Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 4:22 AM | 19 comments |
 

Flash In The Pen, And Healthy
options
 

Tom Gordon had hoped after the way he finished 2007 that he would have a chance to compete for the Phillies' closer's job in 2008.

But then the Phillies traded for Brad Lidge in November.

That ended that.

"Nobody likes to lose a job," Gordon said. "I felt healthy enough like I was ready to compete (for the closer's job). Knowing that Lidge is here, he's the closer. I'm the eighth-inning guy. I can handle that. I've done that before. I've handled that role. I've had success in that role. Right now for me it's about winning a World Series."

The Phillies find themselves in an interesting spot. Lidge, who was their big offseason acquisition, just had arthroscopic knee surgery. He will miss three to six weeks, which means he might start the season on the DL. That means Gordon is the closer until Lidge returns. But Gordon has been pitching with a slight tear in the labrum in his right shoulder since 2005. In each of his first two seasons with the Phillies he has spent time on the DL because of shoulder problems.

How long can Flash hold up? So far everybody who has seen Gordon pitch in camp has been impressed. Gordon said he hasn't felt this fine since 2005.

But can he really stay healthy the entire season?

He's in the final year of a three-year, $18 million contract. Here's something to consider: if he can stay healthy, the Phillies just might pick up Gordon's $4.5 million club option for 2009.

*

The Phillies consider Lidge's surgery a success.

Time will tell.

*

Most fans are thrilled that Ryan Howard beat the Phillies last week in salary arbitration. Howard will make $10 million this season instead of the $7 million the Phillies offered. But what does that mean short term for the Phillies? Have they lost the flexibility they expected come the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline?

Because you know in some way, shape or form, they have $3 million less to spend somewhere.

“We have contingency plans,” Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “Those are decisions that will be made at that time. But since I’ve been here, we’ve never been denied making the right decision for the club. So, again, those decisions are time and circumstance. A lot of it depends on where we are and how it affects us in the future and those kinds of things."

But you still have to wonder, will they be able to take on players like Kyle Lohse and Tadahito Iguchi this year like they did last year?

*

Still looking for Mike Schmidt questions for a few more hours.

 
Posted by Todd Zolecki @ 4:22 AM  Permalink | 19 comments
19
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:54 AM, 02/26/2008
    I'm so glad Gordon said this is the best he's felt since 2005 instead of saying he's in the best shape of his life. If the latter statement comes from athletes past their prime it means they are washed up. Just my theory.
    — Bizzle
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:40 AM, 02/26/2008
    Glad to hear Flash is ready and able. That would be a first in the past 3 seasons.
    — jrquixote
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:47 AM, 02/26/2008
    If I can't change my password, I'm outta heeeeeeere! Who do I talk to?
    — jrquixote
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:46 AM, 02/26/2008
    With all due respect to Ruben Amaro, does he actually ever say anything when he speaks. His mentor, Ed Wade, used to infuriate fans with that dribble. Ideally Ruben would have learned from that. He is difficult to listen to and I think that it detracts from his credibility.
    — Nick from the Northeast
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:57 AM, 02/26/2008
    Hey, someone please help jr change his password, phewwww! When Lidge gets back having Flash for whatever length of time he's healthy will be a plus for the team "be happy folks". He's apparently in good shape as we speak but pitching with a partially torn labrum he's (Gordon) a bad pitching motion away from retirement. Don't baby him but don't overuse him either, take what good innings he can give us and wear a smile when he's pitching healthy! Good luck this season "Flash".
    — DJ
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:08 AM, 02/26/2008
    I think Flash is an excellent April solution. His shoulder should hold up that long. If Lidge isn't ready heading into May, it could turn into a LONG season.
    — Josh M
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:26 AM, 02/26/2008
    So, lets summarize...had to change ZoZone name cause it doesn't have Phillies for search engines to key on...but other paper (owned by same people) on Philly .com comes on line with a new baseball blog and has a name that nobody would ever find on Phillies search. Maybe under food. St. Joe's has some excellent marketing classes, day and evening division. Perhaps the Marketing 101 class would be of interest. And we bitch about the Phils' front office? LOL.
    — jimmymack
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:30 AM, 02/26/2008
    Lidge will be fine. Everyone acted like he got hurt on the first pitch he threw all spring, thats not the case. He's been throwing for a week or so, it was just the first pitch he threw that paticular day. Although, I can see it now, Lidge misses the first week or so, we lose a few close games, and everyone is killing the Phils for trading for him.
    — Clinton, NJ
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:32 AM, 02/26/2008
    Fortunately it's very, very early in the season. I just hope this isn't a start of the injury reports like we had last year.
    — Karen
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:46 AM, 02/26/2008
    I 'll be waiting to see if my initial post from this morning makes it thru the clearinghouse. Otherwise, it appears my first amendment rights are clearly being violated. My post earlier this morning was far from inflamatory, nor was it uncivil. A national newspaper should be particulary aware of what it means to infringe upon a person's right of free speech.
    — Truth
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:54 AM, 02/26/2008
    Anyone who ever posted on the Zo Zone knows this is a far cry from that. It barely even qualifies as a blog. Like the hidden links in Todd's post. I guess you have to roll your cursor around to find them. Come on, guys, get it together.
    — bobby
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:18 PM, 02/26/2008
    Truth, jr, clinton, et al. There are technical bugs with this blog that are getting worked out. I don't think anyone's first amendment rights are being violated, particularly since that is only the right to speak out against the government and not the Phillies or the Inquirer. Give it a couple of days.
    — Nick from the Northeast
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:45 PM, 02/26/2008
    Hey everyone... That lack-of-underlining thing is a bug that our tech people are working on as I write this. I promise it will get fixed soon. -- Jonathan Tannenwald, Philly.com (a.k.a. the guy who hosts the PhilliesCast)
    — Jonathan Tannenwald
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:11 PM, 02/26/2008
    Lots of good news about Lidge - of course, there was lots of good news flying around last year at this time about Garcia and Flash. Sure hope we're not looking at BS 2008.
    — Bud
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:19 PM, 02/26/2008
    We the fans give it our best, why cant this blog do the same! lol So who came up with the new name Todd??
    — Clinton, NJ


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About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.

Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
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