FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Cain-Willis. In & Out... said 05/19, 08:40 PM
Eric Gagne.

The Dodgers are fine. They are above .500 and second in the NL West. Andruw's pathetic play has not caused them to collapse. His deal is for two years, and with the Dodgers resources, his salary is not a huge deal. And he still has talent. He has what he needs to turn it around.

The Brewers are in LAST place in the NL Central when many people predicted they would make the playoffs. The Brewers let Fransisco Cordero go to the Reds, and signed Gagne instead. Cordero got 46 Mill for 4 years. Gagne got 10 Mill for 1 year. He has a 6.27 era and has blown 5 saves already! Cordero has saved 9 and blown 1, with a 2.33 era. If the Brewers would have just stayed with Cordero they would be 3rd in the division instead of 6th.

Gagne was already suspected of steroids going into last off season. But the Mitchell report totally busted him wide open. Gagne had UPS'd steroids TO DODGER STADIUM! There was pictures of his signature, and the package address!

The Brewers went out and swapped a very good closer for a known steroid-user, who 95% of MLB people knew was washed up! Andruw IS talented and could turn it around, Gagne was KNOWN to be horrible BEFORE he SIGNED!

Cain-Willis. In & Out... said 05/19, 10:07 PM
The Brewers payroll is 81 Mill. They paid Gagne 1/8 of the total TEAM payroll! Gagne is taking a huge portion of the Brewers money and giving them nothing but heartbreak. Last year Gagne went on the 15 day DL because of an elbow injury. He later missed 13 games with a hip injury. Later, he missed 15 games because of a shoulder injury on his throwing shoulder. This dude is just not right physically without steroids, yet the Brewers swapped a dominating closer in Cordero for a very hittable,save-blowing machine. It blows my mind they SIGNED Gagne, and he's done what most people expected.

Andruw IS still talented. He hasn't forgotten how to hit a baseball, or play defense. Once he starts to go the opposite way with the ball, things will click and he'll heat up. He's also played perfect defense.

Jones is playing poorly so far, but Gagne is simply ripping the Brewers apart from within. Games they think the have won, are ripped from them in the last inning. It's brutal. The Gagne signing has affected the team more than the Jones deal.

Gagne-"Every time we get a little momentum going, I mess it up."
Gagne- "I don't deserve that ninth inning right now."

Cain-Willis. In & Out... said 05/20, 09:22 AM
Derrick Turnbow? Huh? The dude has a 15.63 era and a 3.95 WHIP!!! In fact, he was designated for assignment recently.

The Brewers bullpen is NOT in great shape, and the whole basically swapping of Cordero and his 2.33 era(8.6 mill) for Gagne and his 6.27 era(for 10 Mill), has completely demoralized the team and instead of growing closer together and learning to trust each other as the talented young players they are, the Brewers just feel like SOMETHING will go wrong and they'll lose the game.


Manager Yost- "It's a hard job to be able to take all that pressure to get through the ninth inning, Losing leads in the ninth inning is a big blow to any team. That's why so much pressure is put on a closer. The whole weight of the team is riding on his shoulders to close that game out, and when you don't do it, it's real devastating.

As far as turning it around my point is Andruw still has the skills to do so. Gagne is not only hittable, many baseball people think he doesn't HAVE the neccessary tools to get back "on track". And fans yelling "steroids" at him doesn't help.

I feel that the Gagne signing was worse because it has effected the team more. Playoffs? Nope.