Roger Arrieta
An Eric Gagne comeback would fill us with nostalgia
The Los Angeles Dodgers 2017 Spring Training has started off with a flurry. Former Dodger Closer Eric Gagne, has pitched bullpen sessions n order tuneups for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Could an all-time great be returning back to the major leagues?
Several media outlets reported former closer Eric Gagne pitched a bullpen session sparking word of a possible comeback.
A Magical Time
Looking back I remember then-skipper Jim Tracy would come out and signal the bullpen and what followed was magic.
At the drop of a bucket Dodger Stadium come to a deafening roar as “Welcome to the Jungle” hit and Gagne, with his trademark glasses and worn cap, would jog to the mound.
For three years it was “one, two, three, and inning over” marking one of the most dominant pitching runs in Dodgers history.
With over 80% of the votes each, @kenleyjansen74 & Eric Gagne are your #Dodgers All-Time relief pitchers. 😎✅ pic.twitter.com/qzsu7ATzP0
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) February 14, 2017
Gagne at Spring Training
As Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com recently reported, a comeback by Gagne might not be so farfetched despite not having pitched for the Dodgers since June of 2006.
And as Moreno points out, Dodgers management might actually consider it especially if Gagne still has something left in the tank.
“Gagne recently threw a bullpen session at Camelback Ranch and though it wasn’t considered a tryout, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi were part of the contingent who watched the right-hander.”
In spite of no official tryout or word of a signing, Gagne will be part of the World Baseball Classic next month representing his native Canada; which in itself might prove to be a tryout.
If Gagne still has something left then he could prove useful for former-teammate-now skipper Dave Roberts, and if he does then no doubt younger fans at Dodger Stadium might be in store for something special.
