Postgame audio: Mike Mussina
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Podcast on Sep 02, 2008 
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Here is the Mike Mussina’s postgame session with the media. A bit reserved when the cameras were on, he opened up when just a few of the beat writers were around.
He talks about the game, his satisfaction with pitching well so deep into the season and his frustration with how the season has gone.
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UPDATE, 12:08 a.m.: A few updates on the Moose for you:
* He is 7-1, 3.31 on the road this season.
* He is tied for the third-most wins in the majors, second most in the AL.
CAREER WINS
32. Burleigh Grimes 270
33. Jim Palmer 268
34. Mike Mussina 267
CAREER STRIKEOUTS
19. Denton True “Cy” Young 2,798
20. Mike Mussina 2,786
YANKEE CAREER WINS
10. Reynolds 131
11. Chesbro 129
12. Raschi, Mussina 120
Bring him back next year, no question.
This is how crazy the Rays season has been.
Only the Yankees (8-5) and Indians (5-2) have winning records against them.
The Rays are 11-4 against the Jays and 11-3 against the O’s.
Wow. Mike saying that he got away with some pitches.
Stanford guy too smart to fall for the “make up one game a week” trick.
Also not falling into Pete’s “How long you going to pitch trap?” He asks it 5 different ways.
Just got back from the game. Mussina was filthy. If Nady’s HR didn’t hit the Catwalk it would have been into the party deck, possibly off the back wall. It was great to see Joba pitch. And the announced attendance was 21,629 and 65% at least were Yankee fans.
Thanks, Pete. I enjoyed your questions towards the end there.
Mike is probably the most intriguing to listen to during interviews. At least for me.
I shouted MOOSE atleast 10 times in my living room during the game tonight!
Is win number 17 better than win number 16?
I’d give Moose the nod for 09. Andy not so much, I’d rather drop him and allocate his 17 million to the CC fund.
Wang
Joba
Mussina
Hughes
Kennedy
Dewey,
How do they measure that HR?
Does anyone have a link to the site?
Sabathia
Wang
Joba
Mussina
Hughes
brett ratliff = tony romo?
Is it more like old school 90210 or the OC?
“How do they measure that HR?” They have the Rays Fans line up arms outstretched and keep moving the three of them till they get to the place the ball was hit.
Thanks Pete. It’s fun to hear the Moose open up a bit, you can really hear the difference in his voice when he’s at ease and bantering back and forth with the reporters as opposed to the tightness earlier when the YES crew was there.
CC
Wang
Joba
Moose
Pettitte
or more likely:
Wang
Joba
Moose
Andy
Hughes
“brett ratliff = tony romo?”
Correct. However I hope Favre doesn’t turn into Drew Bledsoe.
Joba probably can’t start the whole season.
(frowny face emoticon)
Quote me on this. If CC decides to leave the NL at all it will only be for the Yanks. However I feel he will take the easy way out.
Sabathia
Sheets
Burnett
Joba
Wang
or
Sabathia
Sheets
Burnett
Perez
Joba
Trade Wang for a young stud position player.
“Joba probably can’t start the whole season.
(frowny face emoticon)”
lol.
Nick,
Do you use him as a starter in the first half or second?
Use him in the first half, bullpen second half, and IF you make the playoffs start him again?
Scratch that.
Start in the spring, bullpen in the second half. And if we make the postseason, he’s the bridge to Mo (or is Mo, heaven forbid if something should happen).
So, I fell asleep and wake up and CenterStage is on YES with Bobby Flay, the chef. Finding out our Michael Kay doesn’t eat ketchup, mustard, pepper, eggs, tomatoes among other things. Very strange man, Michael Kay.
Steve–How can any Yankee fan in their right mind pencil in Kennedy for a rotation spot starting next year?
Are you high or did you really enjoy watching Kennedy get his lunch handed to him in the majors without showing an ounce of promise?
You know what I can’t wait for? When Yankee fans in here stop posting potential rotations with the names Hughes and Kennedy in them to start next year.
If you think this team is dumb enough to make that mistake again, you’re sorely mistaken.
Hughes will be lucky to be 6th on the depth chart let alone a Yankee after this off season.
mel, I would rather he finishes the season starting so that he can start in the postseason.
That duel vs. Beckett? That was like a playoff game. He can do it in October too!
In Alaska that would be the Bridge to Mowhere.
“Sabathia
Sheets
Burnett
Perez
Joba
Trade Wang for a young stud position player.”
Ugghh. So the Yankees are going to sign every FA pitcher on the market this offseason, good to know. Also why are we trading a 2 time 19 game winner who is under control on the cheap?
Finding out our Michael Kay doesn’t eat ketchup, mustard, pepper, eggs, tomatoes among other things.
Kay is so weird
Nick,
I can understand that logic, but he really needs to be a starter. Build up his innings and if, heaven forbid, something should happen midseason, he’ll have time to up the IP count.
I’d rather build up a nice cushion in the first half so we don’t have to dig ourselves out of a hole. Ohh, haha, good one, mel. Hohoho, laughing so hard I’m actually crying.
Why not just hold him out of action for the first month or so and then bring him into the rotation in May?
Wow some of these projected rotations are pretty crazy.
The Yankees aren’t signing 3 or 4 free agent starters.
My best guess for 2009 is:
CC or Burnett/Sheets
Wang
Moose
Aceves
Joba/Hughes
I think they go all-in for CC and get him. If they don’t, they sign Sheets or Burnett (Burnett is my choice).
Pencil in Wang and Moose also. Wang if healthy gets you 200 IP. Moose loves it here, and I think with every good start the Yankees realize how important it will be to re-sign him.
Joba/Hughes I put as one spot simply because they both will have an innings limit and both missed time due to injuries. I think counting on these 2 guys for 2 spots all year is unrealistic.
Which leaves us to Mr. Aceves, my pick for 5th starter next year. People will be impressed with this guy. He’s a horse that eats innings and throws strikes. I bet he makes the rotation next year out of spring training.
You can have Kennedy and Ranser as long men or start them in AAA. There is also always Igawa. Hey, I had to say it. The guy basically blew teams away this year in AAA, maybe it’ll translate one day in the majors.
“Finding out our Michael Kay doesn’t eat ketchup, mustard, pepper, eggs, tomatoes among other things.
Kay is so weird”
Who doesn’t eat ketchup.
“Finding out our Michael Kay doesn’t eat ketchup, mustard, pepper, eggs, tomatoes among other things.
Kay is so weird”
Who doesn’t eat ketchup? Kay is a maniac.
people need to get a check on themselves. we may not get cc. don’t get all excited for something that might not happen. if i were cc, i wouldn’t leave the nl.
Al,
It’s occasions like this that I’m actually glad I don’t have YES.
I don’t eat catsup or ketchup. But I will eat any other form of tomatoes.
What about
Wang
Hughes
Kennedy
Rasner
Ponson
Joba in the pen?
You guys realize that our rotation could be
Wang
Mussina/Pettitte
Hughes
Kennedy
Ponson/Rasner
On opening day. There is no guarantee we get any FA, and Joba is starting in the pen
Kay said he doesnt eat
Hotdogs
Ketchup
Pepper
Peppers
Mustard
Mayo
Tomatoes
Sabathia
Burnett or Sheets
Wang
Mussina
Joba
with Hughes probably joining the rotation eventually to take over an injury
Sabathia
Sheets
Joba
Wang
Hughes
is my dream rotation
09 rotation predictions(and nicknames):
Ian “Its not a big deal” Kennedy
Kei “Sunglasses” Igawa
Chase “back to back to back to back” Wright
Sidney “One more for the road” Ponson
Phil “Idle Jr.” Hughes
Alan “Its day to day” Horne
Pete, why do your stats (which I’m guessing are from Elias) show Cy Young with 2798 strikeouts but major league baseball and baseball reference say he has 2803?
We really have to get CC.
By which I mean: we need CC.
To sum up: get CC.
“Hotdogs
Ketchup
Pepper
Peppers
Mustard
Mayo
Tomatoes”
So Kay doesn’t eat Americas favorite ballpark food and all the condiments that make it delicious. How is this monster on the air?
After much thought and consideration – Any notion that CC F. Sabbathia will be on another team next year is wrong, and frankly offensive.
It shall be
CC
CMW
Moose
Random reliable 4th starter (not Burnett, maybe Lowe)
Hughes/Kennedy/Farm product.
CC has handled media relations perfectly with both his former team (buying a TY ad) and his current squad (no static about the questionable bad scorer decision last night)
He is coming here – any question at this level that comes down to ‘bank’ is won by the Yankees.
I’m calling my local congressindividual –
“I don’t eat catsup or ketchup. But I will eat any other form of tomatoes.”
This is obviously a sleeper cell – masquerading as a devoted Yankee fan, Waipahu fan, and clever poster.
(with my mastery of emoticons – I offer this)
“Who doesn’t eat ketchup?”
My husband. He doesn’t eat ketchup but eats every other form of tomato based product. He also doesn’t eat mayo. Not sure if this is specific to his family but his mom is from Italy and she never had ketchup, mayo or mustard in their house.
What is this, Condiment Confessions?
Hey, that sounds like CC!
I guess I like it after all!
pat -
Ketchup is a vegetable – (just ask the FDA) – clearly you are living with an alien intruder. I spent a semester in France and they called it ‘Sauce Americain’. But I’ve even seen gourmet chefs on TV use catsup as part of sauces.
Will Giambi accept a bench roll next yr?
I just listened to the Moose interview – Pete, at this point in the season it would be interesting to hear whether you think Moose will come back next year or not (imo)
Just booked my trip to Spring Training. Thats where my mind set is. Yanks are done. They win 2 they lose 5. Hey Pete, whats there to do in Florida???
This just makes me think of all those mediocre years Mussina gave us when a season like this would have put the Yanks over the top. This guy has the worst timing. I can think of two great pitching performances he’s given the Yankees – the Oakland 1-0 Jeter flip game and the stellar relief he pitched in game 7 2003 vs the Sox. But both were followed up by mediocrity that the Yankees couldn’t count on in the following series. We needed him to be an ace too many times in his Yankee career when all he gave back was 4-5th starter stuff. Unfortunately for him the Detroit playoff series where they Yankees kept giving him leads and he kept giving them back is my most lasting memory of Moose.
The Joba Rules thing is starting to get ridiculous.
If he’s a starter, he should start ALL of next season. Starters are already babied as it is with the sub 6 inning start commonplace,pitch counts, multiple relief specialist pitchers, 5 man rotation,etc.
Mike Mussina pitched 241 innings in his first full season. He was 23. Here he is 16 years later and his arm still works. The previous season at 22 he pitched 210 innings between Rochester and Baltimore.
Surely a guy who can pitch and is supposed to be a stud starter can pitch 180 innings in a season, right? otherwise maybe he should just stay in the minors a couple years.
in 8 seasons, Moose has had 5 very good years ( 1 when he should have won the Cy Young over Clemens, and a few years where he was better than Clemens and Petitte but overlooked) and 3 mediocre/bad seasons. A few of those seasons he should have been a #3 at best but he was the best guy they had.
Joe Maddon referred to the strike zone tonight as “amorphous”. Other than the Stanford educated Mussina, how many players on either team would know what that means?
one second, let me go to the yahoo dictionary
“We swung the bats well but we didn’t get the timely hits, and you have to tip your hat to Mussina.” said Riggans.
WooHoo. Someone other than a Yankee player tipping a hat. Yeah Moose!
lol, TK
Looks like Pat’s hubby is in the same sleeper cell. I’m still the henchwoman (whatever that means!)
At a time when we are usually talking about the playoff push we are instead talking hot stove and condiments. How terribly sad.
“This just makes me think of all those mediocre years Mussina gave us when a season like this would have put the Yanks over the top.”
Don –
According to your reasoning, Moose should have just ‘hit the switch’ and pitched better. Good thinking.
The Yankees have made the playoffs for years and years, in fact every year since Moose has been here – so which season – and I stress SEASON – would have put the Yanks over the top?
Anyone can point to games – Hell, Wang had 2 last season and he is a wonderful pitcher, – but Moose has been rock-solid since coming here and you cannot fairly point to a season where he didn’t ‘put us over the top.’
I’m thinking about(seriously) ordering a custom replica Yanks jersey with the name “Hat tipper” and the number 08 to commemorate this years team.
“lol, TK
Looks like Pat’s hubby is in the same sleeper cell. I’m still the henchwoman ”
I felt ‘henchperson’ would be lame, and ‘henchman’ sexist. I jest of course.
Feel the warmth of emoticons’ smiles in your brain
Poppies will make mel sleeeeeepy , slleeeeeepy.
ian kennedy can be a star
Mike Mussina earned his paycheck this season, unlike AChoke.
Sign him for one year, with an option. He knows how to pitch, and Lord knows we need someone who can do that next season.
ian kennedy can be a star,
you people are really really quick to forget how good Hughes looked at times in 2007, and i have no doubt in my mind if he never got hurt this season he would have impressed all of us.
give him a break, hes not going anywhere, and he will be in the rotation at some point next season.
Kennedy on the other hand, who knows. He was never in the same class as guys like joba hughes buchholtz lester etc.
If we learned one thing this season its a team can never have enough pitching.
How is it that Allie Reynolds is *not* in the Hall of Fame? I understand 182 wins is not that many, but he was the dominant pitcher during his time and that’s the criteria – who are your peers and what is your standing among them? GD Veterans committee better fix that toot suite!
http://www.hittrackeronline.com/
Alex & Nady’s HR distance. Funny, they don’t have Pedroia’s shot over the green monster shot. Not sure if that was an oversight or not.
“How is it that Allie Reynolds is *not* in the Hall of Fame? ”
Who?
ian kennedy can be a star,.
How is Calvin Pace not in Canton already. Guys got like 9 career sacks and he is the guy who ended Tom Brady’s career on September 14th 08.
Calvin Who?
The only Calvin Tom Brady knows is Calvin Klein. Pick on some other stud QB. I’m Pete’s Patriots henchperson.
“Calvin Who?
The only Calvin Tom Brady knows is Calvin Klein. Pick on some other stud QB. I’m Pete’s Patriots henchperson.”
I expected better from you Mel. Petes Pats cavalry will call it. The Jets are still winning 23-20 against the Pats.
Al,
I’ll be cheering for the Jets because of Farvrevre. Except when they play the Pats.
“Al,
I’ll be cheering for the Jets because of Farvrevre. Except when they play the Pats.”
Good to hear. That Favre guy is pretty good, but then again so is Giseles bf.
CC
Wang
Pettite
Mussina
Hughes
that is clearly the starting rotation for 09′, with joba eventually replacing hughes.
Mussina will be back with a nice one year deal with a team option of a 2nd year.
With all that will be done on the free agent / trading front over the winter, he’ll be slotted as the No. 5 starter.
Hughes would need to have an outstanding spring to make the team but age is on his side. If he keeps healthy at AAA, he’s good insurance. A team can never have enough pitching as seen this year.
Kennedy will be gone as part of a deal for a position player.
Mike is much more at ease with the cameras off. What a difference.
I say we offer Moose arb and if he accepts, great, only a one year deal and if he declines, two picks.
Whether he stays or goes, I’ll be rooting for Moose next year. He’s climbing up there with some HOF names, and I think he deserves to be in there as well. And I do believe he will ultimately win 300 games. I don’t care what the dummies at ESPN think…They also went out on a limb and said no youngster today would win 300 games ever again. Cliff Lee just won 20 and Brandon Webb is going to win more than 20. I’m not saying either of these two will get to 300, but you mean to tell me there will never be another pitcher good enough to do it? I doubt that.
Allie Reynolds a great, great pitcher and Joba’s predecessor as a Native American NYY star.
According to a relative of mine from his generation who knew him, also a warm and honorable guy off the field.
Starting rotation:
Pavano
Rasner
Igawa
Ponson
Zambrano
For Scranton…….or maybe Trenton.
Victor, right now, the only pitchers that have an outside shot at 300, after Randy Johnson and Mussina would be Jamie Moyer and Pettitte. It’s way too early to think about the Sabathias and Halladays of the world.
Two things ruined Allie Reynolds chances to get into the HOF after his career was cut short. First was the abuse in the wat that Casey Stengel used him. He would pitch a complete game and one or two days later Stengel would bring him in to pitch at least two and sometimes three innings to close out a game (this at age 35 and older). The other was a bad Yankee team bus accident in 1952, when the bus hit an overpass and it damaged Reynolds back and it never healed.
Didn’t Whitey Ford win 236 games as a Yankee?
“Finding out our Michael Kay doesn’t eat ketchup, mustard, pepper, eggs, tomatoes among other things. Very strange man, Michael Kay.”
Doreen, did I mention my theory on Kay to you?
oh nevermind….