It’s a good signing and it takes away any advantage that the Reds picked up by signing Cordero for 2008. Gagne pitched alright in Boston, but his gave up a couple too many line drives. His BABIP in Boston though was .449, and even with the shoddy defense that Milwaukee throws out there, it’s pretty much a given that that number will improve. The only thing that looks bad from my perspective about Gagne is that his walk rate is up from his peak years. If he can get that back down, the Brewers just got a very good reliever on a low risk one year contract.
Here’s the thing: If we’re intellectually honest, and look at this thing in the same perspective we looked at the Cordero signing (forget the money, because that’s ownership’s concern), this helps the Brewers.
If we focus on the the contract, which seems excessive, then we’d have to do the same about the Cordero signing. And we don’t want to do that.
I don’t see any significant parallels with the Cordero signing other than the fact that they are both closers and both commanded large salaries.
Gagne has had significant injury problems involving his arm (Tommy John surgery) and his back (surgery for herniated disks). He also was terrible down the stretch with the Red Sox (they referred to performances as “Gag Jobs” in Boston). Of course there are drawbacks to Cordero as well (his age towards the back end of the contract, etc.), but comparing the two IMO is a bit of a stretch.
1. I think this deal is worse than the Cordero signing, value-wise.
2. But more me to rationalize and praise the Cordero signing in the first place, I had to pretty much ignore the salary issue.
3. So, to be intellectually honest, I have to do the same with the Gagne deal. And leaving money completely out of things, the Brewers are better today than they were yesterday.
4. If you do consider money, I think this makes the Cordero signing look better. I’d much rather have Cordero for $16 than Gagne for $10.
:mrgreen:HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
In the words of my fellow Connecticutter, P.T. Barnum, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
2009 stats: Sarasota 2-1 8 Games 8 Games Started 42.1 IP 4.89 ERA 1.44 WHIP
Carolina 3-2 6 Game 6 Game Started 36 2/3 IP 2.95 ERA 1.09 WHIP
Louisville 2-2 5 Game 5 Game Started 29 IP 2.48 ERA 1.21 WHIP
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IMO, this smacks of desperation..
I agree, Bill. The Brewers better hope that they got the guy that pitched for Texas last season, not the one who pitched for Boston.
It’s a good signing and it takes away any advantage that the Reds picked up by signing Cordero for 2008. Gagne pitched alright in Boston, but his gave up a couple too many line drives. His BABIP in Boston though was .449, and even with the shoddy defense that Milwaukee throws out there, it’s pretty much a given that that number will improve. The only thing that looks bad from my perspective about Gagne is that his walk rate is up from his peak years. If he can get that back down, the Brewers just got a very good reliever on a low risk one year contract.
i agree with chicagoredsfan!
i hope its the boston gagne though.
Here’s the thing: If we’re intellectually honest, and look at this thing in the same perspective we looked at the Cordero signing (forget the money, because that’s ownership’s concern), this helps the Brewers.
If we focus on the the contract, which seems excessive, then we’d have to do the same about the Cordero signing. And we don’t want to do that.
/sticks head back in sand/
I don’t know if Gagne is still and injury risk, which is the biggest issue.
Cordero is much more of a sure thing next year than Gagne is. So, to that end, we win out on that one.
I don’t see any significant parallels with the Cordero signing other than the fact that they are both closers and both commanded large salaries.
Gagne has had significant injury problems involving his arm (Tommy John surgery) and his back (surgery for herniated disks). He also was terrible down the stretch with the Red Sox (they referred to performances as “Gag Jobs” in Boston). Of course there are drawbacks to Cordero as well (his age towards the back end of the contract, etc.), but comparing the two IMO is a bit of a stretch.
Gagne hasn’t had an injury free season (he was on the DL last season with a hip injury – albeit minor) since 2004.
I guess I should be more precise:
1. I think this deal is worse than the Cordero signing, value-wise.
2. But more me to rationalize and praise the Cordero signing in the first place, I had to pretty much ignore the salary issue.
3. So, to be intellectually honest, I have to do the same with the Gagne deal. And leaving money completely out of things, the Brewers are better today than they were yesterday.
4. If you do consider money, I think this makes the Cordero signing look better. I’d much rather have Cordero for $16 than Gagne for $10.
They may be better today than yesterday, but they’re not as good as they were when the season ended. When they had Cordero.
:mrgreen:HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
In the words of my fellow Connecticutter, P.T. Barnum, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
Isn’t there something to be said about the lineups he was facing with Boston vs. the ones he will face most in the NL Central?