Moose is on track

A spring training start is rarely afforded status as a "big day" for pitchers who have been in the major leagues for 16 years and own 239 victories. But Mike Mussina thought his five scoreless innings against the Pirates yesterday qualified because the outing was so different from his frustrating previous start, when he allowed three runs in three innings last week against the Reds.

"I threw the ball where I wanted and made adjustments I couldn't make last time," Mussina said. "I could give myself more time - I just wasn't giving myself enough time to get my arm where I needed it to be. Every throw was work. This was more smooth and it didn't take as much out of me. "This was a big day. It was important to feel more like I was pitching than just throwing, I think, for everybody's peace of mind - for Joe (Torre's) peace of mind, (Brian) Cashman's peace of mind, (Ron) Guidry's peace of mind." continue