Moose's Start

Murray Chass says that Moose's year will have an impact on the big 3:

All of which means the Yankees are counting on Mussina, partly because they are paying him $11.5 million this season, partly because his distinguished track record of 250 career wins makes him an ideal veteran presence to nurture a young staff.

The problem, of course, is that because he looked finished last season, to the point where he had to be pulled from the rotation in favor of Kennedy, even an early spring training start is subject to scrutiny.

As such the three-run monster home run that Carlos Lee hit off Mussina Monday was enough to set off alarms - March or not - at least among Yankee fans.

The Yankees definitely need innings out of Moose this year. With so many young starters on innings restrictions they need someone to pick up the slack and eat up some innings. I'm not expecting a return to his previous form, but 180 - 200 league average innings would be nice from him.

Also, if any alarms went off in your head because Moose gave up a home run to Carlos Lee in his first spring training start, you are an idiot.