Gagne worth taking early?

[Guest]

Don't be mislead by the subject. I agree I'm sure with 99% of ppl out there that gagne is worth a pick in 2-3rd round of most drafts.

Althouh he probably has nearly the best ERA, Whip, K/9, and Save totals of any pitcher. Due to the low number of innings pitched how valuable is he really? Do i really want to waste an early round pick on him?

My general strat would be to draft mostly hitters with my earlier picks and try to grab one stud pitcher to anchor my rotation.

Could someone fill me in on the overall draft strategy they would use when choosing to pick an elite closer like gagne with an early round pick.

[Cornbread Maxwell]

I also would like to see someone defend taking Gagne in the 1st or 2nd.

The way I see it is - why? He is awsome in one catagory and helps a bit in 3 others. With those first 2 rds I cant see spending a pick on a guy that doesnt make large contributions in at least 4 catagories.

[trevisc]

Gagne is a rare closer but there are a few rare closers in the same range:

Rivera
Foulke
Smoltz
Wagner

will all have similar numbers. I wouldn't draft a closer until the 4th round at the earliest. I usually wait until the 6th round.

[NZF]

Gagne is a rare closer but there are a few rare closers in the same range:

Rivera
Foulke
Smoltz
Wagner

will all have similar numbers. I wouldn't draft a closer until the 4th round at the earliest. I usually wait until the 6th round.

Because Gagne will go earlier than he should in most drafts if you wait until the 6th Trev I bet you wont get any of those guys either.

Gagne is going to rightly or wrongly start a trend of closers getting taken earlier in drafts.

[NZF]

Gagne is a rare closer but there are a few rare closers in the same range:

Rivera
Foulke
Smoltz
Wagner

will all have similar numbers. I wouldn't draft a closer until the 4th round at the earliest. I usually wait until the 6th round.

Because Gagne will go earlier than he should in most drafts if you wait until the 6th Trev I bet you wont get any of those guys either.

Gagne is going to rightly or wrongly start a trend of closers getting taken earlier in drafts.

[kentx12]

I just cant see taking a closer in the first few rounds. I know I wont get a gagne/Smoltz type of closer but I still am willing to wait and take what I can get.

[Cornbread Maxwell]

Because Gagne will go earlier than he should in most drafts if you wait until the 6th Trev I bet you wont get any of those guys either.

Gagne is going to rightly or wrongly start a trend of closers getting taken earlier in drafts.

I know its not any of the 4 mentioned, but quality closers can be gotten after the 6th. In Mock 8 I took Isri and Dotel in the 7th-8th. There never was a real closer run like one would expect, so by taking them somewhat back to back (4 picks in between) I am hoping to start a 2nd tier closer run. Even still, not taking a closer till the 7th and ending up with Isri and Dotel will allow me to compete in that cat without wasting a top pick.

[NZF]

I just cant see taking a closer in the first few rounds. I know I wont get a gagne/Smoltz type of closer but I still am willing to wait and take what I can get.

No me neither but it will start to happen this year among the less knowledgable.


Last year I grabbed Carter, Borowski, Hasegawa, Biddle and Worrell all after the draft off Waivers and out of FA and not only won the saves category handsomely but was able to use Biddle and Worrell as trade bait to grab some decent SP's later on as well.

These opportunities happen every season.

[Madison]

If Gagne is still on the board in the 4th round, then he will probably be on my team. If he goes before that, then someone else missed out on a 4 or 5 catagory producer.

[stabone76]

Don't be mislead by the subject. I agree I'm sure with 99% of ppl out there that gagne is worth a pick in 2-3rd round of most drafts.

Althouh he probably has nearly the best ERA, Whip, K/9, and Save totals of any pitcher. Due to the low number of innings pitched how valuable is he really? Do i really want to waste an early round pick on him?

My general strat would be to draft mostly hitters with my earlier picks and try to grab one stud pitcher to anchor my rotation.

Could someone fill me in on the overall draft strategy they would use when choosing to pick an elite closer like gagne with an early round pick.

Im planning on sitting back until GAGNE, Rivera, Wagner, Foulk are gone and pick up Percival or IZZY or wait til one of those three go and take whatever one of the four is left, then wait until way later and take a julio, kolb, etc.