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Eric Gagne

7/8/2006

Gagne will undergo season-ending surgery on Saturday to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. The closer woke up with back pain on Tuesday, but an epidural injection along with a nerve block didn't ease the pain. The Dodgers announced the bad news before Friday's game with the San Francisco Giants.

6/3/2006

Gagne made his first appearance since June 12 of last season pitching a hitless ninth inning in Friday's 8-6 loss to Philadelpia. The Dodgers' closer came off the disabled list on Tuesday after undergoing two right shoulder surgeries in less than a year, but then had to serve a two-game suspension. Gagne had one walk, one strikeout and hit one batter in his return to the mound.

5/30/2006

The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Gagne Tuesday but announced he began serving a two-game suspension and will not join the team until Thursday. Gagne completed his second minor league rehab stint with Triple-A Las Vegas Monday, recording a save in an 8-6 win. "My arm felt great," the closer said. "I feel confident. I'll be ready for Thursday."

5/27/2006

Gagne is expected to be eased into the Dodgers' closer role when he returns from surgery to remove a repositioned nerve in his right elbow. The Dodgers hope they will be able to activate the reliever by June 1 after a rehabillitation stint with Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

5/17/2006

Gagne, who underwent surgery in early April to have a nerve removed from his throwing elbow, has been working on the side lately. The Los Angeles Daily News reports the Dodgers' closer will throw live batting practice for the first time Friday at Dodger Stadium. Exactly when Gagne will return remains uncertain.

4/7/2006

Gagne underwent surgery Friday to have a nerve removed from his throwing elbow. The Dodgers' closer, who was coming back from elbow surgery in February 2005, will miss six to eight weeks. His velocity was down this spring, but he was getting hitters out in exhibition games. Gagne told team officials Wednesday that he had been pitching in pain.

4/5/2006

Gagne has dropped an appeal of a two-game suspension going back to last year, and the Dodgers' closer will miss games Tuesday and Wednesday. The decision may have been made easier by a painful ear infection that has forced Gagne to take antibiotics, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

3/29/2006

Gagne has posted decent numbers this spring, though the Dodgers' website is reporting that his velocity is down from when his elbow was healthy. The Dodgers' closer has allowed two home runs in his first seven spring innings after allowing just two in 82 1/3 innings during his Cy Young season in 2003. He has worked nine frames, allowing three runs and striking out 12.

3/9/2006

In his first game action since last June, Gagne needed just five pitches to work a perfect inning against the Baltimore Orioles. The Dodgers' closer threw only fastballs and said he felt good afterwards, roughly nine months after right elbow surgery. The right-hander is expected to work again Saturday against the Washington Nationals.

2/23/2006

Gagne was able to pitch to hitters Thursday for the first time since he had elbow surgery last June. The Dodgers' All-Star closer and the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner threw 20 pitches to four batters. He appeared in only 14 games last season and said he wasn't going to rush his recovery.

6/24/2005

Gagne underwent season-ending surgery on his pitching elbow Friday. But, contrary to expectations, the reliever did not have to have elbow ligament replacement (or Tommy John) surgery, as doctors found less damage than expected. Gagne had Tommy John surgery in 1997, and on Friday doctors did some shaving in the area of the elbow where the original sutures had become frayed. Originally expected to miss 12-14 months, Gagne now should be ready for 2006 Spring Training.

Gagne underwent season-ending surgery on his pitching elbow Friday. But, contrary to expectations, the reliever did not need elbow ligament replacement (or Tommy John) surgery, as doctors found less damage than expected. Gagne had Tommy John surgery in 1997, and on Friday, doctors did some shaving in the area of the elbow where the original sutures had become frayed. Originally expected to miss 12-14 months, Gagne now should be ready for spring training in 2006.

6/21/2005

Dodgers' All-Star closer Eric Gagne has opted to have season ending Tommy John surgery to fix a sprained ligament in his right elbow. Doctors concluded that the star hurler needed the surgery when Gagne had an MRI conducted on the elbow on Tuesday. Specifically, Gagne has a second-degree sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament. Gagne returned from the disabled list earlier this season on May 14 for a short 14 game stint where he collected eight saves in eight tries.

6/15/2005

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Gagne on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a sprained ligament in his right elbow, an injury much like the one that sidelined him for the first 35 games of the 2005 season. Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said Gagne aggravated the elbow Sunday night while pitching against Minnesota. After returning from his first DL stint on May 14, the righthanded closer was 1-0 with eight saves, a 2.70 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 13.1 innings.

6/14/2005

After a stint on the disabled list to the start the season because of a sprained pitching elbow, Gagne has been working in the low 90s instead of the mid-90s. He's also turned to his changeup more. With the movement on his pitches, including that nasty changeup of his, the results largely have been the same. Gagne is 1-0 with eight saves, a 2.70 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 13.1 innings.

It's possible that Gagne may be headed back to the disabled list. Dodger manager Jim Tracy said that Gagne aggravated his pitching elbow, the same elbow that landed him on the disabled list following spring training. Tracy also went on to say that "in all likelihood" Gagne will make a return trip to the DL so he has time to rehab his injured pitching arm.

It's possible that Gagne may be headed back to the disabled list. Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said that Gagne aggravated his pitching elbow, the same elbow that landed him on the disabled list following spring training. Tracy also went on to say that "in all likelihood," Gagne will make a return trip to the DL so he has time to rehab his injured pitching arm.

5/27/2005

Making his fifth relief appearance since returning from a a sprained left knee and sprained pitching elbow, Gagne notched his first save of the 2005 campaign, notching three outs in the ninth inning of Thursday's victory over the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers' closer wasn't perfect, however, as he allowed two doubles and a run.

5/14/2005

Gagne will be activated from the disabled list on Saturday. Because he is appealing a two-game suspension received while on the DL, Gagne will be available to pitch immediately.

5/9/2005

Gagne needed just 13 pitches to get through his one inning of work with Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, as he retired the side with three consecutive strikeouts. The Dodgers' closer, who has been sidelined all season with a sprained left knee and sprained pitching elbow, said he is now pain-free. The team would like to see him pitch on consecutive days before activating him from the 15-day disabled list.

Barring any setbacks, expect Gagne to be ready to go within the next week. Once he is activated, Gagne will be forced to sit out two games while serving a suspension. Until that time, Yhency Brazoban will continue to handle most save situations for Los Angeles. Gagne was 7-3 with 45 saves and a 2.19 ERA in 70 games last season, one year after claiming the National League Cy Young Award.

5/7/2005

Gagne is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday. The Dodgers' reliever threw approximately 30 pitches to batters before Friday's game and looked "filthy," according to Dodgers manager Jim Tracy.

4/29/2005

Gagne will have to wait a little longer to make his 2005 regular-season debut. The Dodgers' closer, who currently is on the 15-day disabled list while recovering from a strained pitching elbow, has been suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount for breaking a league rule concerning players taking part in game activities while on the DL. He was ejected from an April 6 game against the Giants for heckling home plate umpire Bill Hohn from the dugout.

Gagne will serve the penalty once he is activated from the DL. He is scheduled to pitch back-to-back bullpen sessions over the weekend, and if all goes well, he could be sent on a minor league rehab assignment shortly there after. However, he still needs to build up some arm strength, so another couple of weeks on the DL might be necessary. Yhency Brazoban will continue to handle most save situations for Los Angeles in Gagne's absence.

4/28/2005

Gagne, who continues to expand his workouts as he recovers from a sprained pitching elbow, made 40 pain-free pitches on flat ground on Wednesday. Barring any setbacks, the closer is slated to have back-to-back bullpen sessions over the weekend. The Dodgers won't rush Gagne, and he'll likely be sent on a minor league rehab assignment before being activated from the disabled list. As a result, don't expect him to be in the Dodgers' bullpen for another couple of weeks.

Yhency Brazoban will handle most save situations for Los Angeles in Gagne's absence. Gagne was 7-3 with 45 saves and a 2.19 ERA in 70 games last season, one year after claiming the National League Cy Young Award.

4/26/2005

According to Dodgers trainer Stan Johnston, Gagne was pain-free after throwing off a mound for the first time in nearly a month on Monday. The closer, who has been sidelined with a sprained right elbow, will continue to expand his workouts as long as no problems are reported. Despite the progress, an exact timetable for Gagne's return still has not been set.

Gagne, who won't be rushed back into action, likely will be sent on a minor league rehab assignment before being activated from the disabled list, so don't expect him to be in the Dodgers' bullpen for another couple of weeks. Yhency Brazoban will handle most save situations for Los Angeles in Gagne's absence. Gagne was 7-3 with 45 saves and a 2.19 ERA in 70 games last season, one year after claiming the National League Cy Young Award.

4/19/2005

Gagne has resumed playing catch, as he begins a throwing program to rehab and strengthen his pitching arm. The Dodgers' closer reported no problems with his sprained right elbow after throwing from 60 feet on flat ground prior to Tuesday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite the progress, a timetable for Gagne's return still has not been set. Yhency Brazoban will handle most save situations for Los Angeles in Gagne's absence.

Gagne is slated to throw again on Wednesday, if he wakes up with no lingering soreness or inflammation. The Dodgers will be very cautious and do not plan to rush him back into the bullpen, so expect at least another 2-3 weeks of recovery time. The 29-year-old was 7-3 with 45 saves and a 2.19 ERA in 70 games last season, one year after claiming the National League Cy Young Award.

4/14/2005

Other than some minor stiffness in his strained elbow, Gagne is reporting no other problems with his pitching arm. As a result, the Dodgers' closer is optimistic that he will be cleared to resume throwing within the next couple of days. He will begin his throwing program by playing catch on flat ground and will slowly work his way back to the mound. Yhency Brazoban is slated to handle most save situations for Los Angeles in Gagne's absence.

Gagne has recovered from his sprained left knee, an injury suffered early in spring training, but the arm issues likely will keep him sidelined for at least another couple of weeks. The Dodgers will be very cautious and do not plan to rush him back into the bullpen. The 29-year-old was 7-3 with 45 saves and a 2.19 ERA in 70 games last season, one year after claiming the National League Cy Young Award.

4/6/2005

Gagne, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained pitching elbow, has yet to resume throwing, and the Dodgers do not know when he will be allowed to do so. For now, the closer will continue to receive treatment on a daily basis in hopes of returning sooner rather than later. Yhency Brazoban is slated to handle most save situations in Gagne's absence.

Gagne has recovered from his sprained left knee, an injury suffered early in spring training, but the arm issues likely will keep him sidelined for at least another couple of weeks. The 29-year-old was 7-3 with 45 saves and a 2.19 ERA in 70 games last season, one year after claiming the National League Cy Young Award.