This late-inning specialist has had an excellent 2007 season, but he stumbled terribly in the past week, not doing his team any favors in the AL East pennant chase.
In three games, he blew a save, lost another game in extra innings (two doubles to start, then a one-out, three-run home run) and struggled to save another (allowing two singles and double to his first three batters, putting the tying runs in scoring position).
In 3.1 innings, he allowed nine hits and five runs. Opposing batters lit him up to the tune of a .500 batting average and a .833 slugging percentage. His ERA for those three outings was 13.50.
Thankfully, for his team, he settled down in his last outing and did not give up any runs. But one has to wonder how much he can be trusted with the ball in the late innings at this stage of the season.
I don't know who it is, but I bet I know who it's not.
ReplyDeleteIt's Mariano!
ReplyDeleteYour point is taken, I believe: even the best stumble for extended periods. I think you could categorize Gagne's struggles as worse, though. In his scoreless innings (including the key one right before the 9th inning comeback against Tampa Bay), he's come very close to giving up runs. No performance has been "SLAM! BANG! Door closed."
ReplyDeleteI *still* think he can be valuable, but I might be more comfortable running him out in the 7th with a 3-run lead or something the next time there's a chance...see if he "has it" at the time, build him in baby steps back to more crucial situations.
I admit: I'm kinda scared right now of the Yankees, but I hope the lead can be about 5 or 6 when the Sox get to Yankee Stadium next Tuesday. I'd like 5-2 for the non-Yankee portion of this road trip. Might be a lot to ask, except that it's the Devil Rays and White Sox...
Thanks for this. I'm getting really tired of what some people are saying about Gagne. I have faith that he'll come around and play the way he did in Texas.
ReplyDeleteSooner would be better than later, though.
Well done, Redsock.
ReplyDeleteBravo!
I figured it was he, but I didn't dare say without checking the stats. Well done.
ReplyDeleteMariano Rivera is going to the Hall of Fame.
ReplyDeleteHe's pitched successfully for the Yankees for like 11 years.
We can rule out Gagne, because the oft-quoted sucky ERA was 15.00, not 13.50.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if Gagne's struggles are worse, though, since he was struggling for the chasee and not the chaser.
We got the Rays and Pale Hose. They got the Halos and Tigers. I'd like to be at least 6 GA after that.
Then it's Go Time -- a week from tomorrow!!!
Mariano Rivera is going to the Hall of Fame.
ReplyDeleteHe's pitched successfully for the Yankees for like 11 years.
True, but he is also 37 years old, has been on the DL many times in the last few seasons and had a shitty week. Relievers -- even the best -- have shitty weeks.
They both well be judged on what happens next week as will all of the players........
ReplyDeleteRemember how my buddies last week were busting my ass by showing thier 4 fingers , well a week later and they are still waving the same 4 fingers.....6 more weeks of that and all is good.....
Seth Mnookin thinks Torre is abusing Fruitbat.
ReplyDelete76 pitches in 4 days.