May 7th vs. The A’s

Today, ladies and gentlemen, Mike Mussina stepped up.
Not as big as Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS or Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS. But, in terms of stepping up for a game on May 7th, Moose came through with a game today as big as one could hope for - and then some.

Granted, these are the 2005 Oakland A’s - and they’re not exactly an offensive to make you want to cry “Mommy!” But, Mussina did something today that we do not see a lot of in Yankeeland: A complete game shutout victory.

When you factor in the losing streak, the way the team has been playing, and who is pitching tomorrow for New York - oh, and the facts that the Yankees have several slumping hitters, a bullpen full of arsonists, and a closer that was not available today - then coming through with a shutout this afternoon is a huge, huge, effort.

Attaboy Moose. You don’t step up all the time. But, when you do, it’s memorable!

May 7, 2005 | Filed Under Game Commentary 05/05

Comments

13 Responses to “May 7th vs. The A’s”

Clay on May 7th, 2005 8:59 pm

I think you mean Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS.

He looked really good today. It was nice to finally see him hitting into the 90s on the (highly inaccurate) YES radar gun.

I hope this is what we finally need to get going, but then again we have Brown going tomorrow… Maybe he’ll not have the first-inning arsonist routine.
Steve Lombardi on May 7th, 2005 11:17 pm

Thanks Clay. Yes, I meant 2003. (Since corrected.) I was there on 10/16/03 - I should remember the right year!

And, if Brown does pitch well tomorrow, it just might be the start of a streak for us! Fingers crossed.
Clay on May 7th, 2005 11:26 pm

Yes, I was there, too. Upper deck, second section, near the right field foul pole. What a great game. I’ve been soooo lucky as a fan these past few years.

I know Brown still has it in him to pitch well. Obviously, if you hand pick innings you can make anyone into Cy Young, but Brown’s ERA for innings 3 and higher for the three games he had rough starts is 2.45. Of course the problem is that 36.00 ERA in innings 1 and 2…
Phil on May 8th, 2005 1:42 am

since Rivera has trouble in the 8th and 9th these days…maybe he should pitch the first and second and let Brown come in for the rest!
Steve Lombardi on May 8th, 2005 10:50 am

Clay, and others, re: G7 ‘03, you might enjoy something I did the AM after…..

http://www.netshrine.com/20031017.html
Phil on May 8th, 2005 1:03 pm

my birthday is 10/17…and I too was at Game 7 in 2003…in fact since 1995- my birthday and the Yankees post season have almost become synonomous

2nd greatest birthday of all time (21st b-day still the best)

Also- Yankees clinched against the Mariners on 10/17…that was the David Justice HR game when they were down going into the 7th I believe

Game time in 1 minute…my Kevin Brown line Prediction…

6IP 4R 9H 2BB’s 3K’s
Steve Lombardi on May 8th, 2005 5:09 pm

Phil - we have something in common, sorta/kinda. My wedding anny is 10/17 - and I was there for the Justice HR game in the ALCS too - - - upper, upper deck, behind HP, with my wife (who gave me the tkts as an anny gift). That was awesome - but, G7 ‘03 topped that later.
Clay on May 8th, 2005 7:19 pm

Hah! I was at the Justice game, too! Pretty much in the same section, too: upper deck, behind home.

My only birthday game was a doozy - October 31, 2001. I was there the next night, too…

Holy hell, I’ve been lucky.
Steve Lombardi on May 8th, 2005 7:42 pm

It’s a small world!!!

I had a nice LCS streak going, for a while - I was at the clinchers in 2000, 2001 and 2003.

I was also at G6 last year. I was so depressed after the game, I sold my G7 tkts to my friend Dave - at face value. I should have sold them to some Sox fan for $1000 and seeded my kids college fund instead!
Jen on May 8th, 2005 7:52 pm

A lot of October b-days around here. My 21st was a good one (10/23/96). It was the Leyritz homer game. 2003 sucked though. They managed to lose 2 games in one day, games 4 (which finished after midnight) & 5. Let’s hope my 30th b-day will be a better one.
Steve Lombardi on May 8th, 2005 10:45 pm

Sometimes I think the Leyritz HR in 1996 was the trigger for a lot of good things that followed the next 7 years. Must be cool to have it as a birthday present!
Phil on May 8th, 2005 11:35 pm

Joe Buck….10/23/96…..

“Back..at the track..at the wall..we are tied”

I will never ever forget that call on Leyritz’s 3 run HR. I agree- it was the start of an incredible decade in Yankee Land

It’s the 90’s version of “Deep to left…..”
Steve Lombardi on May 9th, 2005 11:31 am

10/2/78
what a day!