Comments on: What Toikey, Give Me Some Moose

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:59:36 +0000

MMussina, 1992: 18/5 241.0 2.54 157 1.079 – Cy Young 4th
Lincecum, 2008: 18/5 227.0 2.62 167 1.172 – Cy Young 1st

I wonder who faced better batters, 1992 Steroid infested AL East or No Drugs allowed 2008 NL West?

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:25:53 +0000

[3] Agreed. Everyone who uses stats sees Moose as a HOFer, especially considering pitching in the AL East during the Steroid Era. I would agree he fails the 2 ‘tests’ of 1) was he a dominant player of his era 2) was he great.

Mike wasn’t great, just excellent for almost his entire career, and I would argue that a few of his early years with Baltimore were ‘great’, going 16-5 and 18-5 with ERA+’s of 163 and 157.

By: theplacesyoullgo

theplacesyoullgo — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:37:20 +0000

I’ve already seen quite a few stories which include some variation on the line, “He was a great pitcher, but he just doesn’t make ME [i.e. the writer] think ‘Hall of Fame.’” Not only is deciding such matters strictly based upon gut feeling irresponsible, but it’s also incredibly narcissistic. “Never mind the Hall precedent — he doesn’t belong in MY Hall of Fame, damnit!”

If one wants to argue against Mussina’s candidacy using stats, I welcome that person to do so, but 99% of the cases I’ve read/heard against his election hinge upon an entirely subjective “I just don’t think of him as HOF material” statement.

By: Alex Belth

Alex Belth — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:49:45 +0000

I made an error in the video, citing Mussina’s 15 strike out game in the 97 playoffs. It was against the Indians NOT the Red Sox as I mentioned. And Moose pitched seven innings and whiffed 15. He allowed just one run, in the seventh inning. And wound up with a no decision. The game went into extra innings and the O’s lost, 2-1.