I can't provide a link, since it will be changed tomorrow! It's a Daily Quickie, after all.
"Gagne: Streak Over
Why does it feel like Eric Gagne's 84-game save streak -- snapped Monday night -- was underrated while in progress over the last 22 months?"
This streak was overrated, not underrated. Great pitcher with a lot of luck. Less than half were one-run saves. Gagne blows five of his next ten saves, guaranteed. The streak reveals itself as a statistical oddity more than a true measure of great pitching. Though he undoubtedly is a great pitcher who pitched great during this streak.
"Blame the Dodgers' mediocrity: No playoffs made the saves seem empty."
Mariano is going to the Hall of Fame because of his playoff performances. Gagne might be able to dominate in the playoffs, but if he doesn't, his rep is shot. Ask Trevor Hoffman. Or Mark Wohlers. Or Armando Benitez. Or BK Kim.
"Blame East Coast bias: If Gagne played in New York, the streak would be touted as the greatest since DiMaggio's 56. Instead, "84" has no meaning to anyone ... yet."
Do you know whose record Gagne broke? Try Tom Gordon. The importance of a record is often defined by the previous record holder. Tom Gordon ain't exactly Lou Gehrig or Wee Willie Keeler.
As for East Coast bias, in 1999, I believe Mariano gave up zero runs in the entire second half of the season. That was a streak. That was in New York. Nobody really paid any attention to it.
"50 years from now, when no reliever has come close, fans will finally affirm that comparison. It is baseball's greatest performance streak since 56 (no, don't count Ripken)."
50 years from now, when no reliever has come close, fans will say, "Eric Who?" Rose's 44 is the greatest streak performance streak since 56. Molitor's 40. Maybe anybody who got halfway to Joe D. That's more impressive than what Gagne just did.
Saves have only existed for about 30 years and closers have only started accumulating saves about 15 years ago. Hitting has been around, like, forever in baseball. Joe D. is up against every batter who ever played. Gagne was up against closers from the past 15 years.
Besides, how can you just "not count Ripken"? What, it's the greatest performance streak in baseball since 1941 ... if you don't count Ripken?
What is it up against then? Mark Grace's 252 straight games at first base without a throwing error? Todd Zeile's 995 straight games where he argued with the umpire about a called strike? Jorge Posada's current streak of errorless return throws to the pitcher following a pitch? It's currently 200,000 and counting. Keep it up, Jorge!
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