Moose, Please Don't Retire

From Ed Price:

It has been 105 years since a pitcher won 19 or more games and voluntarily retired healthy.

Mike Mussina seems to be considering it.

Mussina on Sunday will attempt to become a 20-game winner for the first time in his career, starting for the Yankees in the first game of a season-ending, day-night doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox.

"It's a significant number," he said, "but after playing this long and winning all these games, if I don't win (today), then has it been bad, has it been lousy, has it been unsuccessful? No.

"It'd be a lot of fun to win it."

Mussina, who turns 40 on Dec. 8, must then decide if he wants to keep playing, and he sounds torn. Earlier this year, he told at least one confidante that this would be his final season.

He said yesterday the Yankees are his first choice, but his decision will rest on his family's concerns and whether he feels he can play three more seasons.

"If I'm in for one, I'm in for three," Mussina said.

His reasoning: He could retire with 269 or 270 career wins. But if he gets significantly closer to the 300-win milestone, it would be difficult to stop without pursuing that.

But Mussina also likes his quiet life in Montoursville, Pa., with his wife and three children.

"They're probably leaning toward me going home," he said. "My wife would have liked me to retire about five years ago. But ultimately, it's still up to me.

Mike Mussina, I know earlier in the year I doubted you, I thought you had nothing left. Well, I was wrong - dead wrong. You've proven that not only do you have something left, but that you can still be one of the better pitchers in the sport.

I know it's not about one year for you, but the Yankees are really going to need you next season. Without you, the Yankees may be screwed. So please come back. Hey, it may mean a trip to Cooperstown for you, that's worth something isn't it? And what about pitching in that brand new stadium? That's has to mean something, doesn't it?

And to the Yankees, is Mussina really not worth a two or three year deal? Like I just said, he's proven that he can still be one of the better pitchers in the league. Just lock him up. How about a two year deal with a player option for the third year? That should work. Money isn't an issue, and as we all know you can never have too much pitching.

Also I know there are some who don't want to bring him back. But I must ask those fans, why? Do you feel that this year was a fluke for Mussina? If so, please tell me why. How is anything he did this year not going to carry over into next season, or the season after that?