You can pucker up now

[Veovis]

Gagne has had the most dominant stretch for a closer ever, though. There is no disputing that.

[Porter]

Gagne's 3 seasons as the closer

Year Ag Tm  Lg  W   L   G   GS  CG SHO  GF SV   IP     H    R   ER   HR  BB   SO  HBP  WP  BFP   ERA *lgERA *ERA+
2002 26 LAD NL   4   1  77   0   0   0  68 52   82.3   55   18   18   6   16  114   2   1   314  1.97  3.79  192
2003 27 LAD NL   2   3  77   0   0   0  67 55   82.3   37   12   11   2   20  137   3   2   306  1.20  4.03  335
2004 28 LAD NL   7   3  70   0   0   0  59 45   82.3   53   24   20   5   22  114   5   2   326  2.19  4.14  189

Rivera's in the same 3 years of his life.

Year Ag Tm  Lg  W   L   G   GS  CG SHO  GF SV   IP     H    R   ER   HR  BB   SO  HBP  WP  BFP   ERA *lgERA *ERA+
1996 26 NYY AL   8   3  61   0   0   0  14  5  107.7   73   25   25   1   34  130   2   1   425  2.09  5.05  242
1997 27 NYY AL   6   4  66   0   0   0  56 43   71.7   65   17   15   5   20   68   0   2   301  1.88  4.43  235
1998 28 NYY AL   3   0  54   0   0   0  49 36   61.3   48   13   13   3   17   36   1   0   246  1.91  4.47  234

take it for what you can or will.

[Porter]

Year Ag Tm  Lg  W   L   G   GS  CG SHO  GF SV   IP     H    R   ER   HR  BB   SO  HBP  WP  BFP   ERA *lgERA *ERA+
1988 33 OAK AL   4   2  60   0   0   0  53 45   72.7   52   20   19   5   11   70   1   0   279  2.35  3.78  160
1989 34 OAK AL   4   0  51   0   0   0  46 33   57.7   32   10   10   5    3   55   1   0   206  1.56  3.70  237
1990 35 OAK AL   4   2  63   0   0   0  61 48   73.3   41    9    5   2    4   73   0   0   262  0.61  3.72  606

The Most Dominant 3 year stretch in recent closers memory.

[Providence A's]

Year Ag Tm  Lg  W   L   G   GS  CG SHO  GF SV   IP     H    R   ER   HR  BB   SO  HBP  WP  BFP   ERA *lgERA *ERA+
1988 33 OAK AL   4   2  60   0   0   0  53 45   72.7   52   20   19   5   11   70   1   0   279  2.35  3.78  160
1989 34 OAK AL   4   0  51   0   0   0  46 33   57.7   32   10   10   5    3   55   1   0   206  1.56  3.70  237
1990 35 OAK AL   4   2  63   0   0   0  61 48   73.3   41    9    5   2    4   73   0   0   262  0.61  3.72  606

The Most Dominant 3 year stretch in recent closers memory.

and that's not including 1992 when he won the cy young

[bwitty24]

Lol saber will always be there for correction.

[bwitty24]

I forgot the comma after "Lol".

[General]

And you didnt capitalize the O and the last L.

[RLA68]

I think his Dodgers will need to make the playoffs a little more often. The greatness of Rivera is what he has done in the post season.

but to be fair he has not been closing nearly as long as Rivera, though his blown saves per year are less while he has been a closer and his ERA has been just as dominant... if Gagne keeps his stuff up as a closer for 10 season, he could very well be rated better than Rivera

[joek]

The greatness of Rivera is what he has helped accomplish for his team. Multiple playoffs, pennants and WS rings. That is the true measure of greatness. I keep forgeting, it's the other guys credit or fault, depending on which way you are arguing. Fools defend losers, while the most intelligent herald winners.

[Providence A's]

I'll still take the Eck

[General]

I'll take John Smoltz as my closer.

[yhova]

Well its a good thing that the best closer of all time nailed the door shut last night, securing homefield for the AL

[General]

Excuse yourself. John Franco is the best closer of all time. And if you disagree, he'll get his pals to whack ya.

[DiamondDave]

I didn't know Eck came out of retirement and closed out the game last night... that is too cool

[Porter]

Eck >> Rivera

Ecks off year was almost as good as Rivera's good years.