'And we're down to the last 3 outs of the ballgame...'

It's a phrase that Closers just love to hear. They are the ones who thrive under the pressure. They come in with the game on the line. And more often than not, they end it.

The closer position has fascinated me for a number of years and has quickly become one of my favourite aspects in the game today. It's funny to think then that in the days of Cy Young, Walter Johnson and even recently in the era's of Nolan Ryan and a young Roger Clemens, the closer's role was virtually non-existant. Starting pitchers would go so deep into games, it wouldn't be uncommon for many of them to rack up 30 complete games per year. Take Clemens season in 1987 for the Red Sox. In 36 starts, he completed 18 of them, to go along with a ******** 7 shutouts. These days, you'll be lucky if a pitcher gets 2 complete games in a season. With the reduced pitch counts and  trend of managers looking to 'shorten the game' resulting in an increased incidence to yank their starters relatively early and get on the phone to the 'pen, the complete game stat has suffered and the closer has thrived. In 2007, only one pitcher surpassed 5 of more complete games, and that was Toronto's Roy Halladay, who finished with 7. Therefore, I've decided to profile a couple of closers throughout the 2008 season to give them the recognition they deserve. And I'm gonna start with the guy who would be the one i want (or at least between 2002-2005) on the mound to finish it off in game 7 of the world series: Eric Gagne

Gagne, that of the famed 'Bugs Bunny changeup' and the blazing fastball that could touch triple figures, is the last closer to have captured the NL Cy Young award in 2003, with an incredible season. Hailing from Quebec, Gagne was signed as an unrestricted free agent back in 1995 and began his career with the Dodgers starting games, not closing. This is reminiscent to a certain Dennis Eckersley, who before Gagne, was the previous relief pitcher to win the Cy Young award in 1992 with the Oakland A's. Gagne got his big league break in 1999 and remained as a relatively unimpressive starter until spring training in 2002 when it was suggested he be moved to the bullpen, where Gagne became the Dodgers closer. Gagne became the staple at the back end of the bullpen for the Dodgers in '02, saving 52 games en route to a 1.97 ERA and 114 K's in just 82.1 innings. It would be in '02 that Gagne would also begin his record breaking 84 consecutive saves streak, on August 28th of that year, smashing the previous mark of 54 set by Tom Gordon of the Red Sox in 1998/1999. Gagne was then perfect in the saves category in '03, converting 55 out of a possible 55 chances and finishing the year with a 1.20 ERA and 137 k's in 82.1 IP, becoming the only pitcher at the time in major league history with 2 50 save seasons. This was equalled by the Yankees Mariano Rivera in the very same season with the Yankees. Gagne was the talk of the town in los angeles. He had captivated the Dodgers faithful and energized the crowds upon his entry into the game, where he would stroll to the mound to the thundering sounds of Guns N Roses 'Welcome to the Jungle'. Gagne's success had been so prolific that the Dodgers would flash signs and banners on the scoreboards saying 'Game over' and a cartoon representation of Gagne wearing his trademark glasses, which he wore due to a hockey injury during his youth. Gagne's awesome year generated his his first NL Cy Young award, and the consecutive saves streak continued into 2004, where it would end against the team it started, the Arizona Diamondbacks, on July 5th. This did not deter Gagne, and he once again finished the year strongly, collecting 45 saves in 47 chances, with a sparkling 2.19 ERA and 114 k's in 82.1 innings. However, 2005 started his downfall, and Gagne became injury plagued throughout the year, and mid season in 2005 Gagne underwent what was supposed to be his second career Tommy John Surgery, although it was revealed a trapped nerve under scar tissue was the cause of his problems. Gagne later had the nerve completely removed in 2006, pitching in just 2 games for the dodgers, before back surgery ended his year all together.

Gagne signed with Texas for the 2007 season after the dodgers declined his option and Gagne decided to leave LA as a free agent, ending his tenure with the Dodgers. He then returned to somewhat mortal status with the Rangers, converting 16 of 17 saves while compiling a 2.16 ERA over
34 games. Gagne was traded towards the deadline to the Red Sox, yet never seemed to adjust well to his new role in the back end of the Sox bullpen, with incumbent closer Jonathan Papelbon taking the reigns in Boston. After winning the world series with the Sox however, Gagne left beantown as a free agent and recently signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. Now 32, it seems that the multiple surgeries his pitching elbow has endured has left his best days in his past, velocity wise, with Gagne rounding off around the low to mid 90's as opposed to his high 90's electricity during his tenure with the Dodgers. But with 10 career blown saves in 187 chances, there's no doubt that Gagne was one of the most dominant closers of all time. It remains to be seen whether he can recapture his form of old, but regardless, i'll be watching closely and will be giving regular updates throughout the year!