Which Closer

[Durango53]

I saw this on ESPN so I will ask it here to see what you all think.

Which active closer would you want to save game 7 of the World Series?

[bd811]

Gagne. 50 saves in a row without blowing one or however many he's at now.

[Fragmentsofme]

Why isn't Kim up there? J/K. Smoltz, Gagne has already blown the biggest game of his life, and had NO post-season experience.

*edit* grammatical error

[Baseball Guru]

Gagne gets my vote....

Dude is awesome!!!!

[PopTop]

Smoltz got my vote ... I just think that overall, he's proven himself to be a better pitcher than the others, and he certainly understands pitching in the postseason.

[Obri]

I voted for John Smoltz. Granted Rivera did save the final game of the World Series in 1998, 1999, and 2000, but he's looked all too human recently, in keeping with the rest of the Yankee bullpen, who have looked decidedly less than human.:(

[Rockin Robin]

No contest. John Smoltz. And this from a Mets fan.

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by Rockin Robin
No contest.


I don't have issue with Smoltz but I respectfully disagree that it is no contest....

Last time I checked Smoltz had as many saves in the WS as Gagne did.....

Gagne has a shot to set the saves record and in the process is having one of the greatest seasons ever by a closer....


73 IP
33 Hits
11 Earned Runs
17 Walks
126 K's
1.34 Era
.68 WHIP
.132 BAA


I'm sorry but I've been watching baseball forever and the closest thing I have ever seen to a season like Gagne is having is Eckersley in 1990....The thing about Eck that season was that sick ERA of .61 and 4 walks.....Damn nasty!!

Again, no problem with the support for Smoltz as he is a great closer but I take issue with it being "no contest"

[Durango53]

Gagne has had one save chance in a big game so far and that was in the All-Star game and he didn’t look to comfortable in there and gave up a huge homerun shot. I know it was the All-Star game and it isn’t a real game and such. But the pressure is going to get harder and harder as he comes down the stretch to save those games. With the Dodgers offense his job is more important. There is no room for error with him pitching for the Dodgers.

But on the flip side of that every game that Gagne has pitched in the past month or so is about as big as a playoff game for him. He has keep the Dodgers in the race for the Wild Card. So you have to have stones to do that. And as every game comes and goes this season he will have to keep doing what he is doing now.

I think the question is for Smoltz and Gagne is how much more does their arm have going into these last few games and the post season? Smoltz has been on the DL so he will be a bit rested but that is if he is healthy all the way? And have they gone to the well too much with Gagne? I am pulling for the Dodgers in the wild card so we can see Gagne in the playoffs. I think he is getting the pressure feel right now of playoff games and I think he would be fine. Smoltz or Gagne I don’t think either way you could go wrong.

[GiveHyzduashot]

Let's not count a blown save against a guy when Gagne told Teixeria what pitch he was going to throw. That's a little too harsh.

I'll take Smoltz.