Random Thoughts (November 20, 2008)

The Yankees have one more reason to drop millions upon millions of dollars on CC Sabathia, Derek Lowe, and/or A.J. Burnett now that Mike Mussina has retired (an announcement is expected today). "Moose" has called it quits just a month before he turns 40. He hangs it up after 18 seasons split up between the Orioles and Yankees. He won 270 career games, had a lifetime ERA of 3.68, and was selected to five All-Star Games (all with the Orioles). Mussina will be a probable Hall of Fame candidate. He was one of the top pitchers of his era although in my opinion, he is behind Curt Schilling and John Smoltz on the waiting list for enshrinement in Cooperstown. Mussina was a 20-game winner just one time, an accomplishment he reached on what was the final start of his career for a third place Yankee team. He never won a Cy Young. He never won a World Series. Pitching in a time period that saw the likes of Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Schilling, Smoltz, and Andy Petitte among others, Mussina does not stand out. Yes, he was a very good pitcher for a long period of time but he was never dominant and he never carried his team to a World Series. To me, a pitcher must win at least one Cy Young or be an integral part of at least one championship team to be considered worthy of the Hall of Fame. I also disagree with Sports Illustrated's John Donovan on Mussina. There is no way Mussina lived up to the money he earned in the Bronx. He had a 5-7 record in the postseason and the Yankees, despite their lack of a soul, have to be given credit for measuring success by World Series championships. Mussina didn't get the job done in October. His team never won a ring. It's that simple. Mussina was a very good pitcher on some very good teams for a long period of time but his lack of a Cy Young and a World Series ring should keep him out of Cooperstown for a very long time... Pittsburgh (-9.5) over CINCINNATI Quentin Richardson doesn't like the Celtics. The Knicks forward wants to face the Celtics with no referees to show the C's how tough he and his teammates really are. What a joke! Richardson couldn't even keep Brandy in check and I'm supposed to believe he could handle Kevin Garnett or Tony Allen? Puh-leeze. He, like the entire Knicks organizations (save Mike D'Antoni and Donnie Walsh), is a clown, a phony, a true idiot. His 6-9, 270-pound teammate Zach Randolph had a chance to open up on Leon Powe during their game on Tuesday but all he did was bump chests with Powe before waiting to be separated by an official. D'Antoni and Walsh need to find a way to rid the Knicks of the likes of Richardson, Randolph, and Stephon Marbury before they can even think about being taken serious by the defending champs or anyone else in the NBA... I hope the Red Sox rumored interest in A.J. Burnett is strictly to drive up the price on the Yankees. We already have one J.D. Drew, we don't need another. Of course, if the Sox do give the free agent pitcher the cash, expect me to sing the praises of a Josh Beckett-Jon Lester-Burnett-Daisuke Matsuzaka-Tim Wakefield starting rotation and a Jonathan Papelbon-Justin Masterson-Hideki Okajima-Ramon Ramirez-Manny Delcarmen-Javier Lopez bullpen. I like the sound of that already... Congrats to the BC hoop team for advancing to the semifinals of the Preseason NIT tournament. They will have their hands full with a Purdue team that plays outstanding defense... Enjoy KG tonight...