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October 2, 2007
BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- When the Red Sox acquired hard-throwing right-hander Eric Gagne at the trade deadline in July, the club knew exactly what it would be getting. Boston, however, didn't expect what would happen.
Gagne struggled a bit when he arrived in Boston and it took him a little while to get adjusted to his new role and surroundings.
“I have more confidence now and I feel good about myself,” he said this morning.
When asked if he thought it was difficult for the fans of Red Sox Nation, who sent out the boo-birds after him on plenty of nights, to realize how tough it is to come to a new team in the middle of the season, Gagne said: “I didn’t relize and I play baseball. It’s a little different. You have to come in and adjust and try to fit in.”
During his struggles, Red Sox manager Terry Francona didn't shy away from him, he kept giving Gagne the ball to help him work out of it. The skipper knew the right-hander will be an important factor for the club's bullpen in the postseason.
“For him to come in and struggle like he did, and we all admitted it was tough at first,” said Francona. “For him to handle it the way he did says a lot about him. I needed to not bail on this guy.”
Gagne agrees.
"I kept fighting,” he said. “I kept going out there and believing in myself. It helped a lot that these guys believed in me. . . It’s the playoffs and you have to do what you have to do to win every ballgame. That’s what I’m prepared for.”
Gagne was shut down for a few weeks last month due to shoulder soreness, but he feels he's turned the corner. He's ready to make an impact in the postseason.
“I’ve been throwing the ball well for the last three weeks, so I’m really not worried about it,” he said. “I know what I can do, and I know what I’ve done before. I’m just going to focus on what I’ve been doing for three weeks. . . It always comes down to the bullpen. It’s going to fun and exciting. I can’t wait to get on the field and start throwing.”
Posted by Joe McDonald 
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