That’s Mussina being Mussina
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 24, 2008 
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Mike Mussina pitched like Mike Mussina tonight, thank you very much. He didn’t have a good curveball so he went with sinkers, cutters, changeups and a few four-seamers.
The results spoke loudly: 7 innings, 4 hits and 2 runs against a team that was averaging the most runs in the AL.
“I’m a big believer that you don’t forget how to pitch,” Joe Girardi said. Good lesson there for those who like to panic in April.
You might have missed this on television, but when Girardi went to the mound in the seventh to see how Mussina was doing, he started to signal to the bullpen then stopped.
Turns out he asked Jorge Posada how Moose was doing and Posada said, “He’s got nothing.”
“I meant to say, ‘Nothing is wrong.’ ” Posada said. “It came out the wrong way.”
Mussina stayed in, got Joe Crede to line to right and all was well.
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Mariano Rivera has pitched nine scoreless innings this season, allowing four hits without a walk. He’ll probably have a bump or two along the way but don’t concede the “Best Closer” title to Jon Pabelbon or anybody else quite yet.
Rivera’s next save will be his 450th.
————
Meanwhile, the new A-Baby has a name. According to Newsday, it’s Ella Alexander Rodriguez.
Easiest dollar I ever made.
ella ella e e e under my umberella, ella ella e e e
So both his kids have Alexander as their middle name, interesting to say the least.
Mussina being Mussina!
Maybe Posada said that because he is so used to saying “he has nothing” that it slipped out.
EL – LA or EH – JA
Pabelbon? Is that a Menino crack?
Ella Alexander Rodriguez = EAR
“Alex being Alex”
FYI: Alex’s wife is Greek, it is customary for Greeks to use one of the parents’ names as the child’s middle name, b/c it is considered bad luck to name the kid after the parents. Not saying that is why they use Alexander, but it seems like the only logically reason.
The Rodriguez’s have and N and an E now. 5 more kids and their first initials can spell out New York.
Cleveland was rained out tonight so they have a double header tomorrow. That has to mess up their rotation for the weekend. Was supposed to be Byrd, Westbrook, Sabathia and Carmona against the Yankees. Westbrook is now on the DL and either Carmona or Lee pitches Monday on short rest or they have to come up with another starter.
pat-
Aaron Laffey was just called up for the Indians.
Congratulations on the buck!
Sounds like Moose was vintage tonight. Wish I had a chance to catch the game…I’m getting caught up with it on the MLB.tv archives right now.
Cleveland having a double header tomorrow is definitely going to hurt them when they have to play the Yanks…at the very least, it’s going to hurt their bullpen. Not that I mind.
Looks like Sowers is going to fill in for Westbrook. If Laffey is up to and going Monday, that would make it Byrd, Sowers, Sabathia and Laffey which means the Yanks are facing 3 lefties during the series.
i’m very happy to be totally wrong about mussina
I was getting on Moose’s case too-glad to see him have a good performance!
Now, can Hughes step up?
It seems to me that it’s almost as if Moose thinks that one decent start can excuse three poor ones. Three decent starts can excuse one not-so-decent outing.
why isn’t her middle name alexandra? thats at least feminine
Or for that matter… Cynthia?
I am not getting excited about Mussina.
His next start, he’ll end up giving up 7 ER’s.
it is customary in some circles to name the middle name of the child the father’s name. This is for boys or girls. I know because my siblings and I all have my dad’s name as their middle name.
I was glad to see Moose finally have a good game. (It also helped that Manny was nowhere in sight.) Still, I think this season will be another long .500 struggle for Mussina. As a fan it’s frustrating to watch, and I don’t think that’s just me panicking in April. And one good game doesn’t change things. He has to do it on a consistent basis. Maybe it was a good thing Hank lit that fire under his ass.
One thing he has to do (and he did last night) is realize he has to mix up his stuff, and get by on his brains. It has taken Moose a really long time to let this idea sink into his head. He’s not 28 anymore.
Mike has a great game and Alex has to steal the spot light by announcing her name! Geez he is so selfish!!
Great game by Mike last night, and he actually was quite personalble during the post game interview.
Yeah i’m not going nuts over moose yet, let him string together 3 or 4 good starts then maybe..
Dave Cone was saying last night that it seemed as if Mussina was letting Jorge call the game (no shaking him off 10 times an inning) and just trying to make good pitches. No thinking, just execution. Seems like the strategy may have worked.
Mussina throwing to Posada and actually trusting his judgement on what to throw?
When did pigs begin to fly?
When did hell freeze over?
Cats and dogs! Living together! It’ll be ANARCHY!
Doesn’t it make you wonder if some of the struggles with the pitching could be in part due to Posada or Molina not calling the games?
Seems the Yankees pitching was having a tougher time with Moeller doing the catcher job.
Atleast give the Girls Alexandra or something. And what about Cynthia somewhere in there.
Maybe Alex got the idea to name her Ella from all those “E-Rod” chants in 2006.
If it wasn’t for Manny people would praise Moose.
Moose has pitched pretty well so far this season, last night obviously preclusively better. I wouldn’t get too worked up about him generally; you have to remember he’s not really a true No. 3, and when Hughes gets himself straightened out, Moose will get slotted 4th. He’s a good 4, and if Kennedy usurps him, he’ll be an even better 5.
And all I know is, when it’s still daffodil season, it’s way too early to make ultimate judgements, either way. I do think part of the fun this season is watching us try to bridge two eras. And for anyone hung up on results: we’re 2.5 games out this morning. Ho hum.
Moose pitched in 1.5 bad games this season, neither had the regular catcher and were against an above average offense of boston. i realize the boston games left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths, but he’s been pitching well this season.
guess what? his ERA is under 5. it’s close to moyer’s ERA with one more win and a MUCH better WHIP (1.21 to Moyer’s 1.69)
Just my two cents on this, but in my culture every kid takes their father’s first name as a middle name…and in the olden days when women got married they took their husband’s name as their middle name.
shelleytime!?
“And for anyone hung up on results: we’re 2.5 games out this morning. Ho hum.”
2.5 game out?!?!?! Please someone bring back Roger Clemens for Rocket Relaunch #2!!!
Mussina being Mussina??? Sorry Pete. Moose had a great game last night, but that’s been the exception rather than rule since the beginning of 2004. Sun shines on every dog’s backside sooner or later. He’s a 6 inning if you’re lucky 4.50 – 5.00 ERA guy now. It’s no accident that’s what his numbers are now, even after last night’s solid start. It’s what he’s been for awhile now.
It is important to note that we won these past 2 games against the White Sox, showing power and the ability to get hits off good pitchers, without our (arguably) most lethal offensive weapon. It is good to see some players are coming around, though I still worry about Giambi. We could be so much better if he learned to be a gap hitter or laid off the ball a little. Every swing he takes looks like he is swinging as hard as he possibly can.
I watched the game last night but didn’t post in the game thread, I was impressed my Mussina’s start. He was mixing up speed and location and his control looked excellent. It was a quality start and I think Mussina ( and us ) needed this. Hope he is able to build upon what he did last night.
“FYI: Alex’s wife is Greek, it is customary for Greeks to use one of the parents’ names as the child’s middle name, b/c it is considered bad luck to name the kid after the parents. ”
let’s not bring silly things like facts into a discussion where we are trying to imply A-Rod is an egomaniac.
“Moose had a great game last night, but that’s been the exception rather than rule since the beginning of 2004.”
this is such revisionist bullcrap.
Moose was one of the 10 best pitchers in the AL in 2006.
Watching the game last night, Moose reminded me of El Duque only with less flair.
Posada was knocking the crap out of the ball last night- oh how I can’t wait until this offense is on the same page.
Actually Mussina pitched like El Duque which is Spanish for Jamie Moyer.
Hank 1 Pete 0
The only bad part about last nights game is it will allow Hank to think his nonsensical statements work.