“There, but for the grace of God, go I”
We spent a lot of time on this site analyzing Mike Mussina’s career, and if he’d done enough to make Cooperstown. Through it all, while we believe he’s worthy of the honor now, we knew that the voters might have needed another year or two; another twenty wins; another 200 strikeouts.
We wondered if Mussina made the right decision to retire.
And after watching the Yankees pound the Red Sox and John Smoltz Thursday night, here’s what I can say: I’m glad that wasn’t Mike Mussina.
This is not about bashing John Smoltz. I happen to think he’s a Hall of Famer, and he, like all athletes, has a right to end his career when he chooses. And Smoltz was coming off of shoulder surgery.
But that doesn’t change the reality of the results. Smoltz has been awful for the Red Sox. He’s got an 8.23 ERA and left-handed hitters are hitting nearly .450 against him.
Simply put, he held on one year too long.
As a Yankees fan, I never got to see much of Smoltz except in the World Series in 1996 and 1999. But he was a phenominal pitcher. And, even though I wanted the Yankees to win Thursday, I couldn’t help but think that a guy like Smoltz deserved better. He deserved to go out pitching well. Not getting battered around in the third inning. It’s possible that, for his final confrontation on the mound, John Smoltz had to issue an intentional walk to load the bases after giving up five hits in the inning. It’s simply not how he should be remembered.
Mike Mussina ended his career with 16 straight scoreless innings. The final batter he faced was the eventual MVP of the American League, Dustin Pedroia. Mussina got a double play ground out.
While we may always wonder what might have been had Mussina hung on for another two or three seasons–especially if he doesn’t make the Hall–part of me is glad his career ended the way it did. With smiles and handshakes. With a celebration.
That same part of me wishes John Smoltz could get one final return to the mound, to finish his career in a manner more fitting a player of his stature. I don’t know if he’ll get that chance, but we can always hope.
As for Mike Mussina? Maybe, once again, he proved he knows more than we do.
Last 5 posts by The Moose
- Old-Timers day getting a little...young? - July 20th, 2009
- Well played, sir - November 21st, 2008
- It's over, it's over, it's over.... - November 19th, 2008
- "We feel the room swayin' " - November 16th, 2008
- 6th place is better than nothing, but... - November 13th, 2008
August 25th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Good to see Smoltz might be bouncing back in St. Louis. First start back in the NL on Sunday 5IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 9K (including 7 in a row). I’ll grant it was against San Diego, but at least their’s some hope he’ll go out on a good note. And it appears with one last trip to the playoffs.
It’s meaningless, but I wonder what kind of numbers Moose would have established this year pitching in the NL? Smoltz, Holliday, Cliff Lee - this year has shown a real difference going from one league to the other.