ERIC GAGNE - SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT PLAYER

ERIC GAGNE – LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Age: 26 (January 26, 1976)
Height: 6-2 Weight: 200
Throws: Right Bats: Right

History

Eric Gagne was born in Montreal, Canada. Like most Canadians, hockey is his favorite sport. At the age of 18, he had to choose between his love and his hobby, baseball. “I either had to go baseball or hockey, since both were year-round and I couldn’t do both,” he said. “I like hockey better, like the contact and all, but I was better at baseball.” The Dodgers signed him as a non-drafted free agent in July of 1995 – a Canadian scout, Claude Pelletier has watched him develop from the age of 15. In his first year of pro ball (1997) for Class-A Savannah, Gagne had a 7-6 record with a 3.28 ERA and 131 Ks in 115.1 IP. He sat out all of the 1997 season after going through “Tommy John” surgery and worrying that his career may be over. However, he bounced back strong and in his second year back, he was named Texas League Pitcher of the Year in 1999 where he led the league in ERA and strikeouts. He had his first taste of the big show that year and impressed the team with his ability. The Dodgers handed him a spot in the rotation in 2000 but his control was erratic and he was sent back to the minors to polish his stuff. 2001 was much the same. He once again was a member of the starting 5 but was roughed up in his first 12 starts posting a 6.05 ERA. After a couple of trips back to AAA, Gagne came back as a spot starter and long reliever.

Spring Training 2002

Coming into the spring, Gagne was once again expected to challenge for a spot in the starting rotation. But things in camp weren’t so clear as the Dodgers effectively had 8 pitchers trying to fill out a starting 5. In the bullpen, Jim Tracey originally looked at Matt Herges to fill the closer’s role, which was left vacant when the Dodgers declined the option year on Jeff Shaw, the closer for the past four years. However, Herges pitched tight for day one and it was clear that he wasn’t the answer. With the rotation overflowing with starters, whispers started to come out that Gagne might get a chance to close with his nasty stuff – though his only experience in closing games was for the Canadian National Team. Once Herges was traded to the Expos, it was clear that the Dodgers would give Gagne a shot. But still, coming out of spring training, Tracey said that he had a closer by committee approach to ease Gagne in and would give chances to Paul Quantrill and Giovanni Carrara as well.

The Turning Point

Gagne closed his first two games with ease. But it was on April 11th when Gagne showed the Dodgers they didn’t need a committee. Gagne was pitching in the 9th against the Giants in Pac Bell Park. He had a runner on third with one out and Barry Bonds stepping to the plate. Tracy popped from the dugout, aware that veteran left-hander Jesse Orosco, who has great success against Barry, was ready in the bullpen. Tracy got about halfway to the mound, and Gagne's facial expression dictated the decision. "The look on his face was more or less suggesting, 'You better not take me out,'" Tracy says. "The first words out of my mouth were, 'I'm not taking you out,' and his eyes kind of lit up like that's what he was hoping to hear." After walking Bonds, Gagne struck out Jeff Kent and retired Reggie Sanders on a routine pop up for the save. Gagne credits that day with boosting his confidence to an all-time high.

Lights Out

If you don’t know what Gagne’s done as closer, take a look at his stats above. He has been by far the most devastating closer in the majors this year. Gagne has converted 27 of 28 save opportunities. He hasn’t walked a batter in his last 25.1 IP, a span of 86 batters. On the season, batters are batting an measly .148 (20 for 135). He has struck out 56 while only walking 4, one intentionally, in 39.1 IP. So why is he so successful? Gagne believes that his new role suits him. “I’m real aggressive, like to challenge people,” said Gagne, who looks the part with his goatee and goggle-like glasses. “It’s different from starting. I don’t have to worry about conserving energy. I can just go out there and not think, just relax and really go after people.” Well it has certainly worked. A winter strengthening program also added a few mph to his fastball. He’s been spotting his 95-98-mph fastball on both sides of the plate. But the key to Gagne’s success has been his 88-mph changeup, very similar to the repertoire of closer Trevor Hoffman. His changeup moves so much that Jim Tracey says that other teams think it’s a split-fingered fastball.

Going Forward

If Gagne isn’t an All-Star, then I don’t know who is. I have to think that Gagne will come to earth a little bit as he’s been so dominant in the first half of the year, but not by much. He’s had 6 saves that have been more than one inning, so he has certainly pitched a lot. He even recorded saves in 4 straight games. However, Gagne has good arm strength from being a starter and Jim Tracey monitors his pitch counts more than innings pitched. A 40-50 save season will come easily for Gagne this year as the Dodgers figure to give him plenty of chances with a scrappy offense and quality starting pitching – 32 of their 76 games (42%) have been settled by 1 or 2 runs. If you have Gagne, keep on riding his amazing numbers. If you don’t have him, I doubt you’ll be able to get him. In the end, keep this in mind… “I want to throw more strikes. I want to be perfect. I’d like to throw nine strikes every inning and get three strikeouts and not have anyone hit the ball.” I think he has a pretty good mentality for a closer. What do you think?

Chris Wang
Dodgers Correspondent