ChiSox fine Mark Buerhle for entertaining crowd during rain delay

[savafan]

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASA...=.jsp&c_id=cws

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Mark Buehrle's tarp-diving days officially came to a close Sunday afternoon, now slipping and sliding in its fourth year of rain delay theater.

During the second of two rain delays in the White Sox 6-4 victory over Toronto in 4 1/2 innings, Buehrle entertained the rain-soaked masses by walking out to the field and gliding across the tarp on his stomach after taking a running start from right-center. He followed that graceful move with another dive toward home plate as the rain poured down.

As Buehrle walked back toward the dugout after completing the show, he raised his hands to acknowledge the crowd's approval and seemed to wave one hand as if to indicate the fans should also partake in the activity. Neither of those moves sat very well with the organization, especially general manager Ken Williams.

Both Buehrle and manager Ozzie Guillen said the left-handed ace would be fined for his actions. Guillen did not chastise Buehrle for his perceived indiscretion, but the manager was not about to stand up for arguably his favorite player on the team if Buehrle had been injured during the tarp dive.

In an e-mailed response to MLB.com, Williams also made it crystal clear as to what he thought about Buehrle taking another dive during the next rain delay.

"He needs to find another hobby," Williams wrote, although he did not confirm Buehrle's fine.

A fan came out of the stands and decided to do his own tarp dive shortly after Buehrle left the field, but he was immediately apprehended by security. One team official said that the fear of inciting other fans to follow in his footsteps also was a strong reason for Buehrle to simply stick to pitching.

Buehrle didn't speak to the print or electronic media as he was walking out of the clubhouse, smiling as he said that he probably shouldn't comment because he got in trouble for his actions. But he did talk briefly to the television crews right after the victory.

"After I came in, somebody else said [I was fined]," Buehrle said in the interview. "We'll see if it comes out to be the truth, but if it is, I won't be out there anymore. I can't have any fun no more."

Future fun for Buehrle probably will have to consist of earning 20 victories or winning the American League Cy Young Award.

[flyer85]

Rick Dempsey made of habit of that over the years. Once doing an impersonation of the Dodger Manager involving the manager's jersey and a well placed pillow. The portly LA manager was not amused.

[Chip R]

It's all fun and games until someone gets an eye poked out.

Seriously, what if he had banged up his shoulder doing this? I'd imagine I'd be pretty upset if that happened if I were Kenny or Ozzie.

[Benny-Distefano]

I can understand why he was fined and why he shouldn't do that sort of thing.

It sure would be nice though if Baseball and our society in general were somehow in a more innocent place where things like "rain delay tarp slides" were allowed. Maybe in a more innocent time.

Oh well...

Seriously, what if he had banged up his shoulder doing this? I'd imagine I'd be pretty upset if that happened if I were Kenny or Ozzie.

...exactly. A serious injury to him would cost the ownership MILLIONS. Money. The root of all something-or-other, I forget. Gotta get to the bank before it closes.

[flyer85]

BTW, I was at the first friday game of the season at GABP and during the 2 hour rain delay a fan ran out onto the field and did an excellent tarp dive.

[savafan]

Rick Dempsey made of habit of that over the years. Once doing an impersonation of the Dodger Manager involving the manager's jersey and a well placed pillow. The portly LA manager was not amused.

I have a video where Rick Cerone did an impersonation of Robin Yount and then did a tarp slide as well.

[dougdirt]

BTW, I was at the first friday game of the season at GABP and during the 2 hour rain delay a fan ran out onto the field and did an excellent tarp dive.

Oh Yes....that was a good one. Sometimes the big slip-n-slide is to great of an chance to pass up for some.

[westofyou]

The only time I got to old Comiskey the game had a torrential downpour and one of the fans ran out and did that... he was escorted off to a chorus of cheers.

The grandstands leaked like a sieve too.

[Outshined_One]

A bunch of Cubs were sliding around on the tarp during the first Wrigley night game (8/8/88) rain delay, I believe Rick Sutcliffe among them. I think there's a Sports Illustrated cover out there with a picture of this.

Don Zimmer wasn't too pleased with those involved and fined them all.

[CincyFalcon]

I believe a Red Sox fan once made it on the field during a rain delay and did one of the best ever Carlton Fisk impersonations, waving the ball fair then making it around the bases before a headfirst slide...

[RBA]

The Marlins were slipping, sliding, and falling down yesterday at the GABP. Except for a game in progress at the same time, it was pretty funny.

[NatiRedGals]

The Marlins were slipping, sliding, and falling down yesterday at the GABP. Except for a game in progress at the same time, it was pretty funny.

I think thats funny im so wrong:

[TeamBoone]

Oh for Pete's sake... God forbid he have a little fun and interact with the crowd at the same time.

That said, yeah, he could get hurt.

But did they really have to fine him? Just tell him not to do it again.

[Chip R]

But did they really have to fine him? Just tell him not to do it again.

How did that work with TM?

Fining him is the best way to get him not to do it again. Wouldn't you be mad if Harang did the same thing and did something to his right shoulder and was gone for the rest of the season and his career in doubt?