GLENDALE, Ariz. - Mark Buehrle will start his ninth Opening Day for the White Sox, and the assignment is every bit the big deal it was his first time.

"It's a great honor,'' Buehrle said Friday before the Sox took the field for spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch.

The Sox open their season at Cleveland on April 1.

"It's like an All-Star appearance. A lot of people say it gets old, but I don't know how it can get old. It's a build-up from the off-season with all the off-season moves you make. It's the one game that's sold out. It's sort of like a playoff game and after that, it goes downhill because no one ever shows up. But it's going to be a great atmosphere, and I'll try to get us on the right foot."