Can we get an officer to PJGuy's house for a suicide watch?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2091891

SAN DIEGO -- Dodgers closer Eric Gagne will have season-ending surgery to fix a sprained ligament in his right elbow.

he 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner had a second MRI exam Tuesday and doctors concluded he needs Tommy John surgery. The All-Star reliever has a second-degree sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament and was recently placed on the 15-day disabled list. His operation was scheduled for Friday.

"We're probably looking at about a year, maybe by the All-Star break next year he'll be back," manager Jim Tracy said.

Gagne, who owns the major league record of 84 consecutive saves, landed on the disabled list for the first time in his seven-year major league career on April 1 when he hurt his elbow, possibly while compensating for a knee injury sustained during spring training. It was the same elbow that underwent ligament replacement surgery in 1997.

Gagne returned to action May 14 but aggravated the injury while pitching against Minnesota on June 12.

"It is a partial tear of the ligament, not a complete tear," Tracy said. "The surgery is not a complicated surgery. The damage is not significant to make the surgery overwhelming."

With Gagne out for the rest of the season, the closer role falls to Yhency Brazoban, who has converted 11 of 14 save chances in Gagne's absence. The 24-year-old Brazoban is in his first full major league season after making his big league debut last Aug. 5. Brazoban is 2-2 this year with a 4.66 ERA in 31 games. The right-hander has struck out 27 batters in 29 innings with 10 walks.

Brazoban finished the 2004 season with a 6-2 record and a 2.48 ERA in 31 appearances. He also held opponents to a .219 batting average.

Gagne was 1-0 with eight saves and a 2.70 ERA in 13 1/3 innings since his return from the disabled list. Dating to last Aug. 28, he has converted 18 consecutive save opportunities.

Gagne had a club-record 55 saves and a 1.20 ERA in 2003. He agreed to a $19 million, two-year contract in the offseason after recording 152 saves and averaging 122 strikeouts during his first three seasons as a closer.

"Knowing what Eric Gagne means to this organization, to the success of the organization in the 4½ years that I've been here, you feel for both," Tracy said. "He's a special guy to me."

The Dodgers also said backup catcher Paul Bako will undergo surgery Friday to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Bako, who hit .250 with four RBI in 10 starts, was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 27.

cant get a difinitive time frame on how long Gagne will be out. That asshole Jeff Brantley, who is one step away from Joe Morgan-i know every goddamn thing ever-proportions, kept saying Gagne will never pitch for the dodgers again, which is total horseshit. LA Times is reporting 12-18 months, Gagne is saying he was told he might be back in may 2006 (11 months), and Jim Tracy said he was told July 2006 (13 months). so who the fuck knows right now.

AS, NO ONE would commit suicide over the collection of losers that is the 05 Dodgers. Not even ol' tom Lasorda.

at least the dodgers usually have a decent farm system.

I'm hoping Atlanta will resist trading prospects because they are playing farely well but,

My guess is Jeff Kent will go and maybe JD Drew to some contenders for young guys that are ready to play this and next season especially middle relief pitchers.

152 saves in 3 years, damn. He'll be back in 2. Crazy he's like the second coming of another Dodger master pitcher with arm troubles.

neener-neener!

well, at least if the Giants are going to suck this year, it's not so bad if the dodgers are too.

surely he can't be on my injury-plagued fantasy team.

oh, look at that, there he is.

fuckers.

but speaking of the pathetic Giants and broken pitchers, what the hell is wrong with Jason Schmitt?

our teams should be battling it out all yr for the NL west crown, thats just the way its supposed to be.....instead we fight to stay out of the basement...god bless the rockies!

It's really hard to predict how long a particular player will be out from this type of surgery. Some players, like Ryan Dempster, are only out for 12 months. Others are out up to 2 years. It all depends on the player.

He may be back pitching, but that doesn't necessarily mean the old Gagne will be back. Pitchers that rely heavily on breaking or curve balls have a tougher go at it. Pitchers that rely primarily on their fastballs and cutters have a better go at it. His velocity may be there when he gets back (and it may even be better), but the movement may take a little way to come back.

Just be thankful it's not his shoulder.

maybe they can replace his stupid glasses while they are at it, or goggles, whatever the fuck they are.

Amen

steroidz anyone?

journeymen reliever who all of a sudden throws 97 for a few years then blows his arm out

actually, his velocity increased when he had the first TJ surgery, which is common after Tommy John.

maybe so. that sounds more like an arm transplant than Tommy John surgery. actually, he used to be a starter by the looks of it before becoming a robot-like closer.

anyway, i've always suspected this guy was on the juice, well before the roid rage uproar within the last year or so...

season from hell

a lot of people associate juice with Gagne, but I dont think hes a user. especially since he looks more like wilson alvarez in body than barry bonds.

Gagne had the 98mph fastball when he was a starter, but he didnt have the makeup to be a starter. he never got used to pitching, then waiting a half inning, then throwing again.. the pen was the perfect place to channel his adrenaline and focus for that one last win or lose situation. he always says his adrenaline got the best of him when he was a starter....

the steroids accusation here is ridiculous. like this post says, he always had that ability, but relievers simply throw harder than starters. look at john smoltz. as a closer he consistently threw his fastball around 97 mph. now, it's usually 91-93. why? because it's easier to throw hard over one inning than it is over seven.

you may want to change your avatar to:

this makes me laugh, but mostly cry!

LA won last night. 8 game streak is over, but JD Drew finally gets to go to the only place he can call home: the DL.

The Braves got a great year out of him after an early brief stint.