A few days ago, while talking about his team’s upcoming season-opening trip to Japan, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein called Mike Mussina a “bad apple” for comments Mussina made after he and the Yankees traveled to Japan to begin the 2004 season. (Who wouldn’t be tired after a 17-hour flight?) Theo Epstein is no idiot, but what was he thinking? Of all the Yankee pitchers to criticize right now, why choose Mussina? I’ll admit my bias – Moose used to be Baltimore’s ace, and even though it killed me to see him put on pinstripes for the first time seven years ago, I still like the guy. But Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens (allegedly) CHEATED! What am I missing here?
Mussina is no idiot, either, but he acted more professionally, brushing off Epstein’s comments instead of taking a personal shot back at him. I guess the 34-year-old Yale alum could learn a thing or two from the 39-year-old Stanford-educated pitcher. If you feel the need to badmouth your bitter rival, at least do it with some class.
As for Roger Clemens…if anyone reading this actually believes him, tell me one thing: why would Andy Pettitte lie about him? That’s impossible to answer because the truth is that he wouldn’t – they are (or were at least) best friends! Their families go on vacation together! They have never had public disagreements and there does not seem to be anything fishy going on now. On top of that, it is well-known that Pettitte is deeply religious, and while that doesn’t equate to being honest, Pettitte has already come clean and simply does not have more to lose. The world knows he cheated, and he’s not going to make them forget it by exposing a cheater with a bigger name. Andy Pettitte is trying to make amends for what he did. He does not want to keep secrets to himself any longer, so he is admitting everything he knows, even if it will cost him his friendship with a man he admires: the one and only Rocket.
