Open Letter to the Yankiverse: Mussina's Greatest Achievements Are Still to Come

Dear Madam or Sir:

As things now stand, Mike Mussina does not get into Cooperstown.

That's due to the anti-Yankee backlash against the spotlight that New York players receive, and an anti-New York bias by small market sportswriters who once dreamed of writing in the Big Apple.

And let's face it, everybody loves or hates the Yankees.

With the greatest of the great players, it's not a problem. Nobody will keep out Derek Jeter. But Bernie, Pauly, Tino et al -- despite the rings on their fingers -- could be denied for many years, until folks look back and marvel about the rarity of four World Championships in the era of extended playoffs.

Mussina will land on the wrong side of this line. Never pitched for a World Champ. Never threw a no-hitter. Never won Cy Young. There will always be some pitcher with similar numbers or a ring, and that guy won't have had tabloid troubles, because there are no tabloids in KC.

But here's why Mussina will make it: He will become the best pitching coach in baseball. He is smart. He is wily. Look what he did this year: He won 20 with next to nothing. He is a great presence in the clubhouse, and you won't find one critic among players or writers.

The Yankees should move quickly to keep Mike Mussina in the family. Sign him as spring training coach, talent director, scout, whatever -- personal assistant to Mr. Hank -- just keep him.

Mike Mussina is going to be a great pitching coach.

And with that added to his resume, he will go to Cooperstown.