Mike Mussina should never be allowed to pitch to a team with a good offense again. He simply doesn't throw hard enough anymore to get by against decent hitters. Last night's performance, when the Yankees dearly needed to save their bullpen, was disgraceful.
When Joba Chamberlain returns to the team, he should head straight to Mussina's spot in the rotation.
Showing posts with label Our hopes rest on the aging shoulder of Mike Mussina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Our hopes rest on the aging shoulder of Mike Mussina. Show all posts
Friday, April 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Vintage Moose
The Yankees rode Mike Mussina's seven shutout innings to a 12-0 stomping of the Orioles last night, and damn if it doesn't still feel good to beat this team and watch their Baltimoron fans suffer.
More importantly, the Yankees expanded their Wild Card lead to 4.5 games and pulled to within 2.5 games of the struggling Red Sox in the A.L. East.
HOWEVER...the downside to last night's game is two-fold: 1) Mike Mussina is perilously close to earning a playoff start, which would be a disaster. Shutting down the doormat Orioles is one thing, trying to sneak 86 MPH fastballs past Travis Hafner or Vlad Guerrero is something else entirely; and 2) Minky continues to play well, all but guaranteeing himself a spot in the post-season starting lineup, which means that once again, the Yankees won't be fielding their best team.
First things first, though: before we start complaining about the playoff roster, let's get in the tournament.
And in all seriousness, congratulations to the Moose for an amazing 16 straight seasons of double-digit wins. In the American League, no less.
More importantly, the Yankees expanded their Wild Card lead to 4.5 games and pulled to within 2.5 games of the struggling Red Sox in the A.L. East.
HOWEVER...the downside to last night's game is two-fold: 1) Mike Mussina is perilously close to earning a playoff start, which would be a disaster. Shutting down the doormat Orioles is one thing, trying to sneak 86 MPH fastballs past Travis Hafner or Vlad Guerrero is something else entirely; and 2) Minky continues to play well, all but guaranteeing himself a spot in the post-season starting lineup, which means that once again, the Yankees won't be fielding their best team.
First things first, though: before we start complaining about the playoff roster, let's get in the tournament.
And in all seriousness, congratulations to the Moose for an amazing 16 straight seasons of double-digit wins. In the American League, no less.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Losing by Winning
Last night's performance by Mike Mussina, while helping the Yankees secure an important series win against an increasingly insane Blue Jays team, may hurt more than it helps in the long term.
Mussina pitched like his 2007 self, which is OK at best and disastrous at worst. The Jays can't hit a lick, yet Mussina still struck out just one batter in 5 2/3 innings. He benefited from extreme good luck on balls in play, and wiggled out of a couple jams, one with the help of Edwar Ramirez.
So, the self-congratulatory "The Old Moose is back" bullshit needs to stop before it starts. Joe Torre giving quotes like this...
"He was terrific. He stayed ahead most of the night. I'm just really pleased and I know he's happy about it."
...means that Mussina is essentially already pencilled in to the playoff rotation, and Ian Kennedy better learn to enjoy the bullpen.
Joe Torre truly never changes. He can cheerfully ignore a mountain of evidence against an aging veteran and latch on to one start or one at-bat that justifies his already-formed opinions.
Time to start praying for a sweep in the Division Series.
Meanwhile, if Delmon Young had any spatial awareness, the Yankees would be three back of Boston in the loss column. Boom, bitch indeed.
Mussina pitched like his 2007 self, which is OK at best and disastrous at worst. The Jays can't hit a lick, yet Mussina still struck out just one batter in 5 2/3 innings. He benefited from extreme good luck on balls in play, and wiggled out of a couple jams, one with the help of Edwar Ramirez.
So, the self-congratulatory "The Old Moose is back" bullshit needs to stop before it starts. Joe Torre giving quotes like this...
"He was terrific. He stayed ahead most of the night. I'm just really pleased and I know he's happy about it."
...means that Mussina is essentially already pencilled in to the playoff rotation, and Ian Kennedy better learn to enjoy the bullpen.
Joe Torre truly never changes. He can cheerfully ignore a mountain of evidence against an aging veteran and latch on to one start or one at-bat that justifies his already-formed opinions.
Time to start praying for a sweep in the Division Series.
Meanwhile, if Delmon Young had any spatial awareness, the Yankees would be three back of Boston in the loss column. Boom, bitch indeed.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Time (Clock of the Heart)
The Yankees have now lost three games they easily could have won on this road trip, after falling to Le Tigre 5-4 yesterday. Phil Hughes was roughed up early, but recovered nicely. Unfortunately, the Yankees bats couldn't do anything against the Tigers middle relief. Sound familiar? By the time Joel Zumaya came in and looked dominant, it was lights out.
Seattle gave the Yankees a brief reprieve by losing to woeful Texas, but the Yankees need a win out of Mike Mussina today, which seems like a tall order given his recent track record. Oh, and there's that little matter of the three games against Boston this week...
The A.L. East race is over (and probably has been since June, given the insanely easy second-half schedule of the Red Sox), but the Wild Card is still within reach if the Yankees can stay within a couple games over the next four days.
A lot is riding on Mike Mussina today, so let's hope that the finicky cat has had his ideal amount of rest and that his pre-game meal was cooked at the appropriate temperatures. It's getting late early in Yankeeland, and this team needs some wins.
Seattle gave the Yankees a brief reprieve by losing to woeful Texas, but the Yankees need a win out of Mike Mussina today, which seems like a tall order given his recent track record. Oh, and there's that little matter of the three games against Boston this week...
The A.L. East race is over (and probably has been since June, given the insanely easy second-half schedule of the Red Sox), but the Wild Card is still within reach if the Yankees can stay within a couple games over the next four days.
A lot is riding on Mike Mussina today, so let's hope that the finicky cat has had his ideal amount of rest and that his pre-game meal was cooked at the appropriate temperatures. It's getting late early in Yankeeland, and this team needs some wins.
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