Throwing aside the 300 wins argument - there are, after all, a lot of pitchers in the HoF without 300 wins, and Buehrle is clearly better than some of them (see Hunter, Catfish): who among his peers (say, ages 28-32) is better? Honest question, there, I don’t know all that much about current baseball players (I couldn’t believe that Jamie Moyer of all people was still active). Among the few that I could think of and check on, he looks to be clearly worse than Johan Santana and Roy Oswalt, about equal to Tim Hudson and C.C. Sabathia, and clearly better than Josh Beckett. And it’s not at all crazy to think he’ll have a better second half of his career than Oswalt, who’s always been a bit on the fragile side. So who am I leaving out?
Halladay? Too old to compare?
I’d put Halladay a notch ahead of Buehrle, though he’s also a bit older. (32, so within my parameters).
Clearly better than Beckett? That’s a tough case. Beckett struggled with injuries for a long time (usually his fingernail, which I hold that he should just cut out). But he was instrumental in winning three World Series, and is becoming more and more dominant. If I had a choice right now between the two, it’d be Beckett, hands down.
CC’s too early to tell.
Santana is better, as is Halladay.
Hudson’s a bit older, but I think that’s a really good comparison. I’d take Hudson (if they were the same age), though. Hudson won’t make the Hall either.
CC’s not going to have a long career. He has trouble even holding up through the season. Too many cheeseburgers.
I say Santana is the best pitcher in baseball. YMMV.
Beckett wasn’t with Boston in 2004. He’s won the Series twice.
Oh sure, drag *facts *into this!
Well, so far at one year older than Beckett, he has about 600 more innings pitched, a similar ERA, and a better ERA+ (since he pitched his whole career in a DH league). Actually being consistently available to pitch has value.
Not the nail. The skin on his middle finger is prone to “avulsions” - like a callus separating.
Same here. Beckett’s a proven winner. What worries me about Halladay is his stated preference for a “quiet atmosphere” as well as one that trains in Florida. He might be one of a disturbing number of guys who just can’t take the pressure, either on a contending team or in a high-fan-interest market. But there’s nowhere quieter than a ballpark in Canada.
He’s at it again.
Buehrle perfect through five against the Twins tonight.
Now this would really be something. Wouldn’t make him a Hall of Famer but it would be an all-time distinction like Van Der Meer’s, only better. I’ll be pulling for him.
And of course, WGN is showing the Cubs instead. I love the Cubs, doesn’t everybody, but can’t they do a split screen or something?
SSG Schwartz
Alexi Casilla drew a walk with two out in the sixth. Buehrle set a record by retiring 45 batters in a row, and he still has a no-hitter going.
And there’s a hit by Denard Span. Predictable letdown. Still, what a groove this guy was in!
Just gave up a hit.
Should we really be talking about this?
But if he does it, that would likely ensure a spot in Cooperstown, provided he continues to pitch for a bunch of years and puts up good numbers.
As a Twins fan, I say yes, absolutely, we should have been talking about. In fact, I WAS talking about what a shame it would be if he blew the perfecto just as the seventh inning got underway. 
Do you people really believe in jinxing things? I’m not talking about another player saying something to Buehrle and psyching him out, but fans or announces talking about it?
What, you don’t think he surfs the Dope when the Sox are at bat?
SSG Schwartz