Armed and Dangerous: Mike Mussina

After the departures of both Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina was unceremoniously dubbed the ace of the 2004 New York Yankees’ pitching staff. Unfortunately once the ace label was bestowed upon him, Mussina ended up having the worst season in his 14-year career, going 12-9 with a 4.59 ERA in 27 games.

Mike Mussina’s 2004 sub par season began with death (his father in-law) followed by his extreme dislike of the idea of pitching on opening day in Japan, where he refused to leave his hotel room. Then came his mental break down in his attempt to win his 200th game as well as a mid-season stint on the disabled list due to a tender right groin.

In 2001 Michael “Moose” Mussina signed an 88.5 million dollar six-year contract with the New York Yankees after having spent ten seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. A Stanford graduate with a bachelor’s degree in economics, he is one of the most underrated future hall of fame candidates in all of baseball.

Mike Mussina is undoubtedly one of the most dominant starters in the major leagues. He has excellent command and impeccable precision of various pitches including that wicked knuckle-curve ball. The five-time all-star and six-time gold glove winner is a dependable and durable pitcher who can go at least 7 innings per start. Ninety percent of pitches thrown by Mussina are strikes; he rarely allows walks and can strike out up to ten batters per game.

During the post-season Mike is definitely the man that you want to hand the ball; he comes armed and ready to deliver his best stuff. In addition, Mussina has this incredible ability to ignore all of the drama and pressure that surrounds the chase for the pennant. His most notable appearance is game one against the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 A.L.D.S. He took a perfect game into 7th inning, striking out seven, (five of them back to back.) giving up only 2 runs.

Almost Perfect

Mussina was the losing pitcher in that almost perfect game against Boston. In fact Mussina has been “almost” many times in his career.

Mussina has finished in the top ten in ERA nine times, eight times in the top ten of wins, top ten in strike outs since 1992, top ten in base on balls for 13 seasons and eight times he was in the top six of the cy-young ballot but failed to win.

He has won 19 games twice, 18 games three times, but has never won 20 games. Most importantly, Mussina has been a team that has gone to the post season every season since his arrival but he has never won a ring.

Many baseball fans have attributed Mussina’s misfortunes to bad luck but I completely disagree with that theory. When I watch Moose on the mound I feel like I am watching a good chess match. I don’t think that luck has anything to do with Mussina’s failed attempts to conquer perfection - I feel that all he needs is a good therapist.

Opening Day

The ink on Randy Johnson’s contract isn’t even dry and the Yankees have already slated him to pitch against the Boston Red Sox on opening day, which will be April 3rd in the Bronx. Does Randy Johnson’s arrival automatically push Mike Mussina into the number two spot in the 100 million dollar, all-star-studded Yankee rotation?

Randy Johnson is by far one of the best pitchers in the history of baseball and a great addition to the Yankees’ rotation, but if Mike Mussina’s 2005 performance is anything compared to his last appearance, he’ll definitely win twenty games and most importantly remain the ace of the New York Yankees.

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