98 degrees? Mike turns it up
Season win 15 makes for career win 265. To celebrate, Strategic Failure takes perhaps the Internet's longest look at Gus Wehyhing, now surpassed on the all-time win list. "He was just the type of player likely to be on Montgomery Burns's dream softball team from that famous episode of the Simpsons so many years ago…." See the list here. Hard Ball Times also has some cool numbers on Mike's control.
AP: "Mike Mussina pitched seven sharp innings Thursday night and held the most powerful offense in the majors scoreless in a 3-0 win over the Texas Rangers. … The 39-year-old right-hander gave up eight hits, struck out six and stayed unbeaten in his last seven road outings." NYT: "Mussina became the first visiting starter to not allow a run at Rangers Ballpark since last August. He has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, and he earned his 15th victory, tying Cleveland's Cliff Lee for the American League lead."
MLB: "Not only was his final line on Thursday one of his best this season, but Mussina did it against the Majors' most productive offense, in one of the league's foremost hitter's parks. He did it in 98-degree heat, mowing down Josh Hamilton and Michael Young and Ian Kinsler, the three main engines of this Rangers offense. And he did it by pitching — really pitching — on a night when his stuff was self-admittedly ordinary." River Ave. Blues: "Who shuts down the Rangers at home with their best stuff? And for all the grief I've given Moose over the years, I have to tip my cap to him this year. He has shown, week after week, that old dogs — headstrong ones at that — can indeed learn a few new tricks. "
Last thing. After the win, we get a great interview with Yahoo Sports.
Q: The Onion has written a few satirical stories with you as a character.
MM: Who?
Q: The Onion, the satirical newspaper that writes fake joke stories? You don't know the Onion?
MM: Nope.
Q: Wow. Well, there was this one headline: "Mussina Convinced He's Won a World Series" and it quotes you as believing you were on the 2000 World Series champs.
MM: OK.
Much more awesomeness within, including Mike's relationships with NYC tourism, Tiger Woods, beer, Orioles' fans, and retail labor.
