Mussina Belongs in Cooperstown

PREFACE: I wrote this article last week after Mike Mussina had defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1. Since then Mussina has faced the Kansas City Royals on Monday June 9th. The Yankees lost 3-2 but not because of Mussina who did not earn a decision in the game. His final line read as follows:

8 IP; 7 H; 2 R; 2 ER; 3 SO; 1 BB; 1 HR

This outing lowered the Moose's ERA to 3.82 and he will now work for his tenth victory of the season Saturday at Houston...

The debate over whether New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina is a Hall of Famer may have just turned into an argument. The 39-year-old, who turns 40 after the season in December, won for the ninth time so far in the 2008 season last night, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1.

Throwing 103 pitches, Mussina completed six innings while only allowing one earned run over five hits. He walked one while striking out six and earning the eighth win in his last nine starts, including a string of three straight victories.

The win is Mussina’s 259th which puts him in 39th place on the all time wins list, during his 18 year career that has seen multiple honors and awards. A few of the major recognitions include:
· Six Gold Gloves
· Five-time All-Star
· 16 straight seasons with at least 10 wins (the only pitcher in American League history to accomplish such a feat)
· Two appearances on the Most Valuable Player ballot
· Eight appearances on the Cy Young Award ballot, finishing second, fourth (2), fifth (3), and sixth (2)
· Nine trips to the postseason
· 2,702 strikeouts (21st all time)

Even with all of the awards, recognitions, and statistics, coming into the 2008 season many experts thought that Mussina was on the outside looking in with regards to the Hall of Fame. They pointed at his lack of a 20-win season, the fact he was still below the 300-win threshold, his three one-hitters and one two-hitter instead of a perfect game or no-hitter, and his lack of a World Series ring or Cy Young title, or MVP title as reasons not to vote him into Cooperstown.

But as the steroid era appears to be ending and home run totals drop, the numbers in order to receive a vote into the Hall also needs to drop. There is a very good chance that no one becomes the 24th pitcher to win 300 games for a long time. Randy Johnson has the best chance as of now with 288 wins.

A player, both in the field and on the mound, needs to be evaluated by examining their longevity and dominance over an era. Numbers will also remain an important part of baseball lore, but they should not be the only indication of a Hall of Fame player.

Without a doubt, Mussina passes the longevity test. Eighteen years as a Major League pitcher including double digit wins in sixteen of those years. This season Mussina should reach at least ten wins again, unless an injury ends his season in the next couple of days.

When examining his dominance over the league throughout his career, Mussina can point at an ERA that stayed within the top five of the league eight times. He has led the league in wins only once during his career (1995 with the Orioles), but fourth among active players and has six top five finishes. The Moose has also finished the season in the top five in strikeouts seven times during his career. In numerous other categories Mussina ranks in the top ten or better multiple times (for a complete list visit http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mussimi01.shtml)

Some analysts may say that even with the start that Mussina has had for this 2008 season, a 20-win season and/or a World Series ring is the only way Mussina can be elected to the Hall of Fame. That statement is wrong and if that is the case expect very few pitchers reaching Cooperstown for the next 20 years until a new cycle of voters arrive.

Mike Mussina is, without a doubt, a future member of the Hall of Fame. Twenty wins this season, which is very likely when remembering that the Yankee offense should only improve throughout the season, may elect him the first time his name appears on the ballot.