Sox pick up Eric Gagne

[SoxFan]

The Red Sox picked up reliever Eric Gagne in a trade with the Texas Rangers. The Rangers received RHP Kasson Gabbard (a decent 4th or 5th starter), David Murphy (a decent outfield prospect) and some banjo hitter from the Gulf Coast League.

With Paps, Okie and Gagne (not to mention Timlin), the Sox have the most dominant pen in baseball!
:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

And they didn't have to deal Jacoby Ellsbury, Manny DelCarmen, Jon Lester, or Clay Bucholz!

[Oeditpus Rex]

1. I dunno, man

Gagne doesn't have the stuff he used to, and I don't think his arm is very sound. Why ya think we unloaded him? :(

[IndianaJones]

3. throws 90-92 now. may make a decent set up man...

if he can stay healthy.

[SoxFan]

4. closer=overwork

When Gagne closed in LA, he had to pitch more than his arm could handle. That's not a rap against the Dodgers, it's a fact of life with a lot of closers. Even Papelbon ran into arm trouble down the stretch last year.

In Boston, he joins a bullpen that already has an All-Star closer and lefty set-up man, a veteran with three World Series rings, and a young kid with nasty stuff. Gagne can close games to give Paps a rest, or come in to pitch the 7th or 8th, especially against teams with right-handed power.

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. I used to wonder about closers

Managers and announcers and whatnot talk about guys being tired because they've made five appearances in a week, and I'm like, "Hell, he's pitched five innings. Starters used to pitch seven or more every four days." Then I realized starters pace themselves, whereas closers can't. They may go just one inning three or four times a week, but it's one full-bore inning. Besides, muscles get into patterns the same as brains.

Dodgers have this great relief system now: Beimel in the seventh, Broxton in the eighth and Saito for the save. Broxton could be the closer, but Saito's got it nailed — or, he did before he started having back problems.

Pitching sure has changed since I was a kid.

[KitchenWitch]

5. I was thinkin' the same thing!

:hi:

[bicentennial_baby]

2. w00t! And the Celtics get Garnett!

:woohoo:

[SoxFan]

6. A five for one deal!

Criminy, that's an entire starting lineup!

I'm a bit skittish about the Garnett trade. Giving up both Al Jefferson and Gerald Green plus a first round pick is mighty steep. Hopefully Perkins and Big Baby can provide some oomph under the basket and let Pierce, Allen, and Garnett work their magic and win now!

[bicentennial_baby]

7. Oh, I know...

I'm just hoping that he can be the spark to light that team up! I might even start watching the games again! :P

[Tektonik]

9. Gagne will be good for Boston...

for the month and a half he'll stay healthy for. There's no way that guy is fully recovered from the injuries that he's had over the last couple years.

Also Garnett to Boston will def make 'em a playoff team, but still behind Chicago, Detroit, and probably Miami if Shaq and Wade can play healthy for a year. But hey it's better than being the worst in the division I guess :P