11/20/2008 - Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees right-hander Mike Mussina, as expected, retired on Thursday after 18 seasons in the major leagues.
Reports circulated on Wednesday that Mussina had decided to call it quits after the first 20-win campaign of his illustrious career. He finished the 2008 season with a record of 20-9 and a 3.37 earned run average in 34 starts for the Yankees, and was awarded his seventh Gold Glove.
At age 39, Mussina became the oldest pitcher in baseball history to record 20 wins in a season for the first time in his career. Jamie Moyer held the previous mark with his first 20-win season in 2001 at age 38.
Mussina's 2,813 career strikeouts ranks sixth among active pitchers and 19th on the all-time list. The first-round pick of the Orioles in 1990 completed his career with a 270-153 record and a 3.68 ERA. His .638 career winning percentage is sixth-best all-time among pitchers who made at least 500 career starts, and his 270 victories ties him with Burleigh Grimes for 32nd place on the all-time list.
Mussina has pitched his whole career in the American League East -- the last eight seasons with the Yankees and the first 10 of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. Signed as a free agent by the Yankees prior to the 2001 season, Mussina compiled a record of 123-72 with a 3.88 ERA in eight seasons with New York. No American League pitcher has recorded more wins during that time period, and Mussina's 1,278 strikeouts while with the Yankees ranks sixth on the club's all-time list.
He won 15 games in a season 11 times during his career, and six times placed in the top five for Cy Young Award voting, though he never won it. Mussina ostensibly came to New York with the hope of winning a World Series in mind, joining the club after the last of its three straight titles from 1998-2000, but he never did get a ring.
The Yankees made two World Series appearances during his tenure, but both were losses -- in 2001 to Arizona and in 2003 to Florida. Mussina finished his career with a 7-8 playoff record and a 3.42 postseason ERA.
Mussina, a native of Montoursville, Pennsylvania, was known for his control, and walked only 785 batters in 3,562 2/3 career innings, a ratio of 1.98 walks per nine innings pitched. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Mussina is one of only three pitchers in MLB history to throw at least 3,000 innings and hold opponents to fewer than two walks per nine innings pitched, joining Jack Quinn and Cy Young.
<< Nalbandian-Ferrer will open Davis Cup final
Mar del Plata, Argentina (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When the 2008 Davis Cup final
between host Argentina and Spain commences on Friday, the host nation's David
Nalbandian will battle the visitors' David Ferrer in the opening singles
rubber
<< Is Mussina a Hall of Famer?
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The worst-kept secret in baseball started to leak out on
Wednesday, when it was revealed that right-hander Mike Mussina was indeed
going to hang up his spikes after 18 seasons.
The news certainly comes as no shock, as the
<< Flames, Avs cap home-and-home in Denver
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames had no trouble against the Colorado
Avalanche at home this season. They will now try to carry that success into
Denver tonight, as the two teams wrap a home-and-home set at the Pepsi Center.
The Flames h
<< Steelers Look to Knock Out Last-Place Bengals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to remain above the fray
in the AFC North on Thursday night, when Mike Tomlin's team welcomes the
struggling Cincinnati Bengals to Heinz Field.
Pittsburgh opens Week 12 with a one-game adv
Browns QB Quinn to play despite broken finger >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn has
a broken right index finger, but it apparently won't sideline him for Sunday's
game against Houston.
Quinn, who has started the last two games for the Browns, has
Arsenal's Walcott out at least three months >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger confirmed that
Theo Walcott was forced to have surgery on his dislocated shoulder on Thursday
morning.
The 19-year-old suffered the injury on Tuesday during training in the b
Atletico forced to play PSV behind closed doors >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atletico Madrid has been told it will have to
play next week's Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven behind closed
doors.
The Spanish side partially lost their appeal to the Court of Arbitratio
Broncos put TE Jackson on IR, sign Mustard >>
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Broncos placed tight end Nate
Jackson on injured reserve Thursday, ending his season. The club also signed
tight end Chad Mustard.
Jackson injured his right hamstring in practice on Wednesd
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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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