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The Moose is still loose Mussina's value still high despite shoddy record
Don't let his 10-15 record fool you. The value of free-agent-to-be Mike Mussina hasn't dropped a bit this year. The Baltimore ace has thrown more innings, walked fewer batters, struck out more hitters and allowed fewer hits per nine innings than he did last year, when he won 18 games. In his last start he threw only 27 balls to 27 batters, striking out 15 of them. Mussina still figures to get his asking price: a five- or six-year deal at Kevin Brown money -- around $15 million a year. He hasn't ruled out returning to the Orioles, but darkhorse candidates include the Tigers and Indians, who are considering making a run at Mussina if they are unable to re-sign Manny Ramirez.
Nagy not readySpeaking of the Indians, they took a calculated risk by rushing Charles Nagy back from elbow surgery to pitch in the pennant race. The move backfired. Nagy has been rocked for 15 runs in 10 2/3 innings in three September starts. The Indians are 0-3 in those games.Nagy has been trying to get by with an 85-mph fastball and little feel for his breaking ball, prompting some in the organization to wonder if he's still hurt and whether he can be an asset in the postseason if the Indians qualify.
The highs of LoweSean Lowe nearly quit baseball before last season to join a trucking company. Now he has become one of the most important pitchers on the White Sox staff. A Chicago source said the team is leaning toward using Lowe as its No. 3 starter in the postseason, behind Mike Sirotka and Jim Parque.Lowe has made only 10 career starts and, at age 29, has only eight career wins. But he has pitched 11 scoreless innings in his past two starts. With rookie Jon Garland struggling and the Sox still unsure about James Baldwin's shoulder and Cal Eldred's elbow, Lowe has emerged as the team's next best option.
Power playTroy Glaus could become the first third baseman to win the AL home run title since Graig Nettles 24 years ago. He's already become the first player in Angels history to hit 40 homers. That leaves only one organization, other than the expansion Devil Rays and Diamondbacks, never to have a 40-home run hitter: the Kansas City Royals. Jermaine Dye is the Royals' biggest bopper this year. His 33 homers are three short of the club record set by Steve Balboni in 1985.
Home sweet homeBaseball's other races -- the ones for best record in each league -- remain meaningful. And here's why: since 1985, when the LCS expanded to a best-out-of-seven format, the team with the home field advantage advanced to the World Series 16 out of 28 times. And when it comes to Game 7 in LCS play, home teams are 5-2. The only teams to win Game 7 of an LCS on the road are the 1985 Royals and 1991 Braves.Sports Illustrated senior writer Tom Verducci covers the baseball beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Click here to send a question to his mailbag.
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