Oriole fans opinion of Mike Mussina

[ccbird]

I agree with NMS - don't blame him for leaving, do blame him for going to the Yankees. Actually, I really blame him for going to the Yankees and then saying "It's not about the money". I just really hate that quote, because it's always about the money.

Always wanted whoever runs the sound system to play Reel Big Fish's "Sell Out" while Mussina was warming up.

And I think his accomplishments as a Yankee are significant enough for him to go in as a Yankee if he so chooses.

New York gave him the best opportunity to win games and win a ring. They also offered the most money. So yeah, it was about the money but that wasn't the only thing it was about.

[russ snyder]

Hello. I'm a Yankee fan. I come in peace. I signed up here to get a feel of how the Oriole fan base see their old right hander. I'm sure when he first left for the Yankees of all teams the feelings toward him were pretty negative. But has time and his retirement help mend those feelings? In 2014 Mussina will be Hall of Fame eligible. I think he belongs.. though it may take 4 or 5 years. If he does get in would you want him to go in as an Oriole or does that not matter to you anymore? Also.. has he ever been invited back to Camden?

Welcome to the site. I still don't like Mussina, but I'll acknowledge that he has Hall of Fame potential. Even when he was here, he seemed to be the ultimate clubhouse lawyer. I prefer him to go in as a Yankee, but it's not that important to me. The only way he'll have an appreciation day/night at Camden Yards is if he enters the Hall as an Oriole.

[Moose Milligan]

Quite simply, if Mu$$ina ever goes into the HoF, he should go in with his Yankees hat on proud with a backdrop of money bags. The guys choose to be a mercenary over a legacy. I have no respect for people like that. Mussina is the only Orioles drafted, signed, developed and starred as an Oriole who ever left the Orioles to sign with the Yankees in his prime. He couldn't handle being the ace here and all the responsibilities that went with it. He wanted to just blend in with the other mercenaries and was more comfortable being a 3rd starter then the guy who was relied on here. I consider Mu$$ina a Yankee.

Not sure how you can really rag on someone who chose a bigger paycheck, a better chance to win titles and to become part of the richest history in the game. I don't like that Mussina left us to go to the Yankees but I can't blame him for making that decision.

[Tony-OH]

I know my stance is not always popular on Mu$$ina, but I've been consistent with it since he left. Trust me, I understand Mu$$ina wanting to escape an Angelos-led organization, but you don't go to the Yankees. He's the only Oriole in his prime to ever do that and for that, I'll never forgive him. You don't leave and got to the team's (at the time) biggest rival. I don't doubt Angelos was mostly at fault, but in the end, from all the reports, he was offered what he wanted by Angelos but by then he was fed up and stuck it to him (and Orioles fans by proxy) by going to the Yankees.

Mu$$ina had an opportunity to take over from Jim Palmer as the best pitcher ever to wear an Orioles uniform. To some like Cal Ripken, putting down a legacy was more important than the almighty dollar and even bigger than sticking it to Angelos. Mu$$ina didn't care about his fans, nor did he care about becoming an Orioles legend. Don't get me wrong, he has every right to do what he wanted. I just have every right as an Orioles fan to dislike him for it. I still think had he stayed we would not be going into our 15th straight losing season.

[Can_of_corn]

If he had stayed would the O's be putting up one more statue this season or would they have waited to see if he made it into the HoF?

[JanJaap]

Hello. I'm a Yankee fan. I come in peace. I signed up here to get a feel of how the Oriole fan base see their old right hander. I'm sure when he first left for the Yankees of all teams the feelings toward him were pretty negative. But has time and his retirement help mend those feelings? In 2014 Mussina will be Hall of Fame eligible. I think he belongs.. though it may take 4 or 5 years. If he does get in would you want him to go in as an Oriole or does that not matter to you anymore? Also.. has he ever been invited back to Camden?

He is scum like the rest your MFY.

[Frobby]

I know my stance is not always popular on Mu$$ina, but I've been consistent with it since he left. Trust me, I understand Mu$$ina wanting to escape an Angelos-led organization, but you don't go to the Yankees. He's the only Oriole in his prime to ever do that and for that, I'll never forgive him. You don't leave and got to the team's (at the time) biggest rival.

Once Mussina decided to leave the Orioles, I was indifferent to where he went. And how many Orioles really had an opportunity to go the Yankees?

In addition to his shoddy treatment by Angelos (see also: John Miller, Davey Johnson, Rafael Palmeiro), the team was in total disarray at the time. That was the year we jettisoned Surhoff, CJ, Clark, Baines, Bordick, etc. for a bunch of mediocre prospects in one of the worst-executed fire sales of all time. The team was looking at 2-3 years of rebuilding at a minimum. Not a great way to spend the remaining prime of your career.

When you look at how Angelos treated a whole series of managers, GM's, announcers and players in the 1996-2000 time frame, I really don't see the argument that Mussina should have felt any "loyalty" to the organization, unless loyalty is totally a one-way street.

[TonySoprano]

I know my stance is not always popular on Mu$$ina, but I've been consistent with it since he left. Trust me, I understand Mu$$ina wanting to escape an Angelos-led organization, but you don't go to the Yankees. He's the only Oriole in his prime to ever do that and for that, I'll never forgive him. You don't leave and got to the team's (at the time) biggest rival.

If the Yankees are our biggest rival, it's a one-sided affair. They are too preoccupied with the Red Sox to worry about us. I submit our biggest rival is ourselves. We have beaten ourselves silly with one dumb decision after the next for fifteen years.

[weams]

Back then

If the Yankees are our biggest rival, it's a one-sided affair. They are too preoccupied with the Red Sox to worry about us. I submit our biggest rival is ourselves. We have beaten ourselves silly with one dumb decision after the next for fifteen years.

Before Mr. Angelos bought the Thoroughbred Farm, we were still relevant to the Yankees.

[carolinaoriole]

He was a very good pitcher. I do not think he was a great pitcher so for me he is not worthy of the hall of fame.

[ShaneDawg85]

Once Mussina decided to leave the Orioles, I was indifferent to where he went. And how many Orioles really had an opportunity to go the Yankees?

In addition to his shoddy treatment by Angelos (see also: John Miller, Davey Johnson, Rafael Palmeiro), the team was in total disarray at the time. That was the year we jettisoned Surhoff, CJ, Clark, Baines, Bordick, etc. for a bunch of mediocre prospects in one of the worst-executed fire sales of all time. The team was looking at 2-3 years of rebuilding at a minimum. Not a great way to spend the remaining prime of your career.

When you look at how Angelos treated a whole series of managers, GM's, announcers and players in the 1996-2000 time frame, I really don't see the argument that Mussina should have felt any "loyalty" to the organization, unless loyalty is totally a one-way street.

Especially when, as I said previously, he had already showed loyalty by signing a below market extension that the players union raked him over coals for, and still being willing to sign for over 20 million less than what he got from the Yankees, but the Orioles dragged their proverbial foot on it.

[OFFNY]

The only grudge I hold with Mussina is that he signed with the Orioles most hated rival. When Andy Pettitte left NY and BOS was interested, he said he'd never sign with a division rival. I respected that. Mussina could have done the same. That said, I remember the Yankees rolling out the red carpet for him, and Joe Torre helped him look for houses in the NY area. They made it impossible for Mussina to go anywhere else.

That said, Angelos deserves the lion's share of the blame here. Mussina was another guy who deserved loyalty and respect and Angelos pretty much spit in his face with his low-ball negotiations and lack of respect attitude towards guys like Mussina and Palmeiro.

I personally don't care what cap he wears if he gets in. And I even wonder if he deserves to get in, personally.

Wow. Is that all ??? Sounds like a pretty BIG grudge!

[Bradysburns]

Hello. I'm a Yankee fan. I come in peace. I signed up here to get a feel of how the Oriole fan base see their old right hander. I'm sure when he first left for the Yankees of all teams the feelings toward him were pretty negative. But has time and his retirement help mend those feelings? In 2014 Mussina will be Hall of Fame eligible. I think he belongs.. though it may take 4 or 5 years. If he does get in would you want him to go in as an Oriole or does that not matter to you anymore? Also.. has he ever been invited back to Camden?

First of all, why? Why do you care? Don't you have some playoff wins to plan for - buying some chips or dip or something?

Second of all, Mussina to me is like a hot former girlfriend. I have great memories, and part of me still has that desire to rekindle the past - but I just let it go. I don't get caught up in it. So as far as I am concerned, Moose can do whatever he wants. If I were a betting man, I'd say he goes in as a Yankee. If he doesn't go in as a Yankee, I will probably tear up for what could have been, here in Baltimore. Wow, I sound pretty weird right about now. But my view toward Moose is complicated at best, tending toward the cool.

[OFFNY]

First of all, why? Why do you care? Don't you have some playoff wins to plan for - buying some chips or dip or something?

Specious gloating ??? OK, I admit that I got that line/idea from El Gordo in another thread a long time ago.

[Bradysburns]

Specious gloating ??? OK, I admit that I got that line/idea from El Gordo in another thread a long time ago.

Whatever the case, I think you MIGHT be onto something here.