BREWERS: Gagne says he's ready to close again

By Vic Feuerherd, Capital Newspapers

MILWAUKEE — After a 24-hour break from closing duties, Milwaukee Brewers reliever Eric Gagne says he's ready to jump back into the critical ninth-inning role.

Manager Ned Yost isn't quite as ready.

It was Saturday, after giving up two ninth-inning runs in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, that Gagne said: "I don't deserve that ninth inning now."

Yost took Gagne's advice and announced Sunday he would go with a bullpen-by-committee while Gagne took a mental break from closing duties. Gagne felt differently Monday.

"I know I belong in the ninth inning," he said.

Yost didn't change his thinking in his regular pregame talk with reporters that occurred before Gagne talked.

"I'm more than comfortable closing with ... all of them," Yost said of the bullpen. "But it's not ideal. I don't want to do this a long time."

Gagne was seen visiting with Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen during batting practice, a meeting Gagne termed "ironic" because Isringhausen was given a "mental break" from closing by Cardinals manager Tony La Russa a day before Gagne got his break.

"We were kind of laughing about the situation," Gagne said. "I know exactly how he's feeling."

He said his comments Saturday were a reflection of his "frustration" at a number of poor outings. Gagne has nine saves but also has failed in five other attempts.

His record is 1-2 with an ERA of 6.89.

"When I'm out there, we're winning ballgames," he said. "When I'm messing up, we're losing ballgames."

Gagne said he and Yost do not have a plan as to when he might return to the closer's role.

"Whenever he's ready," Gagne said of Yost, "I'm ready."

In Sunday's victory over the Cardinals, Yost used Salomon Torres and Brian Shouse in the ninth inning, with Shouse getting the save.

Gagne will get work.

"The game will dictate it," Yost said. "I have to use him to keep the rest of the bullpen balanced."

A meeting of the minds

General manager Doug Melvin allocated 45 minutes for a meeting Monday with Yost and the Brewers coaching staff to discuss the first six weeks of the season.

The session went 90 minutes and focused on the often-shaky rotation behind Ben Sheets, the Gagne situation and the offensive fog that has clouded the Brewers.

"Sometimes you overreact," Melvin said. "I'd rather be patient than just make a change for the sake of change."

Around the horn

La Russa rested first baseman Albert Pujols, the second time this season Pujols has not started a game. ... Right-hander Jeff Weaver, the veteran pitcher signed by the Brewers at the start of the season to a minor-league contract, allowed five runs, four hits and walked four in 4.2 innings in his third start for Class AAA Nashville Sunday. Weaver did not get a decision. ... Ryan Braun became the quickest player to surpass the 40 home run mark Sunday when he hit two to give him 41 for his career. Braun passed 40 after 352 days in the majors. Mark McGwire did it in 354 days while with Oakland, and Chuck Klein did it in 360 days with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1928-29.