That might be it for the Moose
-
- September
- 28
It’s not official yet. But I think we just saw Mike Mussina pitch his last major league game.
After Mussina did a television interview after the game, he was the last player into the clubhouse and his teammates were waiting all together in the room to give him a standing ovation.
Mussina thanked everybody then grabbed a can of Coke and a large container of McDonald’s fries.
Mussina is 270-153, but he probably cares more about being around his wife and family than spending three more seasons in a chase for 300 wins. He has all the money he could ever spend and he has a life he treasures in Pennsylvania. Sure, it’s possible he comes back. But when you listened to him talk after the game, he sounded like a man who is ready to walk away.
Here’s the audio of Mussina’s postgame interview:
Oh, and the reason he came out after six innings was that his elbow was hurting him after he was hit by that line drive on Tuesday.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, September 28th, 2008 at 6:57 pm by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Share and Enjoy: 
| 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
| 
iTunes
Peter Abraham
I wouldn’t blame Moose for leaving if he so chooses. There are few better ways to go out.
Just hope he returns for OT day.
I think Moose will stick around another year, but I don’t think he’s obsessed with 300.
Wouldn’t that just be disastrous if CC doesn’t want to come here, Burnett re-ups with Toronto, and Mussina retires?
Jon Garland, welcome aboard!
I hope Moose sticks around for more. If he goes out..what a way to leave the game. 270 career wins is nothing to sneeze at.
Kevin
the thought of mussina winning 20 makes me sick
hes blown so many big games for the yankees
look at his postseason record
look at the bad seasons hes had making tons of money when we needed him to be our number 1
then we have a bad year and he does great
mussina go back home and never comeback you stole 100 million from the yankees
I’m not sure why people think going for 300 will necessarily be the make-or-break factor (and yes, I know Moose has mentioned it). Moose has still never won a ring. The Yanks are moving into a new stadium. There are other factors besides the personal win total.
So no candy or ice cream but mcdonalds is ok?
I”m thinking he is going to walk away as well. No way to go out but on top. He has said a few times, he doesn’t want to struggle through a season, like someone like glavine has this year.
Wow Nathan, way to be a big baby, and a total and complete Jack donkey.
My vote for post of the night
the thought of mussina winning 20 makes me sick
hes blown so many big games for the yankees
look at his postseason record
look at the bad seasons hes had making tons of money when we needed him to be our number 1
then we have a bad year and he does great
mussina go back home and never comeback you stole 100 million from the yankees
“Moose is finished” so says the guy who claimed Mariano’s shoulder was so mangled he needed surgery and Girardi was lying so bad about how f’d he was.
Congratulation For the Moose, i hope he comes back he really turned himself around.
Are they still playing the second game?
no theres not mussina doesn’t care about a ring he cares about money
Ah, a classic comment from Nathan. How many people do you think you swayed? Somehow our only 20-game winner this season is a money-stealing loser in your eyes today. How sweet.
*oh, and I mean in complete sarcastic, sort of you have got to be kidding me sort of way.
do you guys like have a fake idea of games mussina has pitched?
name 3 meaningful games?
I can name his 2001 game and maybe the perfect game
sorry almost perfect game (not blaming him for that) just correcting myself
And you care about embarrassing yourself. Have a nice day!
Congrats Moose! I agree he probably is going to retire, but he’s a Hall of Famer in my eyes.
Can of Coke and McDonalds fries? Classic Moose!
The reality of the situation is at Moose’s age there are only two reasons to come back, to get 300 wins, or get a Ring. The thing is the Yanks won’t commit to three years, and how close are they to getting back to the World Series?
First
CONGRATULATIONS, MIKE MUSSINA! WELL DONE!
Second
In spite of the fact that I have been getting myself ready for Moose to announce his retirement, I will be sad.
how crazy would it be if Mussina comes in for 1 inning in game 2 to get his 21st win? hm….
If Moose retires, Andy Petitte’s stock just went up!
Anyone gonna name me 3 games or we just gonna ignore and pretend the yankees got everything they wanted from him when they signed him?
Just a wild guess that Nathan is Anti Moose.
Congrats to Moose. Been a fan of him since his days with Baltimore starting out in the early 90s. Just an excellent pitcher.
As for the rather obnoxious comments, you want a big game from Mussina? Try 2001 ALDS Game 3. While the game is most remembered for Jeter’s play to Posada, Moose put up a huge game there to keep the Yanks alive.
Want another? 2003 ALCS Game 7 coming into relief for Clemens.
Mussina while he had a few down times did a remarkable job for the Yankees and if this truly is his last game then best of luck to him.
Just ignore ignorant trolls like Nathan. Thanks.
Meanwhile, Arliss, Mo’s shoulder does need surgery and Girardi admitted he lied about it. But other than that, your post was perfect.
I hope Moose comes back. But his decision, we will see.
that would be 2 games and I said 2001
find a third
2003 he also lost the first game of every series in the postseason (to put us in that position)
Please come back Moose!
nathan Your question is so ridiculous, it isn’t even worth being answered.
all i asking if for 3 games and ill leave just someone convince me that mussina did what we wanted him to do when we got him
Or this year, the game Moose pitched against the Sox after the fourth or against the Angels on Old Timer’s day, both times keeping the Yankees from going down 3-0 in four game sets.
Peter you always make me laugh, way to go.
not a question someone name me three meaningful games hes pitch (maybe even started because we did sign him as a starter)
Nathan ok just STFU
Nathan, just go away! You act like Moose walked on your house and pissed on your bed. Jeez, what the heck did the guy do to you, that you have to rain on his parade? Just congratulate the guy on a great season. At least give him credit for that!
Moose has pitched well for the Yanks, and is a class act all the way. Congrats Moose!
Isin’t game 2 going to start soon? Where are the lineups and stats about Dan Giese giving up 8 runs in his last 6 innings dating back to September 3rd?
so why won’t anyone answer nathan’s question? name big games mussina has pitched and “ignore the troll” isnt an answer..
Nathan 2001 playoffs yanks down 2-0 in Oakland, and Moose goes to Oakland, and throws 7 innings of 0 run ball. How about every time Moose would battle Pedro, and come up on top. Just take care troll
lets go Moose.
how are those meaningful games those are regular starts during the course of a season
not even late in the season
No one is perfect, but you can’t take away his accomplishments. Imagine the yankees this season without him, and no i’m not a moose fan, but you gotta give credit where it belongs.
In spite of the fact that I have been getting myself ready for Moose to announce his retirement, I will be sad.
Doreen – when Moose won #20 before, I literally had tears coming out. It’s that little feeling that is telling me, this
isbe the last time I would see Moose in a Yankee uniform.At least, I’m man enough to admit that I literally had tears coming out after seeing Moose wins #20.
we have named the oakland game 1000 times
and there are plently of pitchers that beat pedro in the regular season thats not a meaningful game
There’s always one idiot like Nathan.
Mussina has been the best long term free agent signing in sports history, atleast top 3.
EVERYONE FOCUS THINK HARD NAME ME THREE BIG GAMES MUSSINA HAS WON AS A STARTER IN HIS ENTIRE CAREER AS A YANKEE:
we have oakland in 2001 down 2-0 ok
my guess derek jester and nathan are brothers..
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=280928302
I’m having zero luck getting into mlb.com
But that’s the lineup.
If you thought you had seen the last of Big G, you guessed wrong.
If I recall correctly, Mussina pitched pretty good in his one start in the 2003 World Series as well. Outside of some bad starts against Boston in ‘03 and ‘04 Mussina has been amazing. But you know the beauty of it, you could find bad starts for pretty much everyone during that run. What about Pettitte in ‘01 WS? Those things happen.
Mussina has been what they expected and its a shame he was never able to win a championship. I still blame Wells for the 2003 World Series.
Are any of the regulars in the lineup tonight?
guys nathan is just pissed that we’re not going into the playoffs, now its everyones fault
2004 world series vs fla: 1-0, 7ip, 1r, 9ks.
coming out of the pen vs sox in ‘04
near perfect game
‘04 vs min in alds 7ip, 2r, 7ks
1-0 Jeter play game
Probably Cano, maybe Nady?
Peter why no Marte next year?
So he pitched poorly in a small sample. He has a 1 yr deal and with coke and him they are loaded from the left side. also I assume they will use some pen arms to try to bolster the team, so it is only $6 mill. he may not be worth it but say he is overpaid $2 mill, so what compared to the other crooks….
COngrats to the Moose I am amazed he won 20 this year, nice to see an athlete go out on top..
WHO HERE CAN NAME 3 big games pettite has pitched?
EVERYONE
NAME NAME MUSSINAS
o by the way mussina lost in the 2003 world series the first game the only game he pitched, now we are just making up good things hes done
World Series vs the Marlins 7 innings of 1 run ball, and struck out 9 getting the win, and also game 1 of the 2005 alds vs the Angels. There is your 3 games now good night.
And its great that you judge a guy by saying 3 wins, and your only counting playoff games.
my bad he did win a game
wow, Giambi isn’t giving up on those rbis opportunties. Give it up already, Giambi!!
Moose Game 7 2003 ALCS, 3IP, 3 SO, 2 hits, No runs.
Oh wow Pudge catching, i thought he forgot how to do that, what a dissapointment, but you can’t blame Cashman for that it looked good than although i din’t liked the fact that we hurt Kyle (Anyone remember him?)
Its just the troll of many names who uses “o” for “oh”.
Same crap, different name.
yankees ben- BINGO!!!
Why is everyone grilling Moose. They are trying to get him to say he is done. A little unfair.
Just stop nathan.
Pettitte has a larger sample size and you know what, he did great too. So did Mussina. To single him out for a few bad ones is unfair.
But no matter what the answers you are given, you are still going to pout and whine. So good night, sir.
Congrats to Mike! Winning the game today although meaningless in some eyes actually has a lot of meaning to true fans. He pitched like a champion through a lot of pain. He persisted to win 20 in a season that was not much fun but he was a bright spot. Every game means something if you are a pro! Way to go Mike.
OK Nathan
Game 3 of 2001
In 2003 his sterling three innings of shutout relief allowed the Yanks a chance to come back
He won Game 1 against Boston in 2004- and had a perfect game through 6- In game 5 he again pitched very well having a chance to win till the pen blew it late
He won Game 1 of the 2005 playoffs
He pitched a great 8 innings of game 5 of the 01 Series
He won countless important regular season games- he’s a pros pro and a class act unlike the shrill and clearly wrong Mr nathan..
no close games at the end of the season work to
so we have 2001 2-0 game
world series he actually won a game
and a combination of a relief outing in 2003 playoffs, perfect game and 2004 twins game
great yankee career mussina all that makes up for your 5-6 record in 17 postseason games
goodnight have fun celebrating an overpaid pitcher actually making his money doing something we signed him to do
“o by the way mussina lost in the 2003 world series the first game the only game he pitched, now we are just making up good things hes done”
Uhh Moose made one start in the 03 WS, and WON. He out dueled Beckett in that game btw.
Not unusual that I would listen to the audio and disagree about Moose coming back.
I think he sounds like he is. I know Moose is noncommital but I’ve listened to enough of his other postgame interviews where questions about his future were asked, as well as today’s pregame interview, and Moose sounds like he wants to come back. And I have to believe that he would like to help christen the New Yankee Stadium.
Anyway, with all due respect to Pete, a few days ago he also said that Cashman coming back was either 50-50 or less than 50-50 – can’t remember which. (I didn’t buy it by the way.) One day later Cash says he wants to come back.
So I still believe Moose will opt to come back if the Ys ask him back.
I’m not really delusional.
o bye the way he lost game 5 of the alds for the yankees to who ever named the first game
night
And by the way, when he sounded vague, as soon as someone asked him if playing for the Yankees would be what he wanted, he said that it would take a lot of the questions our of the equation.
If Moose and the Yankees can get it together, Moose will be back.
Book that.
I’m not really delusional.
Moose sounds like he will come back if he feels wanted. He certainly isn’t going to be beating down the door, but if the Yankees offer him a contract I don’t think he’ll turn it out. That’s what I got from the audio.
Mike sounded so comfortable in the interview, very personable.
I’m no Mike Mussina fan, but congrats to him.
As an aside, I stay away from this blog b/c of things like this whole “nathan” thing. I don’t know why you all even acknowledge him. Just ignore him and have intelligent baseball discussion.
Trisha:
Where did Cashman say he is coming back? Please provide a quote.
He didn’t say anything of the sort. Stop making things up.
Pete, I’ll find the references I saw about that. I am not making things up, nor do I make things up. And I am not delusional. I saw reference to it somewhere and am mentioning what I saw. Let me retrace my steps since it was earlier today that I saw it.
I have never “made things up” as that is not my style.
The tenor of what I read was that Cashman told the Steinbrenners he wanted to come back. And I read it as a reference on this blog. Okay?
it’s been said but I think the Mussina signing is one of the highlights of the free agent acquisitions by the Yanks ever. I’d rate Reggie & Dave Winfield ahead of him, with Catfish Hunter, Jimmy Key and Giambi and maybe maybe Tommy John just behind him in terms of production. He wasn’t quite as good as his younger days with Baltimore, but other than last year (when he still managed a winning record) he was a stabilizing force in the rotation for 8 seasons.
Best Yankees free agent signings ever:
1: Reggie
2: Winfield
3: Mussina
4: Hunter
5: Key
6: Giambi
7: David Cone* – came in a trade but i think he was a FA after the ‘95 season ended
8: Brosius
9: Mike Stanton
10: Tommy John
(not counting El Duque, Matsui, who I suppose were kind-of free agents)
Anyone I’m missing? Thoughts??
I didn’t see you entry basically putting the kabosh on all of the headlines saying that Cashman told the Steinbrenners he wanted to return. Unlike a lot of other posters I don’t get to read all of your blog entries word for word. So I missed that one.
However, unless all of the other reports are mistaken, I won’t be surprised if he did say something and it got reported back. But no I don’t have a quote from Cashman, just what I saw reported in the papers.
I would think a betting person would have hands-down odds on his coming back though.
So much for pitching like Jayme Moyer. If I was Moose. I’d take these 20 wins, tell the Steins to shove it up their as*es and retire and get the last laugh.
He was the MVP for this sub-par mediorce team full over over-paid/over-bloated has-beens all year long and without him the Yanks would have finished in last place!!!
$210 Million payroll. What an embarrassment!
I’m a Red Sox fan and this weekend was the best 3 game series I’ve ever watched knowing that it meant nothing. The Sox are in and the Yanks are just going away!!!!!!!!!
trisha: stay strong! Don’t let Pete break you like he and his broke Girardi. The man was near in tears last night.
Did Nathan finally get to his bed time?
It was a helluva day for Mussina good for him. Yanks will be fine moving on with him or without him.
If they win tonight then only four teams in MLB will have more wins. If they lose that number will be six. Not great, but not the dreadful disaster some insist upon.
For those who wish to focus on payroll to the exclusion of all issues may I introduce you to the New York Knicks who make the Yankees look frugal by comparison. The idea that the highest payroll guarantees anything is idiotic. Lots of money buys you talent and a greater margin for error than someone without those resources, but it doesn’t win a single game and it can’t overcome poor performance.
“Stop making things up.”
You first.
George King said Cashman indicated he would be back. MLBTradeRumors. Not saying it is true, just saying that is where it was stated.
”...he probably cares more about being around his wife and family…”
Just let him hang around the wife and kids for a couple of months this winter & he’ll be itcin’ to get out of that house and play ball.
To be more accurate, his article said Cashman told Hal he wanted to come back. Once again, just the messenger, check MLBTradeRumors for the link to the story, it is under Odds and Ends: Roberts, Holliday, Cashman.
He said…”to be able to do it in your last year”...He is done….Thanks, Moose !
“George King said Cashman indicated he would be back. MLBTradeRumors. Not saying it is true, just saying that is where it was stated.”
Thanks! I knew I had seen reference to it. Whyever I would be accused of making something up when that report and headline is out there is beyond me.
Buster – thanks for the support.
I used to dread our facing Moose when he was with Baltimore because he was so darn smart and unpredictable.
Then we got him here, and I feared he might not hold up in the bright New York lights, but no fear, he did as well as his body allowed. His games are often a pleasure to watch. He’s like the Fabrice Santoro of pitchers.
His comeback from ‘07 has been great, and I hope he decides to wow us again next year. If not, well, I’m sure he’ll do great things in his days beyond baseball.
Yes, his shoulder is so ruined and Girardi was lying about something so grim, Mariano got the save today. So far this week you have whined incessantly about Girardi, mentioning it in nearly every thread on Thursday and Friday, basically voiced ur sentiments that Cashman should leave, and declared Moose got fries and a coke so he is retiring. Sterling work.
Michael Kay’s comments on the pre-game as to who, of the free agents to be, is not coming back and who might, was spoken with a level of conviction that makes it most curious. G, Booby and the Idle are gone per MK with either Moose or Andy (but not both) returning on a one year deal only. What is somewhat cryptic was the definitive statement, not couched in terms of his opinion, equivocation,and the like. From a source in the know? We shall see!!!!
Good for the Yankees! Tie game! Don’t mail it in.
Congratulations to the Moose for reinventing himself and attaining a milestone. His postgame interview with Kim suggested to me that he would ride the golden stallion into the sunset and revel in retirement.
Cano’s getting a jumpstart on 09!!!
Does anyone remember the montage that YES put together after the last game of the 1998 World Series? The song they used in the background was Sarah MacLachlan’s I Will Rememeber You? First of all I was crying my eyes out after the Yankees won. Then to watch that video montage, I was really sobbing my heart out. I’ll never forget that montage. One of the most beautiful editing jobs I have ever seen. Of course the song alone was enough to put you over the edge.
Moose has to come back. Do you realize he may be the last 300 game winner we see? No one is even close.
By the way Pete, did you hear the BOSS is going to play halftime at the SuperBowl 2009?
i like mussina. i always kind of identified with him: we have all come ‘this close’ to accomplishments, haven’t we? sometimes because we just don’t have our best stuff that day, other times we watch in horror as luis gonzalez bloops a walk-off hit into shallow center off the greatest closer on earth… but he earned this one. when everyone thought he was finished, one start away from being taken out of the rotation (i love that he hasn’t forgotten that…), he came back tougher and actually realized a lifelong goal. i wonder how many of us can tell a story like that. i’ll be sad if he retires.
also, i thought it was nice of him to thank the bullpen guys who got outs for him this season.
Why does this site allow 8 year olds to post?
Should not “Nathan” get a glass of milk and go nite nite. I suggest like all annoying children, we should ignore him and he might stop. Moose was the better pitcher the year Clemons won the Cy Young. He just didn`t benefit from as good of run support. And the relief role in the 2003 7th game of the ALCS saved the season. He has been a value of a pickup in this era. And if he`s done: Thanks for a job well done.