Eric Gagne, meet Tommy John.... :(

Surgery needed to fix sprained ligament

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers closer Eric Gagne will have season-ending surgery to fix a sprained ligament in his right elbow.

<!--------------------------START PLAYER CARD------------------><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0 vspace="5" hspace="5"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8>[size=-2][/size]</TD><TD width=200 bgColor=#ecece4><!---------------------HEADSHOT TABLE STARTS HERE---------------------><TABLE cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=2>[size=-1]Eric Gagne[/size]
[size=-2]Relief Pitcher
Los Angeles Dodgers[/size]</TD><TD width=65 rowSpan=2> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=67>[size=-2]Profile
[/size]</TD><TD width=68></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------HEADSHOT TABLE ENDS HERE---------------------></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8>[size=-2][/size]</TD><TD width=200 bgColor=#ecece4><TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width=190 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=middle bgColor=#002175><TD colSpan=6><CENTER>2005 SEASON STATISTICS</CENTER></TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#bcbcb4><TD width="17%">[size=-2]GM[/size]</TD><TD width="17%">[size=-2]W[/size]</TD><TD width="17%">[size=-2]L[/size]</TD><TD width="17%">[size=-2]BB[/size]</TD><TD width="17%">[size=-2]K[/size]</TD><TD width="17%">[size=-2]ERA[/size]</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#bcbcb4><TD>[size=-2]14[/size]</TD><TD>[size=-2]1[/size]</TD><TD>[size=-2]0[/size]</TD><TD>[size=-2]3[/size]</TD><TD>[size=-2]22[/size]</TD><TD>[size=-2]2.70[/size]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------INLINE MINI-PLAYER CARD ENDS HERE--------------------->

Gagne had a second MRI exam Tuesday and doctors concluded he needs Tommy John surgery, the team said. The All-Star reliever has a second-degree sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament and was recently placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Gagne, who owns the major league record of 84 consecutive saves, landed on the disabled list for the first time in his seven-year major league career on April 1 when he hurt his elbow, possibly while compensating for a knee injury sustained during spring training. It was the same elbow that underwent ligament replacement surgery in 1997.

He returned to action May 14 but aggravated the injury while pitching against Minnesota on June 12.

Gagne was 1-0 with eight saves and a 2.70 ERA in 13 1/3 innings since his return from the disabled list. Dating to last Aug. 28, he has converted 18 consecutive save opportunities.

Gagne won the NL Cy Young Award in 2003 with a club-record 55 saves and a 1.20 ERA. He agreed to a $19 million, two-year contract in the offseason after recording 152 saves and averaging 122 strikeouts during his first three seasons as a closer.


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:guillotin Dodgers suck w/ or w/ out him....

where is Dr Pepper?

right here. im disappointed to say the least. this is a very very painful time right now to be a fan, figuratively, and literally....ugh.

i really have a lot to say about his injury, why it happened, and how i think it happened, but for all the energy that it would take for me to expell that - i use up each night watching us lose.

ill sum it up as this, we need a coaching change. as much as i like jim tracy, the way he uses lineups, pinch hits, and sacrifices has gotten so old - im sure ive lost years on my own life.

ill make my final judgement on depodesta come the trade deadline

but hell, at least i can smile about our double A ballclub. god they are good. and our draft was solid as well.