MLB Notebook: Buehrle to leave family behind as they care for dog
BY Associated Press
Sunday, February 17, 2013
2/17/13 at 6:54 AM
Mark Buehrle won't be experiencing the dog days of summer. While the pitcher is headed to Toronto, his family will split the season between Broward County in Florida and their home in St. Louis. One of their four dogs, Slater, is a mix of American Staffordshire terrier and bulldog - and bulldogs are banned in the province of Ontario.
"He's an awesome dog," Buehrle said Saturday. "That's what's a shame; just the way he looks is why we have to get separated."
Sent to Toronto as part of the Miami Marlins' payroll purge, Buehrle had a few options. He could have left Slater with friends or placed him in a kennel. The Buehrle family also could have moved to Buffalo or somewhere else on the U.S. side of the border, forcing the pitcher to commute 90 minutes each way to Toronto.
Buehrle's wife, Jamie, 5-year-old Braden and 3-year-old daughter Brooklyn will spend time with the 33-year-old lefty during spring training, as will Slater and their three vizslas.
Kershaw to start third straight opener for Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw was selected Saturday as the Los Angeles Dodgers' opening day starter and will become the team's first pitcher to tart three straight openers since Derek Lowe from 2005-07.
Kershaw will take the mound April 1 against the World Series champion San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.
"I'm excited to do it," he said at Camelback Ranch after the Dodgers' first full-squad workout. "It's a huge honor. The chance to pitch on opening day is a big deal. Then after that, it's just once every five days from there."
