However, in the case of Mussina vs. Brown, while Brown obviously had the greater peak, who would be more deserving: Mussina with a 120 ERA+/335 RSAA/4,000 IP or Kevin Brown with 127 ERA+/304 RSAA/3,256.1 IP?
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Trouble is, their careers are somewhat similar right now, but by the time Mussina retires they most likely won’t be. There’s no comparing the two peaks; Brown was inferior to only three first-ballot inner-circle HOFers. Mussina’s peak had guys like Tom Glavine and Brown ahead of him and Curt Schilling and Kevin Appier in the general neighborhood. Not exactly chopped liver, but Mussina never had seasons like 233 IP/214 ERA+, 257 IP/160 ERA+, 230 IP/167 ERA+ and 211 IP/169 ERA+; Mussina’s sole season over 160 ERA+ came in just 176.1 IP.

Brown simply had more eye-popping seasons than Mussina. Although Brown pitched fewer postseason innings, he was the clear-cut ace of two somewhat-unlikely pennant-winning clubs while Mussina’s two pennants came after he joined a dynasty team. In the seasons in which they copped the pennant, Mussina was 34-19, 3.27 ERA in 443.1 IP while Brown was 34-15, 2.18 ERA in 494.1 IP.

Rich: It's time to get out your crystal balls and give us your predictions. Who is going to win the division and in what order do you see the standings come October.

Mike: The Yankees will take the division with 92 wins. That might not sound like much, but for a club in a rebuilding year and cutting payroll, it is really quite impressive. Boston, Toronto, Baltimore and Tampa will follow. The margin between top and bottom will be cut in half from last year's 36 games.

Pete: Until somebody beats them, you have to go with the Yankees. Plus they have what looks like the best team. New York, Toronto, Boston, Tampa Bay, Baltimore.

Sully: Boston leaps two places to win the division, and then it's New York, Toronto, Tampa Bay and Baltimore.

Rich: I believe it will come down to the Yankees and Red Sox. Whichever team does the best job at staying healthy and solving its main weakness (first base and a closer) will have the edge. If that same club also signs Roger Clemens, good night, turn out the lights, the party is over.

Why does the Law Blog care? One, we’re Yankees fans. Two, Lidle’s estate was sued this week by a resident of the high rise whose 43rd-floor apartment was allegedly destroyed by the plane crash.
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Rosenthal sued Lidle’s widow in her capacity as the administrator of her late husband’s estate. He wants $7 million in damages. (Lidle’s family has filed a product liability lawsuit against the airplane manufacturer.)

Our Law Blog Quote of the Day also comes from Yankeeland and, admittedly, has nothing to do with the law. But humor us. It’s Friday. Johnny Damon (not a lawyer) showed up at spring training looking buff and told reporters the addition bulk had nothing to do with power hitting. “Just to look good with the shirt off so my wife still digs me,” he said. “Simple as that. Got to keep my sexiness at all time.”