Eric Gagne is back -- apparently for good. After a one-day break from his role as the Brewers' closer, Gagne pitched a scoreless ninth inning to save a 5-3 victory Tuesday against the Dodgers. Gagne's outing wasn't without some drama. The struggling reliever allowed a single and a walk before getting Juan Pierre to hit into a pop fly and earn his 10th save. "It feels good," Gagne said. Manager Ned Yost admits he's taking a gamble by giving Gagne his job back so soon after blowing five saves a little more than a month into the season. But Yost said taking a by-committee approach to closing can disrupt a bullpen, and he ultimately had to trust his player. "Sure, I could not pitch him so that nobody thinks that I'm stupid for pitching him," Yost said. "But I've never done that. I believe and I trust in my guys, and Eric Gagne's my closer." (Updated 05/14/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/15/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Milwaukee's closer situation had been up in the air since Saturday, when Gagne said after he didn't deserve to pitch in the ninth anymore. Gagne said before Monday's game that he wanted another shot at closing, but Yost used him in the seventh and eighth innings Monday. Given a chance to close Tuesday, Gagne allowed a leadoff single to Russell Martin before getting Blake DeWitt to hit into a fielder's choice and Mark Sweeney to fly out. DeWitt advanced to second on a passed ball, and Gagne walked Andruw Jones before getting Pierre to pop out. Yost said Gagne made a "simple adjustment," although he wouldn't provide specifics. "I just think that he just needed a day to get away from closing, and that day was yesterday," Yost said. Well, Gagne is back as closer, but don't trust him outside of a No. 2 Fantasy RP until he really proves himself. (Updated 05/14/2008).
Gagne is back???apparently for good. After a one-day break from his role as the Brewers??? closer, Gagne pitched a scoreless ninth inning to save a 5-3 victory over the Dodgers on Tuesday. (Updated 05/14/2008)
Advice
But just as it has been all season, Gagne???s outing wasn???t without drama. The struggling reliever allowed a single and a walk before getting Juan Pierre to hit into a pop fly and earn his 10th save of the season. He also has five blown saves and a 6.27 ERA.
Eric Gagne is back -- apparently for good. After a one-day break from his role as the Brewers' closer, Gagne pitched a scoreless ninth inning to save a 5-3 victory Tuesday against the Dodgers. Gagne's outing wasn't without some drama. The struggling reliever allowed a single and a walk before getting Juan Pierre to hit into a pop fly and earn his 10th save. "It feels good," Gagne said. Manager Ned Yost admits he's taking a gamble by giving Gagne his job back so soon after blowing five saves a little more than a month into the season. But Yost said taking a by-committee approach to closing can disrupt a bullpen, and he ultimately had to trust his player. "Sure, I could not pitch him so that nobody thinks that I'm stupid for pitching him," Yost said. "But I've never done that. I believe and I trust in my guys, and Eric Gagne's my closer." (Updated 05/14/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/15/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Milwaukee's closer situation had been up in the air since Saturday, when Gagne said after he didn't deserve to pitch in the ninth anymore. Gagne said before Monday's game that he wanted another shot at closing, but Yost used him in the seventh and eighth innings Monday. Given a chance to close Tuesday, Gagne allowed a leadoff single to Russell Martin before getting Blake DeWitt to hit into a fielder's choice and Mark Sweeney to fly out. DeWitt advanced to second on a passed ball, and Gagne walked Andruw Jones before getting Pierre to pop out. Yost said Gagne made a "simple adjustment," although he wouldn't provide specifics. "I just think that he just needed a day to get away from closing, and that day was yesterday," Yost said. Well, Gagne is back as closer, but don't trust him outside of a No. 2 Fantasy RP until he really proves himself. (Updated 05/14/2008).
= probable start
