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Bid adieu to Éric Serge Gagné, the most dominant closer that the Dodgers ever saw.
Who could ever forget the 2003 season where Gagne and those thick glasses and goofy goatee got a save every time he was put in a save situation? 55 saves in 55 attempts.
His record-breaking run of 84 consecutive saves from 8/26/02 thru 7/5/04 is truly remarkable. Anyone is expected to have an off night from time to time. Especially since the role of the closer is to enter games that are... close.
In order to earn a save, a pitcher must be the last pitcher of the winning team, but not the winning pitcher, never give up the lead, and he must have entered the game with less than a three run lead, and he comes in with the potential tying-run either on base, at bat, or on deck.
And normally the opposing team substitutes some of the best, well-rested hitters to come into the game to pinch hit. The pressure must be intense. But Gagne appeared to feed off of it, especially during home games when the scoreboards flashed "Game Over" as Guns 'N Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" blared over the loudspeakers after he threw open the bullpen doors.
But he got hurt and he's gotta go. Texas can have him. Especially for $6 mil for a year.
original photo by malingering
