CBS: Miller: Hall spot for Moose? Era, as much as ERA, may help sway

Wow! I think I booked Lil’ Scotty Miller and the Still Bristles at KNUP’S (“We Took A Bite Out Of The Big Apple And Spit It In Jersey”) one over-guzzled night.

Certainly, Mussina’s case isn’t airtight. No Cy Youngs, and he finished as high as second only once (1999). And I still bristle at the lack of complete games produced by today’s starters. Mussina finished with only 57 (in 536 career starts), as compared to Feller’s 279 (484 career starts), Marichal’s 244 (457 career starts) and Bunning’s 151 (519 career starts).

But it’s a different era—and not simply because of the modern bullpen. No, when it comes time to consider Mussina’s Hall of Fame candidacy five years from now, two key facets must be considered:

1. He pitched in the Steroid Era, facing who-knows-how-many batters who were juiced. And while I’m skeptical of much of what I’ve seen over the past 10 years, I believe Mussina was clean. There was never any noticeable change in his body.