He flipped off everyone who thought he was finished at the end of ‘07. And while I’m sure he would have liked a WS ring & 300 career wins, he’s secure enough about who he is that he doesn’t need to hang around at the tail end of anyone’s rotation to get them. And who knows? He may get that ring as a pitching coach.

Until he left of course.

It’s rare to see a player go out after the kind of season he had last year. Probably a smart move, the temptation to try to get to 300 had to be pretty strong.

Nearly 1/3 of his Orioles victories are complete games? That is an astounding statistic.

Truly cut from a different cloth.

Adios, Moose.

…this would affect me so much.

All I can think of right now is his amazing…and it was truly amazing…1997 postseason, especially his two games in the ALCS. What’d he have, 25 ks in two starts? He was absolutely untouchable.

If only somebody could’ve hit a damn ball in that series, Moose is ALCS MVP…and from there, who knows.

Sadly, his Os career will probably always be about “what ifs.” And as sad and angry as I was when he left for the Yankees, with perspective, I don’t blame him. And it’s not fair that he never got a ring. He deserved one.

but I was a huge Moose fan until he left. And I understand why he left on a fiscal and rational level. But rationality doesn’t have much place as a O’s fan, and I never, just never, let go of all the bitterness of him leaving.

I’m the biggest hypocrite on this issue because given the difference in money, I would have left, too. And it’s not like he grew up rooting for the O’s.

But that doesn’t mean some small, vindictive part of me isn’t feeling a little smug today about the fact Mike Mussina will never win a World Series as a pitcher.

Even when he was a Yankee. I’d silently root for him to pitch well and have them lose anyway. He was beautiful to watch. You know the routine – start with the dip, execute that lovely curve for a strike and end with that bounce every damn time.

I hated seeing him in pinstripes, but I still just loved to watch him work.

Especially after his resurgence this year. I figured that the MFY would spend $100M on a rotation and kick Moose to the curb, and MacPhail would snag him for 30 wins and he could teach our 22yo rotation how to throw knuckle curves and not walk 6 batters/game.

We need to get him as a pitching coach.

Oh, and I’m posting this here too, it’s why Moose should go into the HOF as an Oriole:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pge9a5vfulJhRARtiZSx8Vg&hl=en

And a lot of what you wrote echoes my feelings as well. For ten seasons, Mike Mussina was damn fucking good Oriole. And had any of us been in the same shoes, I’m sure we would’ve done the same thing…

He may not have a won a ring, but during his entire Yankee career the Orioles weren’t relevant even once. So I don’t take too much joy in him having the same # of rings as BJ Surhoff…

a senior record of 14-5 with an 0.99 ERA. And what could be cooler for a college player than to major in econ and graduate early after writing a senior thesis on the economic rationale for a pitcher going to college instead of signing out of high school?

I felt much the same as 2632 did about watching his Yankee games, and always admired his ability to take things in the NY nuthouse in stride. And despite myself, I sort of wished that once, just once, Sid might sit next to him on a team bus. And listen.

Sluggo got it just right about the guy knowing who he is. Anyway, thanks, Moose, and here’s hoping you’ll stay in the game in some role somewhere: you’re too good a role model to let you just fade away.

Our next Hall of Famer? If anyone doesn’t think so, I’ll make a case for him. It’s weird, my natural reaction to this was a sinking feeling.

From foxsports.com

Only 20 other pitchers in major-league history have finished 100 or more games over .500. Sixteen are in the Hall of Fame, and the other four — Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine — are not yet eligible.

Speaking of books you guys should check out Living on the Black about Mussina and Glavine’s 2007 seasons. Gives a view of Mussina (and Glavine, but I was obviously more interested in the Moose) that you really don’t ever get to see. Also interesting to see him dealing with failure.

I’ve always respected him as a great “thinking man’s” pitcher and loved to see him dominate this year after so many said he no longer had the stuff to compete. Memories of his absolute shutdown performances and near no-hitters and perfect games will last a lifetime. Great career Moose. Great career. Enjoy life as a father and coach – don’t spend too much time on the crossword puzzles.

As someone about the same age as you, Moose was also a big part of formative O’s experiences. A top draft choice, I soon saw him briefly pitch the lights out for Rochester before he went up to the big show and pitched just as well. It seemed like that was just the way the world should work. Funny how it hasn’t happened to the O’s since then.

He was smart, reserved, and pitched deep into games, seemingly the pitcher’s equivalent of Cal. I look back on those years and realize how little I realized that players like them are absolute rarities. Well, everyone knew that Cal was one-of-a-kind, but I think I had the idea that we would find a pitcher like Moose every couple years. And every year I hope the O’s will draft a college pitcher who will follow in Moose’s footsteps. Matusz anyone?

And I too was hoping Moose would come back and pitch for us for a couple years, finishing his career with 300 wins in Camden Yards and entering Cooperstown with an Oriole on his cap. Alas.

Any other Orioles of the late 80s/early 90s still out there? Schilling. Finley retired, no?

…Moose is Randy Milligan.

Now as for Mussina, his is the type of career one never wants to see as a baseball fan. A highly productive, top of his game player leaving your team, in his prime, to play for your worst rival. These being the facts, the only thing I’ll miss about Mussina is wooping his ass the way we’ve managed to the last several years. See ya, Mike. How’s the ring fit?

he’ll go in on first ballot a year ahead of jamie moyer

WTF is WRONG with you people????

I’m on MASN’s website!

http://masnsports.com/2008/11/what-theyre-saying-about-the-o-2.html