, this is a flattering kind of honor. Any time people look up to you or talk about how I try to be like you or I try to throw like you, I kind of wonder why."
Unfortunately for Buehrle or even Vazquez, they can't trade a some of their vast pitching wisdom for a little more speed taken from Jimenez's 98-mph fastball. Buehrle repeated a recent talk he had with Aaron Poreda, asking the White Sox top pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft how he throws 100 mph.
"He said, 'I got lucky,'" said Buehrle, shaking his head with a laugh.
For a pitcher such as Buehrle, though, the stuff is fine, but the mound smarts and understanding of how to topple opposing hitters are the keys to success. They just might work for Morales, as well.
