So long Moose, and thanks for all the Ws.

As Ichiro, and before him, Matty Alou showed, slap hitters with great speed can be very productive.

[11] The ‘finger wag’ was an absolutely stellar moment. And while Moose was deadly serious, Torre, while obeying, got a laugh out of it.

I was watching the near perfecto on TV. My first reaction was why give Everett anything to hit on an 0-2 count, but as you just said, it wasn’t exactly a phat pitch. After the ball dropped in, the camera showed Moose’s face, and his expression was one of distain, but not really surprise. It was almost like a fatalistic ‘well that figures’ kind of face. I myself was almost in tears and looking for something to punch.

For all the ink spilled over Game 7 of the ’03 ALCS, let us not forget that when Clemens was done, it was Moose who came out of the bullpen for the first time in his career to hold the Sox scoreless for 3 innings and set up all the fun that followed.

And though the first thing everyone mentions about Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS is Jeter’s shovel pass, it was Moose who brilliantly out-pitched Zito to save the Yanks’ season.

Gosh I’m going to miss him.

I was in the Brockport (NY) area at the time, watching the game unfold. I loved the pacing and rhythm of the game, especially since Mussina was matching up with Cone, two pitchers I really enjoyed watching.

Also, the rivalry was at it’s hottest.

So, I saw Moose pitch outside of Yankee Stadium twice, and both times he took a perfect game into the eighth inning.

[7] what does it pay?! ; )

Mussina was the kinda guy I hated to see pitch against us earlier in his career; especially when I was in DC and the Orioles were the only game in town (well, do the Nats count yet?) that I could tolerate (I hated the DC football team) But secretly, I wanted him to pitch for the Yanks, and counted the days to when he actually could. I think he would have been first ballot HoF and a legend if the Yanks won in 01. Still, I was one who stated and agreed that his time was up in 2007 and again this past season, but I don’t feel that bad. He gave as best as he had, better than I gave him credit for, and that he’s leaving on his own terms is better than anything I can say about him, so… again, thanks for everything, Moose and don’t be a stranger. >;)

I was thrilled when the Yankees signed him, and rewarded by his Cy Young-worthy 2001 campaign. As his skills faded, my fandom shifted to his dry wit and thoughtful, intelligent, introspective, and gleefully curmudgeonly interviews. I’ve always loved the idea of going out on top (see Michael Strahan for another great recent example), and though it saddens me both as a Yankee fan and a baseball fan to see him go, I admire him all the more for doing it. The decision suits him perfectly.

Speaking of which, Alex, the Hopper comp is brilliant. I also really dig Hopper’s stuff and seeing you draw the comparison was a total head-slap moment. Of course!