Ace in the hole

Sporting News, The, March 25, 1996 by Bob Nightengale, Lawrence Rocca

No time to spare and the runner bearing down at second base. Greg Gagne, a blur of blue and white (and a flash of red), sweeps across the bag and throws to first while drifting toward right field and safety from the oncoming Astro; 4-6-3. Sweet math in Dodgertown.

After the bang-bang double play, Manager Tommy Lasorda is one of the first to meet Gagne in the dugout. The greeting from manager to shortstop is simple: "That's why you're here."

That is why Greg Gagne is in Vero Beach (and Jose Offerman is not). That is why Greg Gagne will be at shortstop Opening Day for the Dodgers. That is why the Dodgers opened camp talking not of winning the N.L. West but the World Series, talk that raised the hopes of those who bleed Dodger blue and the temperatures of those who don't.

Afterward, the double play is the main topic of discussion in the clubhouse, along with the almost giddy talk of how Gagne went deep in the hole on a grounder by Ricky Gutierrez, planted himself in short left and rifled a throw to first to record the out.

On this day, in the afterglow of two plays the likes of which haven't been seen around Vero Beach in some time, Gagne's new teammates engage in a difficult clubhouse game: Which play did you like better? The answers vary from cubicle to cubicle, but the Dodgers are unanimous in one thing: excitement.

"I couldn't believe that double play," catcher Mike Piazza says. "It was unbelievable. If he likes making a good first impression, I think he's happy today."

Second baseman Delino DeShields, who has a great vantage point on each play, is partial to the stop in the hole. "A big-league play, that's all you can say," DeShields says, smiling. "Not too many guys make that play."

For his part, Gagne expresses frustration over missing a high chopper up the middle.

Truth be told -- and Greg Gagne always tells the truth -- he wanted to stay with the Royals. But he decided they weren't serious about keeping him. The Dodgers were interested, but Gagne, 34, was interested in St. Louis. It would be a perfect fit. He had played his entire major league career in the Midwest, and the Cardinals were going to sign Gary Gaetti, his close friend and former teammate.

Gagne's agent called Dodgers Vice President Fred Claire and told him Greg was going to sign with the Cardinals. But then the Cardinals pulled the offer. Gagne was so incensed he instructed his agent to contact Claire again. He also decided that instead of the original two-year offer, he would accept a one-year contract for $2.6 million, passing on another guaranteed $2.4 million. So the Dodgers, who had started out wanting the Rockies' Walt Weiss, now have a shortstop they believe will be the last piece in the World Series puzzle. A shortstop who helped the Royals last season with a .969 fielding average and 18 errors while batting .256 with 49 RBIs.

"That move right there will be huge for them," Braves third baseman Chipper Jones says. "No telling how many runs it will save them. It might be the difference between a 5-4 win and a 4-3 loss."

Interestingly, though, after the Dodgers themselves talked as camp opened about being a great team, a World Series team, the defending-champion Braves took offense. Says Fred McGriff: "They better worry about their own division. If I'm the Padres, I sure don't think it's over. I would get a little mad. That division isn't going to be easy."

But if the Dodgers were good enough to win the division last season, then how much better are they this season with their pitching and outfield intact and not only Gagne, but also third baseman Mike Blowers (.257,23 homers 96 RBIs, 16 errors) to strengthen the infield?

Gagne patiently addresses the subject, never referring to Offerman by name: "I'm here because they think I can play shortstop better than the other guy. I wanted to go to a place that wanted a shortstop, that needed a shortstop, and has the opportunity to go to the World Series.

"Hopefully, everyone will get what they want, but I'm just one guy. I can't do this by myself. This team went to the playoffs without me, so it's not like I'm going to carry them on my back."

Gagne says he hopes the comparisons between him and his predecessor will end. ("If I'm going to hear it all year long, I'm going to get tired of it," he says.) There's no added pressure, he says, with the expectation he'll be far better than Offerman. He just wishes the focus would be put back on the team and getting ready for the season.

Gagne already is starting to fit in. He doesn't talk in the clubhouse, he speed raps. His voice is cracked Boston blacktop and broken glass, with an "ah-ah-ah" stutter. He loves to talk, but doesn't boast. Just as well. Teammates take care of that for him.

"It's a beautiful thing," center fielder Brett Butler says of Gagne's two fielding gems against the Astros. "All the pitchers are smiling right now because they don't have to be so fine."

So appreciative is the Dodgers staff it already has figured out which side its playoff share is buttered on. Gagne at one point this spring was late for a workout. The players' kangaroo court fined him $200 worth of postgame chicken. The pitchers immediately offered to pick up the fine.