ERIC GAgne SUBMITS 8 MIL

[smazza]

IN ARBITRATION

DODGERS SUBMIT 5 MIL

WHAT WOULD you as arb award?

i would award 5mil

[KnightsRule]

8 million easily. I think if he put 10 million he would have got it. He hasnt blown a save in over a year right?

[smazza]

easiet job in sports- a closer

they only pitch with the lead in the 9th

i would never pay 10 mil to a closer like that,now if we go back in time when closers pitced 2 and 3 innings maybe

gagne failed miserably as a starter.

and he closed for a team that didn't have a prayer

10 guys in an any orginzation should be able to get thru one inning

i am not impressed with the modern day closer

[KnightsRule]

I would agree if my team had a guy that got job done every time. Red Sox have been killed by closer my whole life.  If sox had a dominant closer I doubt they would have kept Pedro in to long in NY.  Also keep in mind that dreifort has never been any good and is always hurt and he makes what 13 million for dodgers? If he gets that dough then gagne at 8 mill is a bargain. Also 20 mill per year Green who stinks.

[Velcro]

We do have a dominant closer in Foulke, can't wait for the season to start.  He won't get 50 saves because the sox offense will give them 4 or 5 run leads going into the ninth.

[KnightsRule]

Vg

Its been a long time coming that BoSox have had a dominant closer. We have had big names in past that have not done nearly as good as anticipated so we will have to wait and see. Lee Smith, Jeff Reardon, Urbina, Kim etc.. Also keep in mind that it was only two seasons ago that Foulke totally lost his game and his job as closer for white sox after dominating the previous couple seasons.

[smazza]

KR- you hit it on head

many great teams don't have a gagne type guy because they have too many meaningful games.

on great teams you needs guys for 7 and 8th innings

gagne was the closer on an average team.he would never be able to duplicate what he did with boston.

getting to the ninth with the lead is harder than closing out ninth

[KnightsRule]

I agree with you steve, though Smoltz had very similar numbers for a very good team.

[smazza]

but he broke down

i just don't see the accomplishment of getting 3 outs with the lead

[KnightsRule]

That was what sox said last year as stats guru Bill James numbers showed a bullpen by committee would work as sometimes you need best pitcher in 7th or 8th not just 9th. Of course sox proved Bill wrong last year and sox went out and got two closers during season in Kim and Williamson.