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Originally Posted by jakecuevas
nice sweep....
i voted for manny....
[h1]Eric Gagne would welcome a return to the Dodgers[/h1]
Morry Gash / Associated Press
Eric Gagne was released by the Milwaukee Brewers this spring after a rough 2008 and another injury.
Former closer, who will pitch for an independent team this summer, wants to return to the majors this season.
By Bill Shaikin
5:59 PM PDT, May 27, 2009
Eric Gagne, who will pitch for an independent team in Quebec this summer in the hope of resurrecting a career that has faded since he left the Dodgers three years ago, said he would welcome an opportunity to rejoin the Dodgers this season.
"I'd love to," Gagne said. "I always loved L.A."
Gagne, speaking Wednesday on a conference call to announce his signing with the Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League, said he hopes to return to the big leagues this season.
"I'm not putting pressure on myself to come back in two weeks or one month or whatever," he said. "Hopefully, I can come back to the major leagues sooner rather than later.
"Right now, I'm not looking at that. I'm looking to get healthy."
In March, the Milwaukee Brewers released Gagne from a minor league contract after doctors discovered a slight tear in his rotator cuff. He said the shoulder "feels good" after rehabilitation and that he is throwing all his pitches during bullpen sessions.
The Capitales open their season today, although Gagne will be activated at a date to be determined.
"I'm about 80-85%," he said.
Gagne grew up in Montreal. The Capitales play in Quebec City, about three hours away.
"It's basically going back to my roots," he said.
His baseball roots are with the Dodgers, and he said he follows the team closely.
"It's the first score I look at," he said. "It's unbelievable how they're playing. I didn't expect that while Manny [Ramirez] is gone."
The Dodgers have maintained the best record in the major leagues, even with Ramirez suspended since May 7 for violating baseball's drug policy.
"Manny's just one guy," Gagne said. "He makes them better, but they're fine without Manny."
Gagne, 33, set a record by converting 84 consecutive save opportunities for the Dodgers from 2002 to 2004, winning the Cy Young Award in 2003 and electrifying Dodger Stadium with his goggles, goatee and "Game Over" motto.
The Dodgers signed him to a two-year, $20-million contract, but injuries limited him to 15 innings over those two years. In 2007, after the Dodgers offered him a one-year contract for $4 million, he signed with the Texas Rangers for a deal that eventually paid $8.5 million in base salary and incentives.
The Brewers signed him for $10 million for the 2008 season, three days before the Mitchell Report revealed that shipments of human growth hormone had been sent to him.
When he reported to spring training, Gagne apologized to his family and to Brewers fans and teammates for "a distraction that shouldn't be taking place." He did not address the specifics of the Mitchell Report.
Originally Posted by CincoSeisDos
My belief is a simple one. Play Pierre throughout the end of the season if he remains hot, trade him in the offseason while he's at the peak during his time in LA
Originally Posted by Mr Jordan04
Originally Posted by CincoSeisDos
My belief is a simple one. Play Pierre throughout the end of the season if he remains hot, trade him in the offseason while he's at the peak during his time in LA
but who are they gonna sit?
not matt kemp, cuz every team will take that extra double, triple, and scoring run since pierre throws like i did when i played little league
ethier...i expect him to get hot again when manny comes back. i think it got to his head, so when manny comes back hes gonna feel
Sit Ethier. We can't keep babysitting his %%* until July. If we don't trade Pierre, then send Andre packin'.
- naaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. andre is serving his 50 game suspension right now too, leave him alone!
you'll be thanking me later when he becomes superman again when manny comes back. manny is going to get walked a !+$@ load, so we need somebody behind himthat'll be able to drive him/others in.
-i like the way pierre is playing, but he can only do it for so long. theres no way he can continue playing this way for the remainder of the year.
-i like the way castro is playing though. he can be a big help down the stretch cuz he can play SS,2nd and 3rd
-i think furcal will turn it around. he has to get over his #%$ soreness. if anything juan pierre shoulda had that soreness too with all the pine he was riding before manny got suspended