Saturday, May 3, 2008

The Moose is Loose

Looks like Mike Mussina has found a new formula for success at the big league level. Throw that 85 mph fastball on the inner half and drop those off speed pitches below the speed limit. Some of those curve balls came in at a Casey Fossum like 63 mph. This is probably going to be the standard results from Mussina for the rest of the season. He'll get shelled in some starts and he'll have some hot streaks that even things out. If he can provide the team with 10-12 wins for the season I think the Yankees will be ecstatic.

Moose has used this new strategy before, but it seems now he is getting enough confidence to throw the ball inside again. He has to challenge hitters on the inner half because his breaking stuff is just to easy to hit when it is over the outside half and the batter doesn't have to look anywhere else. It was good to see the bullpen come through too. Edwar was a little shaky in the eighth but he battled through and if they can find him more consistent playing time then he will an asset and possibly even Joba's successor.

Hopefully Darrell Rasner can channel some of the Moose's success tomorrow. I was glad when the Yankees managed to get him back on a minor league deal last off season after they had let him hit the free agent market. I will also glad him he brings some of that 0.87 ERA he had in five starts at Scranton to the majors.

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