Mussina a #3 ... for now

by Ronster22 on Mar 4, 2008 9:04 AM EST in New York Yankees News

An interesting little piece on LoHud about Mussina and the fact that he's penciled in as the number three starter in the Yankees rotation.

Mussina mystique

I tend to agree that Mussina will likely, literally "suck" up innings this year, but for how long? This isn't Torre's ship any longer. How long will it be before that pencil will be turned over to erase Mussina from the third spot--replaced by any of the bevy of talent that is surfacing in Yankeeland?

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More like a #4-5 starter...

Not to hate on "Moose" because he has been a great Yankee, but he just doesn't have the command and pop that he used to. I can't think of any righties who throw consistently in the high-80's, and very seldom break 90 that can be successful as a #3 starter. He will win some games this year, but not like the Moose of the past.

by Pooser7 on Mar 4, 2008 9:48 AM EST reply actions

Nothing to be done about Moose

My only concern was his "I didn't have an out pitch" comment -- I'm hoping he "discovers" one by April.

Realistically, it isn't as if ALL of the young yanks pitchers are going to magically make this team. We need Moose to pitch. We can only hope he'll have a decent first half of the season.

That's about all that can really be done there. He's healthy, at least...so that's one good thing.

by detroit yankee on Mar 4, 2008 9:49 AM EST reply actions

Not something ...

I'd say in an interview.

That one kinda' made me laugh. He's honest if nothing else. But I'm with you.

Message to Mike: Find the outpitch pronto!

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Mar 4, 2008 10:00 AM EST up reply actions

Ron

What can he do to find one? Isn't this just a 'stuff' issue- if it's not there, it's not there?

Mussina's always been a guy with no pitch pattern, so it's not like he can shake things up that way. And I doubt he's going to add a new pitch at this point (I remember he played with a splitter for a while).

His GB% is already over 40 (Wang's is near 60), so I don't know how much more Moose can do to induce contact early (saves showing the best pitches he has).

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Mar 4, 2008 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

I thought he was just saying he didn't have it yet

I was a little disappointed in mosses performance. We have been being told he's in better shape and looking sharp in the bullpen.

Still a lot of the young guns have looked good.

It is very early.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)

by Cbeck3 on Mar 4, 2008 10:35 AM EST up reply actions

On a positive note

Moose did not walk anyone (no yankees pitcher did). So, his command was "plate-centric" (from a stat point of view) and really the worst of it was one pitch to Carlos Lee...other than that, it's really about finding the zone with his pitches (imo) and having the feel for them.

He'll find his outpitch.

(i think i hope)

by detroit yankee on Mar 4, 2008 11:40 AM EST up reply actions

Moose on the loose

I remember Maddux saying that a pitcher has a certain amount of pitches in his arm, and when he hits that number it's over. That's why he hasn't been one who historically dickers with a hitter. He likes to pitch to contact early, and if he gets up 1-2, 0-2, he tries to put guys away.

Mussina isn't a Maddux who can't throw hard and relies on hellacious movement. Once upon a time Mussina threw hard which augmented his knuckle curve and other off-speed pitches. The gap between his fastball and other pitches has closed now.

If I was Moose's pitching coach, I'd attempt to cut his fastball (preferably down), and maybe add a straight change that he could spot. The change would open that window up again. In other words if his fastball is 87, and the change is 64, it would be effective against hitters sitting on his fastball. It would essentially keep them honest.

His curveball is still in my opinion his best weapon. I'd also throw it in back-to-back situations more. I know that goes against traditional thinking, but if the second one is sharper or even a couple of mphs faster, it won't matter.

Sadly, though, I think we are watching a pitcher in his death march. If Moose were an elephant, he would have already separated from the herd, and would be nearing the big mud hole on the plain.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Mar 4, 2008 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

If his fastall is 85-86 like last year

he will get pounded again. He looked washed up to me last season. Those 3 straight victories in September were against very weak hitting teams and then Baltimore really roughed him up. He had NINE games in which he gave up 6+ runs. You have to have pretty bad stuff to do that.

by andyroth on Mar 4, 2008 11:53 AM EST reply actions

Fumes ...

He's always been a well-conditioned athlete. So him coming into camp in great shape really doesn't mean as much to me as if Giambi showed up in great shape.

Stuffwise, he simply doesn't have the gas to get guys out anymore, and conditioning isn't going to help you in that department.

While I hate to say it, ARoth is right, good hitting teams like Boston, Baltimore, even Tampa and Toronto will feast on him.

I can't see him lasting in the rotation past May.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Mar 4, 2008 2:02 PM EST up reply actions