NO big deal, said Mike Mussina, if he doesn’t get to pitch in an All-Star Game in his home stadium, because it will give him a chance to go to the Lycoming County, Pa., Fair.
“Demolition Derby, tractor pulls,” he said with a smile. “Look, I haven’t been in an All-Star Game for nine years, so it’s not like I’ll miss it.
“Haven’t been to a county fair in nine years either, because it just didn’t line up.”
The Yankees, nine games out of first, were all lined up and almost ready to be marched out of their season by the Red Sox yesterday until Mussina shut them out over six innings. When he got lightheaded on the last few of his 89 pitches, it was not at the prospect of being in the All-Star Game.
“I don’t know if I didn’t eat enough or drink enough,” he said. “It was too important a game to try to be a hero. I feel fine now.”
To prove it, he changed locations four times in the players lounge while Mariano Rivera was hitting two batters, giving up two hits and putting the tying run at third in the ninth.
Rivera escaped, almost as impressively as Mussina has from a career grave. So if Terry Francona, the American League manager watching from the visiting dugout, has to pick a Mariner or Royal instead, Mussina’s not going to let it ruin his year or even a fine day at the fair.
“When you are my age [39] and have had struggles and it’s a challenge one year to the next and you’re not sure if you’re even considered part of the team when the season starts, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’m just pleased I’ve contributed 11 wins already.”
Francona, who watched his team clobber Mussina twice in the first three weeks of this season, was neither stupid enough to talk about the right-hander’s chances nor blind to how Mussina is pitching.
“If you watch every pitch, there were very few misfires,” said the manager.
And a manager, Mussina allowed, cannot misfire in picking a team from a talent pool deep enough to leave 20 deserving players home.
“Maybe I made a small impression,” Mussina said, finally. He wants to go, doesn’t want to get over-amped like in 1993, when as an Oriole he was selected but didn’t pitch at Camden Yards. Mussina warmed up without authorization to embarrass manager Cito Gaston, who probably deserved it for not getting a hometown player in a game.
It’s a thrill few ever get. And it’s not yet as sure a thing as Mussina (11-6, 3.64 ERA) has been for the Yankees over the first half.
“I’m not out for redemption or revenge,” he said. “I’m just enjoying being able to be 100 percent and do what I did before.
“There were plans for the young guys, which is fine. I didn’t know what I was going to be able to do. I really didn’t.”
Mussina had a year left on a deal and, coming off a 5.15 ERA, seemingly not much left on his fastball. You had to figure he was too smart not to figure something out.
“You are always adjusting,” Mussina said.
There should be one in the selection process to get Mike Mussina into an All-Star Game in his home park, after all these years. Francona probably will find a way regardless, like a wily 39-year-old who has not just survived, but excelled.