The ripple effect of Mussina’s retirement

John Provine, Tucson, Arizona — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:04:54 GMT

As a believer that the Hall of Fame should be reserved for the truly great, as opposed to merely the very good, I don't think Mike Mussina is a HOF'er. In my opinion, there are only two criteria to get into the Hall: 1. Does he have overwhelming lifetime numbers?, or 2. Did he dominate his era?

Mike Mussina was a very good pitcher for a number of years, but you can't truthfully answer "yes" to either question.

Ted, you mentioned Juan Marichal. It's true he was overshadowed in the media by some of the greatest names ever to grab a baseball -- Koufax, Seaver, and the rest -- but there was never any doubt about his greatness, nor was there debate about his worthiness for the Hall. If nothing else, that's the difference between him and Mike Mussina.

The ripple effect of Mussina’s retirement

Keith Tishken, Atlanta, GA — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:06:09 GMT

I believe anyone of a certain age that has seen Mussina pitch can agree that he was a very good pitcher, but a guy who doesn't win 20 until his final year raises a lot of questions. You choose to compare him to Juan Marichal, but why not compare him to a guy that should be in the Hall of Fame, but is not--Jack Morris.

Watching Mussina pitch in Baltimore, I would describe him as your prototypical smart, modern "professional" baseball player. I stress professional, because that really sums up Mussina--His decisions always seemed to tilt in the interest of his overall career and after all who can blame him--but that is one of the reasons he didn't see 20 wins until his final year. He is a guy who wouldn't pitch unless he felt exactly right--there's no Denny McClain in Mussina--and Mussina has had a long successful career as a result. Yet consider whether Mussina, who in my mind proved himself to be an excellent #2 pitcher--being a #1 and all that went with it was never in his makeup--note: Baltimore. Consider one of the great #2 clutch performances of all time by a guy who will never be considered for the Hall--Mickey Lolich. He was not only the only lefty to complete 3 World Series starts/wins, but to come back and beat Bob Gibson, arguably the best pitcher of the time, with a complete game on only two days rest after Game 5 is something that Mussina would have never even contemplated--because it might have compromised his career. Lolich has the most strikeouts by an American league left-handed pitcher in history--500 more than future HOF fireballer Randy Johnson. Yet, Mickey Lolich will never be in the Hall of Fame.

Now consider Jack Morris. The winningest pitcher in all of baseball during the 80s. #1 pitcher on three World Series champions and part of a fourth. 14 consecutive opening day starts--a real big game pitcher, stats be damned. Morris was effective. Mussina was never really considered an effective big game pitcher in Baltimore--fans always questioned his overall tenacity. Which brings me back to the idea of "Professional." Mussina had a long, very successful career reinforced by superior stats--but was he ever special by HOF standands? Not really in my book--especially if spectacular performers like Jack Morris and Mickey Lolich don't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.