Mike Mussina to retire

[OleMissCub]

just saw it on ESPN

[inari]

Hall of Famer. Just sayin'.

[Clem Fandango]

That's a shame, I think he could've still pitched well enough over the course of a couple more seasons to get to 300. He must be really tired of the grind at this point in his career. Good pitcher.

 

I don't think he'll make the HOF though, sadly. If he does, it will have to open the door for a lot of players who don't fulfill the milestones. He didn't get 300 wins. He didn't get 3000 strikeouts. He never won a Cy Young. He was 20 game winner once. He was just a really good consistent pitcher for so long but never the best. Not sure if the Hall will recognize that as being hall worthy, which sucks cause I think he SHOULD go, but I don't think he will

[OleMissCub]

I don't think he's a HOFer. He's very, very, very close though.

 

270 Wins

3.68 ERA

2813 K's

7 Gold Gloves

5 time all-star

 

What hurts him most I think is the lack of a Cy Young and his falling short of the "milestone" stats. Perhaps the fact that he never really distinguished himself in the postseason might hurt as well.

 

As an aside, his career ERA+ of 123 is pretty damn good though for someone with over 500 games started. Not that they care about ERA+, but a fun factoid is that Mussina does have a higher career ERA+ than 32 pitchers in the HOF.

[Jehrico]

I don't think he's a HOFer. He's very, very, very close though.

 

270 Wins

3.68 ERA

2813 K's

7 Gold Gloves

5 time all-star

 

What hurts him most I think is the lack of a Cy Young and his falling short of the "milestone" stats. Perhaps the fact that he never really distinguished himself in the postseason might hurt as well.

 

As an aside, his career ERA+ of 123 is pretty damn good though for someone with over 500 games started. Not that they care about ERA+, but a fun factoid is that Mussina does have a higher career ERA+ than 32 pitchers in the HOF.

Don't forget the fact that he never got that elusive ring...

 

He was the oldest first-time 20-game winner this last year in the history of the sport. Does anyone know who the last pitcher was to retire after winning 20 games? Any other pitcher ever win 20 games, then never pitch another inning?

[OleMissCub]

Any other pitcher ever win 20 games, then never pitch another inning?

 

A quick glance at the records and it looks like Sandy Koufax is the only candidate. He won 27 games his final season.

 

I don't guess this counts, but in his last season as a full time starter, Babe Ruth won 24 games.

[dew1679666265]

Here's a link, for anyone interested.

[imb]

pretty cool dude. it's nice seeing a player go out after a good season for once

[17 Seconds]

i always liked him just because he looks like the dude from office space

[OleMissCub]

This is what I most remember him for:

 

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/3374/mmbal22ko3.jpg

Edited November 20, 2008 by OleMissCub

[imb]

This is what I most remember him for:

 

http://www.angelfire.com/sports/mikemussina/mmbal22.jpg

 

oh damn he owns angelfire

 

no wonder he retired

[OleMissCub]

no wonder he retired

 

word

[big_shooter17]

Hall of Famer. Just sayin'.

 

If he goes in, it would be just another reason for Blyleven to be there. I'm torn on Mussina, but of course Bert should be there.

[Proven Veteran]

I was at his debut at Comiskey. I don't know how I remember that.

[pitchcs]

Good pitcher during the steroid era; borderline HOF'er.

[Ball And Glove]

I think his case is hurt a bit by the fact that he had 17 or 18 seasons to pile up those stats. He was a good pitcher for a long time, but that doesn't get you into the Hall, IMO. I wouldn't put him in the Top 5 pitchers of his era, and he might barely make the Top 10...I don't know if that's good enough.

[Soul]

Being a Yankee might help him. He seems to fall on the border.

[cbbryan]

I think his case is hurt a bit by the fact that he had 17 or 18 seasons to pile up those stats. He was a good pitcher for a long time, but that doesn't get you into the Hall, IMO. I wouldn't put him in the Top 5 pitchers of his era, and he might barely make the Top 10...I don't know if that's good enough.

 

It doesn't get you in the HOF unless you get to 300.

[Jehrico]

Being a Yankee might help him. He seems to fall on the border.

I don't know...it'll help guys like Bernie, Mariano, and Jeter who were on those championship teams for sure, but Mussina is kind of (one of) the posterboy(s) for the Yankee's postseason failures since their championship run ended, as he was the big acquisition that offseason following the last championship, and they haven't won it all since he's been there.