Phillies making sure Gordon stays healthy

[all4phillysportsfan]

Philadelphia Inquirer | 03/07/2007 | Phillies taking steps to ensure Gordon stays healthy
Phillies taking steps to ensure Gordon stays healthyThey plan to use the closer more sparingly this year. Yesterday, he had an easy time with just nine pitches.
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
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BRADENTON, Fla. - Tom Gordon made the hour-plus bus trip to McKechnie Field with his Phillies teammates yesterday, and upon his arrival had to kill several hours before he pitched.

He stepped on the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates and threw just nine pitches in an easy inning: strikeout, infield hit, double play. He stepped off the mound, returned to the visitor's clubhouse up the left-field line, and waited about another hour for the game to mercifully end and the bus to make the return trip home.

"All for nine pitches," Gordon said with a laugh during the Phillies' 11-10 victory in 10 innings over the Pittsburgh Pirates. "You know what? I'd rather do that. I'd rather come here and throw nine pitches and have fun doing it. I threw the ball well. I think it's something I can build on."

In a Phillies camp without much drama, there is plenty of talk about six starting pitchers and protecting Ryan Howard in the lineup. But Gordon, the Phillies' all-star closer who missed some time last season with a strained right shoulder, is an equally important story this spring.

The Phillies desperately need Gordon, 39, to stay healthy.

They're making plans to help that happen.

The Phillies plan to use Gordon for only one inning, particularly early in the season. That means fewer or no four-out or five-out save opportunities. They also don't plan to pitch him more than two consecutive days. He pitched three straight days once last April, and four straight days in early May.

"He can go three probably when things fall right for us," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We want to have him all year rather than half a year or two-thirds of a year. Somewhere along the line, he's going to have to be given some rest."

The Phillies are working on a backup plan just in case. If the Phillies trade righthander Jon Lieber, it's expected that it will eventually net them a relief pitcher who could step into Gordon's role if he is unavailable or hurt. The Phillies also have kicked around moving Brett Myers into the bullpen to close if they can't find a fair return for Lieber, but that remains unlikely at this point.

"To be totally honest, I don't have any thoughts about that," Gordon said. "That's what it is. I'll let the team decide those issues. I can only do what I do, and that's try to take care of me."

Gordon went 3-4 with a 3.34 ERA and 34 saves last season. During the first half of the season, he was one of the best closers in baseball. He was 3-3 with a 2.17 ERA and 21 saves at the all-star break.

He was 0-1 with a 5.32 ERA and 13 saves after the break.

Gordon said he worked hard this off-season to strengthen his shoulder to avoid a similar problem. He said he feels great.

But the Phillies have brought along Gordon slowly anyway. He pitched in a couple of simulated games before he saw his first Grapefruit League action yesterday.

Of course, the best prevention for Gordon's potential overuse is a stronger starting rotation and a lineup they expect to pile up runs. If those forces work like the Phillies hope, maybe they won't need him as much early.

"That's what we're all hoping for," Gordon said. "We believe we have a very good rotation. For us to start the season well, our starters are going to have to set the tone for us. And they know that... . For us, anytime you have to go to the bullpen as much as we had to last year, especially early, it kind of affects things. It offsets things."

The Phillies can't afford for Gordon not to be set.

"This year I expect good things," he said. "I expect to stay healthy. I'm going to prepare myself for 162 ball games. Hopefully, I don't need to pitch 162 ball games, but if that's what the team needs, I'll try to do what I can."

Great idea by the Phillies. Don't use his arm up early that way he doesn't get fatigued like last year.

[fire_bettman]

no sense burning him up in spring training but i still think he will be on the dl at some point this year

[all4phillysportsfan]

Yeah I agree. I am hoping they groom Joe Bienscius to be their future closer. I think he could replace Gordon either later this year or 2008.