Gagne Wins NL Cy young

[PanchoSanza]

Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Eric Gagne of the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first relief pitcher in 11 years to win a Cy Young Award, easily beating San Francisco's Jason Schmidt for the National League honor.


NL Cy Young Award Voting
Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Gagne, L.A. 28 2 146
Schmidt, S.F. 2 17 12 73
Prior, Chi. 2 11 17 60
Ortiz, Atl. 2 3 9


Gagne, who converted all 55 of his save opportunities, received 28 of 32 first-place votes and 146 points in balloting released Thursday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.


Schmidt was second with two first-place votes and 73 points. Chicago's Mark Prior got the other first-place votes and was third with 60 points.


Gagne, a 27-year-old right-hander, was 2-3 with a 1.20 ERA and had 137 strikeouts and 20 walks in 82 1/3 innings. He had 52 saves the previous season and is the only pitcher to reach 50 saves in more than one season.


He is the first reliever to win a Cy Young since Oakland's Dennis Eckersley won the AL award in 1992. The previous NL reliever to win a Cy Young was San Diego's Mark Davis in 1989.


Gagne failed to hold a lead just once this season -- he allowed a two-run, go-ahead homer to Hank Blalock of Texas in the eighth inning of the All-Star game.


Gagne is just the second Canadian to win a Cy Young, following Ferguson Jenkins of the Cubs in 1971.


Because he wasn't eligible for arbitration and his contract was automatically renewed by the Dodgers in March, Gagne doesn't get a bonus added to his $550,000 salary.


Schmidt, 17-5 with a league-leading 2.34 ERA, gets $75,000 for finishing second.


Prior, 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA, gets $100,000 for winding up third and also receives $100,000 raises in each of the next three seasons. With Prior's All-Star selection and Cy Young finish, the value of his five-year contract increases from $10.5 million to $12.5 million.

 

[Fishhead]

wELL DESERVED!

 

[sickgambler]

it's hard to believe that a Montreal boy wins the CY Young Award. Man, I am so proud.. This kid here was playing ball in this city just 7 yrs ago and was not even dominating at all. His name wasnt even mentioned here growing up, that he even had a chance or was a future prospect. He was a nobody with nothing. He wasn't even good enough to pitch in pick up games. His numbers were always crappy and never was the best player on his team, and this is Montreal, don't forget. He was a much better hockey player than baseball player. And now he wins the CY. This proves to show you all that anything is possible in life if you work at it.

 

[PanchoSanza]

I personally wouldn't have voted for him just because you live in the same city as he is
from.

 

[sickgambler]

pancho,

are you that lonely a man. Do you have to have a comment for everything I ever say in this forum?? Geez Pancho, i thought i would help your thread out here and give you some feedback, and you still have something to say to me.

You know Pancho, i've only been to Toronto 2 times in my life. I swear, I am willing to make it 3 times now and drive up there just to have the satisfaction of kicking your ass. Man, are you annoying as hell. Man, that would be worth the 10 hrs of driving both ways, just to kick some Pancho ass..

 

[wilheim]

is another very successful reliever who had little success as a starter. In 48 starts prior to the 2002 season he was 11 and 14 with an ERA around 5.00. Makes me wonder how many other Eric Gagnes are floating around baseball, and don't know they could be all-stars by going to the bullpen. Bartolo Colon comes to mind although he has been effective as a starter, but he might just be a great closer.


wil.


wil.