Oriole fans opinion of Mike Mussina

[Frobby]

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.

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

He has been nothing but in a gentleman in his OP and follow-up posts. I assume he's just a Mussina fan and wanted to know our opinons. And I think my first post in this thread pretty much summed it up -- opinion is sharply divided.

[OrangeJerseys]

Actually, I take solace in the fact that all he got out of the sale of his soul was the money.

This sums up my feelings for Mussina perfectly. Good riddance. NO O's HOF and let him wear ugly pinstripes in the Hall.

[Barnaby Graves]

I'm kind of amazed that there are people here that would pay $10 million+, a chance at baseball immortality, and a chance at championships, for the privilege of being belittled by Peter Angelos so that they would have the opportunity to play for a declining franchise that couldn't rebuild if they had step-by-step instructions, lied/dragged their feet in negotiations, and employed vengeful and incompetent cronies to make baseball decisions. Meanwhile, those same people would be more than happy to incur the wrath of the union (i.e. having every other member of your tight-knit fraternity think you're a turncoat) while making fistfuls of cash working for said belittling owner as the face of the franchise.

Oh wait, I'm not amazed, I just flat out do not believe those people.

[OFFNY]

He has been nothing but in a gentleman in his OP and follow-up posts. I assume he's just a Mussina fan and wanted to know our opinons. And I think my first post in this thread pretty much summed it up -- opinion is sharply divided.

That's why I stated that it could be specious gloating ......... as opposed to the overt, clear-as-day gloating.

[Tony-OH]

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.

I think you missed the (at the time) part piso.

[Pedro Cerrano]

I really wish we had been able to score one freaking run in game 6.

That's my biggest regret with Mussina.

[Prayin4Reign]

I've been an Orioles fan all my life...40 plus years. And I will be til the day I die.

I've never really understood why fans could be as upset with Mussina as much as they are. It's a business, he made a business decision. Stock clerks to CEO's do that every day. When we have an owner like Angelos and he shows fans as much disrespect as he does...do you really think he's going to treat his players that much different? Look at how he has treated legendary Orioles like Brooks Robinson and favorites such as Lowenstein and Miller. Mussina made a decision and moved on.

I remember back in 1970 when Don Shula left the Baltimore Colts to join the Dolphins. I was heartbroken, hurt and upset. The following year I taped Don Shula's picture in the bullseye area on my dartboard. My dad was amused. I was 9.

I'd be upset if Mussina chose a Yankees cap over an Orioles cap when he does get in the HOF. I suppose there's a very real possibility he might though. I'll be happy for him...but I won't like the cap he's wearing.

[ledzepp8]

Is there really a difference betwwen 78 and 88 million?

Exactly. I don't think I could even spend 78 million dollars in my lifetime, let alone 88 million.

[Frobby]

I'd be upset if Mussina chose a Yankees cap over an Orioles cap when he does get in the HOF. I suppose there's a very real possibility he might though. I'll be happy for him...but I won't like the cap he's wearing.

I have zero doubt that Mussina would prefer to go into the HOF (if he makes it) wearing a Yankees cap. It's a matter of whether the HOF (which makes the final decision) will respect his wishes or not.

[WEAVERMAN]

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.

I agree with Tony. If Mussina had been signed, we would not have fallen this far.

[Frobby]

I agree with Tony. If Mussina had been signed, we would not have fallen this far.

That's certainly a fair point, but we were heading into some lean years in 2001 with or without Mussina, after the sell-off at the 2000 trade deadline. I think the 2004 team would have stood a decent chance of being over .500 with Mussina anchoring the staff -- assuming that Angelos would have been willing to pony up the $$ to get Miggy, Javy and Raffy if he was already paying $12-14 mm for Mussina.

[jabba72]

I was upset over Mussina leaving for a few years, but now that a decade has past....I realize he made the right choice. He probably felt ignored by Angelos and sons and knew the team had no hope of improving while he was still a player. The fact that he didnt win a WS makes me feel less bitter. I remember seeing photos of Mussina with a couple of drunk canadian chicks. I think one was sitting on his lap. All I can say is.... with $88m or whatever he signed for, I hope he occasionally used an escort service north of the border. Those chicks were rough.

[tntoriole]

I dont know that I would have done the same thing - hard to say unless you are in the situation.

Im not giving anyone elses money away either - just stating the way it turned out.

Would you rather have a legacy and be adored by great fans + 78 million, or have 88 Million and have nobody really care about you as a baseball player one way or another?

Sadly, Angelos made it easy for him to choose the later. But, he could have chosen to stay here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Give me the extra 10 million every day of the week and twice on Sunday....plus there is that little matter of being on a terrible club for years if he stayed with the Os.

[jabba72]

Give me the extra 10 million every day of the week and twice on Sunday....plus there is that little matter of being on a terrible club for years if he stayed with the Os.

I believe Mussina was already at or very close to his 30's when he left. By that point winning and an extra $10M mean everything. The carefree attitude the Orioles showed in the years following Mussina's leaving were troubling to say the least. IE, lowballing Cliff Floyd, Derek Lee etc. Those were good players that got the money they wanted from other teams while the O's had.....nothing.

[Dexter Morgan]

I hate Mussina less now. But he still sucks.

He has the heart of a true Yankee. AROD, TEX, CLEMENS. Dirtbags all the way.

I understand A-Rod and Clemens. But Tex?