The End?
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by Matt Waters
Is this it? Mike Mussina has been blitzed, again, this time by the Tigers. It left me pondering his legacy, and the unfair judgments still dogging him in his waning playing days...
There are questions about Mike Mussina’s toughness…
Mike Mussina was roughed up something awful during an ugly brawl early in his Baltimore career, which, incidentally, almost bought an untimely end to Cal Ripken’s streak, when the latter got clipped below the knee amid the squalor. It was one for the history books, something out of "Gangs of New York". After that, Mussina, whose season ended as a result, if my memory serves me correctly, counted himself out of the retaliation business. Sounds logical.
(On a random note, my God, how ‘bout his 1992 season, pitching in THAT ballpark, when it truly played like a bandbox… amazing, and interesting to consider, how badly were his statistics damaged pitching in Camden Yards, and later on, relying on decidedly shaky infield defenses? Well, in fairness…Greg Maddux had his best seasons with Jeff Blauser manning shortstop…but that’s the greatest pitcher ever.)
His postseason performance…
If this is final chapter for Mussina, he has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. People questioning his big game ability are simply ignorant. He had one of the best post season runs EVER in 1997, beating Randy Johnson twice in the ALDS*, before completely dominating the loaded Indians in the ALCS. The O’s had themselves were undone by Armando Benitez and a lackluster offensive performance in that Series. Mussina was sublime. In 2004, he would have defeated Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez, in games one and five, if it weren’t for Tom Gordon being totally shot.
His place in Baseball history…
Mike Mussina is one of the best pitchers of this generation, period. Goes to prove, intellectuals are feared and loathed, in any circle.
- "We weren’t counting on Cy Young showing up for them." – Alex Rodriguez on Mike Mussina in the ’97 playoffs.
……………………………….
Where have I been?
I’ve been working on a screenplay all summer, and am in the process of refining it. Should be completely finished in a couple weeks’ time, and than, like Michael Jordan, I’ll simply send out a press release to the legions of my adoring fans warning:
"I’m back."
OK. Maybe not legions, but all five of you better get ready…
