No closer was feared more from 2002-2004 than Los Angeles Dodgers closer, Eric Gagne. Complete dominance is the only phrase to describe him. Look at his numbers: 2002 - 52 saves; 2003 - 55 saves; 2004 - 45 saves. Throw in a Cy Young and MVP award and you've got yourself a shut down closer. Not the biggest guy at 6'2, but if you watched him pitched, his violent leg kick mixed with a fastball just under 100 mph left one thinking "GOOD LORD!"
Arm trouble in 2005 derailed Gagne's season and career. He last pitched with Milwaukee in 2008, registering a modest 10 saves. In fact, Gagne registered only 51 saves from 2005-2008. For those three dominant years, however, I was on his bandwagon and I made it a point, someway somehow, to see him pitch. Yes, he was that great! Despite the steroid rumors, I still think he would've been a Hall of Fame pitcher when it was all said and done.
This weekend, players will change teams, some of them being acquired to be that shut down closer in the ninth inning. EVERY manager would've loved to have had Gagne in his prime; not Rivera, not Hoffman, not Smoltz. Give me the Canadian with the shaggy look and rec specs over any of those great closers. When he came out of that bullpen to close the game, he didn't need a trot, a song blasting, or even a highlight reel. All he had to do was walk out of the gates as he had a certain.....confidence/swagger about him. It's probably because he knew, as did every opposing hitter and the manager knew as well, it was GAME OVER!
