Gagne or Rivera?

[Lager]

Who would you have rather have as your closer?

Please do not add the fact that Rivera has playoff experience and proven himself in the postseason as Gagne never had the chance to show his stuff in postseason.

 

[TranceNation]

rivera

 

[chibchakan]

Mariano Rivera

 

[hjo3]

What're you talking about? Baseball? Never heard of any of these ppl.

 

[BDawg]

How can you argue against someone with 81 straight regular season saves.

 

[jdiddy]

Originally posted by: BDawg
How can you argue against someone with 81 straight regular season saves.

Bingo Gange is lights out plus hes going to be around for a while. Mariano Rivera still rocks though he's been money in the playoffs but hes getting up there in age.

 

[patrick409]

I agree about Gagne, mostly because Rivera is getting old. If my team was making one last playoff run for just THIS season though, I'd probably take Rivera. Anything more than 1-2 years, and it's Gagne all the way.

 

[Atvar]

Rivera is the superior closer. Gagne has never proven himself in the post season. A closer can save all the games he wants in the regular season. Do it in the post season. Thats where a closer counts. Gagne has been in two huge games in his career....the all star game. Both times he got rocked. Bottom of the 9th, game 7 of any postseason series...there is only one closer I want on the mound, Mariano Rivera.

Please do not add the fact that Rivera has playoff experience and proven himself in the postseason as Gagne never had the chance to show his stuff in postseason.

Had to add it. Thats all that matters.

 

[ThePresence]

Gagne has been doing it for what, 2 years? Please. He's awesome now, but come on! two years! When he does it as long as Mariano has, then he'll be the superior closer.

 

[CChaos]

It's hard to hold the fact that the Dodgers haven't gotten into the postseason against Gagne, but it's still something to consider. Even in team sports, you've gotta win the big one to really be the man.

P.S. I inherited the Dodgers from my dad so I had to vote Gagne. I was raised to hate the Yanks.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Smoltz

 

[PlatinumGold]

how many 2 innings saves does gagne have?? how many times does gagne come in with men on 2nd and 3rd?? if i remember correctly, there has been some criticism of dodger management because they ONLY put Gagne in when there is a relatively "easy" save. that he doesn't come in for a lot of the "tough" saves that most of the other closers face.

 

[murphy55d]

I want Smoltz and Rivera both over Gagne. Both Rivera and Smoltz are money in big games, no arguing it.

1.Rivera
2.Smoltz
3.Gagne

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
I want Smoltz and Rivera both over Gagne. Both Rivera and Smoltz are money in big games, no arguing it.

1.Rivera
2.Smoltz
3.Gagne

Yup, and we know that Smoltz can go more than an inning or two if absolutely necessary.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Espn has a nice article on top out pitches in the league.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1786041

#1 Mariano Cut Fastball
#2 Woods Curveball
#3 Smoltz Slider
#4 Gange Curve

 

[SP33Demon]

Are you freaking kidding me??? Gagne is the Joe Dimaggio of closers, 81 straight! Rivera has already blown a save this year, had SIX last year, 4 the year before, and 7 the year before that. Gagne would have set the single season save record last year if the Dodgers could actually buy some runs... he set the record for lowest ERA in at least 75 innings pitched ever. The man has a 97mph fastball, an 86-88mph screwball changeup, and a wicked 70mph curve (Rivera has one pitch in his arsenal)... Hitters have absolutely no chance when facing Gagne and stuff like that. For example, he just smoked the best team in baseball 2 nights in a row... (Honorable mention goes to Keith Foulke against SF Friday, when Barry Bonds lost his jockstrap he lunged so hard at the 74mph change for strike 3 looking!)

Also, people btch that Gagne comes in with no runners on... look at his splits for the past 3 years, with RISP opposing batter are batting .182, Rivera .257. You can make your case all you want for Rivera's postseason, but the fact of the matter is that he choked in the World Series against the D.Backs, and will always be remembered for that. You can also cry about Rivera having more rings than Gagne, rings are a team function.

Other notes:

-Gagne as a closer won the Cy Young award for the first time since the greatest closer of all time, Eck, won it in 1992 (Rivera never won it).

- Rivera's career best in saves is 50 and 45, when Gagne has already racked up 52 and 55 in the past 2 years, not to mention 81 straight.

-Last year Gagne posted a 335 ERA+, Rivera's best ever was 265, not even close.

IMO, Gagne will undoubtably go down as the greatest closer of all time if he stays healthy...

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
IMO, Gagne will undoubtably go down as the greatest closer of all time if he stays healthy...

How can you possibly say something so ridiculous 2 1/2 years into a guy's career?! Yes, he's great now, but how long will he keep it up? Dennis Eckersley, Lee Smith, Goose Gossage, Mariano Rivera, these guys take him to school as far as "best ever" goes. I know, being a Sox fan that you will always stick up for someone against a Yankee, but to say that he will be the best ever is insane.

 

[Passions]

Rivera choked during the Dbacks playoffs game. CHOKE!!111!!!!

GAGNE is THE MAN.

 

[Storm]

Too early to tell for Gagne.

Rivera is towards the end of his career maybe 3 years left.

Better to compare after they are both walking with a cane.

 

[wkabel23]

Smoltz

Did I mention he won a Cy Young Award?

 

[Achtung]

Yeah surprised there is so little love for Smoltz. He's just as "lights out as the rest.

But even though I hate the Yankees, I think I still have to go with Rivera. In the postseason its so hard to be consistent. It was damn sweet seeing him choke in 2001 though.

 

[kermalou]

Game Over - Gagne

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: wkabel23
Smoltz

Did I mention he won a Cy Young Award?

As a starter.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
Also, people btch that Gagne comes in with no runners on... look at his splits for the past 3 years, with RISP opposing batter are batting .182, Rivera .257. You can make your case all you want for Rivera's postseason, but the fact of the matter is that he choked in the World Series against the D.Backs, and will always be remembered for that.

Yes, you sure can make that case. 96 postseason innings pitched. an 0.75 ERA. Yes, I'll make that case.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
IMO, Gagne will undoubtably go down as the greatest closer of all time if he stays healthy...

How can you possibly say something so ridiculous 2 1/2 years into a guy's career?! Yes, he's great now, but how long will he keep it up? Dennis Eckersley, Lee Smith, Goose Gossage, Mariano Rivera, these guys take him to school as far as "best ever" goes. I know, being a Sox fan that you will always stick up for someone against a Yankee, but to say that he will be the best ever is insane.

Stuff wise, none of the above that you listed are even close to Gagne, except Eck and Rivera (Lee Smith only had a fastball and the WIZARD at short). That's why I have a feeling he will be the greatest of all time. Sht, how many years did it take Eck to win a Cy Young as a closer? Mark my words, if Gagne is perfect this year he will WITHOUT A DOUBT win back to back Cy Youngs as a closer! Oh, and there is that small stat I listed above of lowest ERA ever in 75 or more innings pitched.

Also, look at Single Season ERA+ leaders. Granted this is for starters. The top guy on the list is from 1880 with an ERA+ of 294, greatest ever for a starting pitcher. Even though Gagne only pitched 82 innings last year, his ERA+ was 335. Do you even know how dominant that is? Hell, Rivera's 265 would have placed 5th best if he was a starting pitcher, that's incredible in itself.

This is why I think he'll be the greatest reliever ever...