So who's the best closer in the majors? According to the good readers of SLAM! Sports, it's John Smoltz, whom they chose in an online survey. What amuses me most about this poll is that 14% of the respondents took the time to click on "I don't care." Now, really. If you don't care, why are you reading the poll, let alone taking it?
Anyway, "best closer" is a nebulous term at best -- this year's top closer is often next year's setup guy, waiver claim or elbow surgery. "Best reliever" would be a more interesting choice, which for my money is a tossup between Octavio Dotel and Johan Santana. Anyway, Smoltz is a fine choice so far this year: 16 IP, 15 H, 4 BB, 20 K, 12 saves, just one BS. But a better choice would be this guy:
16 IP, 7 H, 4 BB, 28 K, 10 Saves, 0 Blown Saves
Any guesses?
Yup, it's Eric Gagne, the pride of La Belle Province. And it's not a fluke, either. Last season: 82 IP, 55 H, 16 BB, 114 K, 52 Saves, 4 Blown Saves.
Consider, if you will, this 2006 dream staff:
SP Rich Harden
SP Adam Loewen
SP Jeff Francis
SP Vince Perkins
RP Eric Gagne
What do they have in common, besides dazzling promise from the starters and dominance from the bullpen? They're all Canadian.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20030506011746999