Eric Gagne and Established Closers

Earlier this week, in a story that was appropriately reported without much fanfare,Eric Gagne retired. Between 2002-2004, Gagne had been one of the best relievers in the game saving 152 games and posting a 1.79 ERA over that three year period, while appearing in three All Star Games and finishing 4th, 1st and 7th in Cy Young balloting. For those three years, Gagne was the best closer in baseball, but he never recovered from an injury in 2005 and bounced around between the Dodgers, Rangers, Red Sox and Brewers between 2005 and 2008. He spent last year trying to get one more chance to play, but was not successful.

Why the Team with the Two Most Dominant Starters Always Wins the World Series-Except When It Doesn't

 

It seems that one thing most baseball observers understand about the post-season is that having two dominant starters is the key to winning the World Series.  Two dominant starters, because of the extra days of rest, can start almost half of there team’s games and carry their teammates to championship.  We know this because this is what Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling did with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001.  Spending too much time trying to figure out what happened in other recent post-seasons is, apparently, not worth our time.