What's your take on the resurgence of Mike Mussina?

Question

This is a guy who many people, yes, many Yankees fans too, all but gave up on. It looked like he had nothing left, with a fastball that topped out at 84 and a breaking ball and knuckle curve that didn't fool anyone.

Now he's showing the dominance he hasn't displayed since the early part of the decade, and is a big reason the Yankees are contending for the AL East. How do you explain this?

Answer 1

i like what mussina is doing. im not a big fan of the yanks, but i always like the moose.

im not sure how to explain this other than he is simply getting the job done.

Answer 2

That's a really hard question to answer because it could be any number of things. Although I think a lot has to be due to Girardi, sorta the same with Farnsworth. I think Girardi has more trust in Moose then Torre did. But who knows I also believe, please correct me if I am wrong, its the final year in his contract. Could be playing for a new one, or trying to get 20 to possibly make it into the Hall.

Answer 3

i think moose finally learned how to deal with what hes got. It also helps that he is in the final year of his contract so he has got to pitch well if he wants to play again. And also i think hal steinbrenners comments got a rise out of him wheather he would admit it or not becasue since then he has pitched amazing.

Answer 4

He has retooled and reinvented himself and his entire game. Good for him, I have been a fan since his rookie season as an Oriole.

Answer 5

It's so great to see the old Moose getting back to dominance.  Maybe he'll actually pitch a perfect game this year.

Answer 6

To be honest, I have no idea how to explain it. He was kicked out of the rotation last season because it seemed that he "lost it". Apparently he has found "it" again and at the best time for the Yankees. Maybe the idea of him having to step up with Wang out and other pitching woes motivated him enough to rejuvenate himself. It will be interesting to see if it holds up through the entire season.

Answer 7

baseball is boring.

Answer 8

Mussina, though for most part consistent, despite his ups and downs, is proving his critics wrong once again. hard to believe though that he hadnt posted a 20 win season in his career. Well on his way to his first. He will be one of those under rated SP who wont get recognized for  what he has done, until after he retires, and HOF eligibility kicks in.  Sadly.

Do keep in mind his ability to lower his ERA each outing, considering first few games it was well into the 5's,and now a very respectable 3.49....and dropping.

Answer 9

Well i think its that moose finally realized that the knuckle curve isnt fooling anyone. Hes been using different pitches a lot this year and not going straight to an 0-2 knucle curve. But without him and Wang hurt, the yanks would deff not be making the playoffs this year. The thing is, is this performance good enough to re-sign him?

Answer 10

For a guy that was actually dropped from the starting rotation last year, Mussina has done REMARKABLY well.

Things didn't look any different from his downward spiral.  In fantasy baseball (which I use as a gague for general predictions) he went undrafted in mixed leagues and was the last 3 rounds in AL only leagues.

Now, ERA under 3.5, 12-6, BB;K ratio is 1:4.5.  

What is the reason for this, personal pride I think and possibly the motivation to get into the HOF and win a world series.  (The Yankees haven't actually won a WS since they signed Mussina)

Forget the batting, Mussina is the Yankee's MVP so far.

Answer 11

He's doing outstanding! Sure hope it isn't the result of a foreign substance!