The recent beating Eric Gagne of the Boston Redsox experienced in Game 2 of the ALCS made me realize how hard it is to stay among the best in the role of closer in MLB for an extended period of time. When Eric Gagne played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, many thought he was the most dominating closer in baseball. Today, after various meltdowns, he has been ranked the lowest in Boston's bullpen. He is not the first to experience such a change. I know there have been various others. Mark Wholers of the Atlanta Braves and Brandon Lidge of the Houston Astros are the only other two I can think of? Can you help me identify others?
2007-10-14 13:20:50 · 11 answers · asked by Leon 4 in Sports ➔ Baseball
None worse than Donnie Moore. The Angels reliever who gave up a game ending homer to Dave Henderson in the 86 (i think) AL playoffs. Moore never got over it, and shot himself.
R.I.P. Donnie Moore
2007-10-14 14:50:49 · answer #1 · answered by Vincent StJohn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BRAD LIDGE
after being one of the most dominate closers for two seasons in a time where closers move in and out all the time, his reign as the best closer in baseball came to an end when Pujols hit a bomb off him in the playoffs. He continued to blow saves the entire next season and once into the 2007 season he was no longer the closer for the struggling Astros
2007-10-15 02:07:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Another dominant closer that has been shaky is Mariano Rivera of the NY Yankees....after having such dominant seasons...2007 was a bit messed up...wouldn't you say so too......and i remember a game where Trevor Hoffman the all time leader in saves gave up a game winning homer.... last year to Nomar Garciaparra of LAD.hope this heps=)=)=)...
2007-10-14 20:53:39 · answer #3 · answered by smart 1 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course Gagne. He had like 81 straight saves or something like that, went on the DL one time and never was the same. He is also injury prone he watches most of the games.
Billy Wagner I would say has been the most disappointing. Many say that Rivera has been bad but Billy is the real choke artist inthe Big Apple.
Brandon Lidge was lights out until one big blow in the NLCS and he cant big a perfect outing.
2007-10-14 20:33:32 · answer #4 · answered by Liam 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
byung yun kim when he was with the diamondbacks he was a good closer blew three games to the yanks and then never was really the same after that. John rocker was also pretty good untill he ran his mouth and had a meltdown and had trouble getting anyone out after that.
2007-10-14 23:22:03 · answer #5 · answered by texasman75147 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mesa and Rocker are biggies. Rocker had killer, killer stuff. I will never forget a playoff game in which he came on bases loaded nobody out. Not a run scored. That just blew me away, nasty breaking stuff. It was a while ago maybe 96ish i think against the Stros.
2007-10-15 00:02:06 · answer #6 · answered by dCon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
John Wetteland, Joe Borowski after his '03 season
2007-10-15 03:33:57 · answer #7 · answered by seven_deep303 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about Jose Mesa? He was NEVER the same after his blown save in the World Series
2007-10-14 22:54:44 · answer #8 · answered by imbigfish 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
John Rocker, Rod Beck, Trevor hoffman
2007-10-14 20:30:42 · answer #9 · answered by matt m 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Mariano Rivera in 2000 to 2006 was unhittable but this season he didn't have it, Because he is getting a little old.
2007-10-14 20:28:09 · answer #10 · answered by KipperJr 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋