FanHouse Roberto Hernandez

Heading towards the end of what's been a lengthy, and mostly successful career, Roberto Hernandez is conceding the fact that there are some aspects of today's game that he doesn't like. I'm sure having a six ERA is one of those factors. Also on that list, is the attitude of today's young players.

Hernandez said he learned how to pitch because teammates such as Carlton Fisk, Ozzie Guillen and Bobby Thigpen were tough on him early in his career. He recalled how Guillen called timeout during games to scream at him on the mound.

Something like that would never happen today, Hernandez said.
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He said retirement crossed his mind Saturday night. Ducking for safety to avoid a comebacker in the 14th inning, he found himself turned around and facing center field. He look up at the scoreboard, which told him it was 12:05 a.m. Sunday. It was his wife's birthday.

"I don't know how much longer I can do this," he said.

Funny thing is, I'm not sure how much longer anyone else will want him to do this -- with the exception of opposing batters, of course. Then again, just the fact that Hernandez has hung on this long is impressive. The guy was still an effective pitcher at 41, but he's definitely losing it at 42. Let's hope he calls it quits at the end of the year in order to preserve his legacy.

For the second time in three games, a White Sox starter wasn't able to make it through two innings. Unlike Jose Contreras, Mark Buehrle's exit from Thursday afternoons game had nothing to do with his performance.

After getting one out in the second inning, Ryan Garko hit a line drive right back up the middle that smacked into Buehrle's arm hard enough that the thud could be heard throughout the ball park. After trainer Herm Schneider and Ozzie Guillen came out to check on him, Buehrle quickly left the game with a knot already forming on his arm.

"It just went numb. I didn't know if anything really happened until I looked down and it kind of balled up," Buehrle said. "My heart kind of stopped because I thought it was broken at first. I've never seen anything like that happen."

The x-rays came back negative, and the left-hander is listed as day-to-day.

Before he left the game, Mark made sure to give up the the obligatory lead off home run to Grady Sizemore. Nick Massett came in for Buehrle and lasted for 4.2 innings, allowing four hits and a run.

The White Sox would go on to avoid being swept at home to start the season when Roberto Hernandez hit A.J. Pierzynski in the elbow with the bases loaded and nobody out. Rob Mackowiak scored the final run in the Sox' 4-3 victory.

Of course, it wouldn't be a play involving A.J. Pierzynski if there wasn't controversy. When asked afterwards if he thought Pierzynski did enough to get out of the way, Roberto Hernandez didn't seem to think so.

"Ask him. Ask him. I've played enough against him. That ball wasn't that close," Hernandez said. "But game on the line, bases loaded, free way to get a win."

As a completely biased observer to these events, I feel absolutely comfortable telling you that A.J. did not do enough to get out of the way, and I'm damn pleased he didn't.