It’s been 11 days since Tom Gordon has graced the mound for the Phillies.  After coming off disastrous back-to-back outings (0-2, 1IP, 3 H, 2BB, 5R), the official word from the Phillies is they were giving him a week off to rest.  That was on the level, at least from the Phillies point of view.  In reality, Gordon is suffering from a sore shoulder; although he failed to let the Phillies know. 

“Things happen, and sometimes I try to overlook them,” Gordon said. “That’s been my problem. I felt myself starting to get a little tired and a little weak and I intensified my workouts, and I think that kind of set me back. I just totally lost a really good feel for where I was trying to get to. I’ve been a damn knucklehead in that situation. I’m still learning…I was feeling good, but I’ve noticed it, even playing catch. I could barely get the ball sometimes to Romero in the outfield. I shouldn’t feel like that. I knew that I was sore, but I didn’t want to put the team in a bad situation. I wanted to continue to go out there, and that set me back.”

I understand Gordon wants to do all he can to help the Phillies, but if you’re hurt, the best way to help the Phillies is to heal. 

Understandably this stunt by Gordon has Phillies management a little burned. 

“He also needs to step up once in a while and be a little more honest,” pitching coach Rich Dubee said. “He’s such a competitor. He hides it well. You can see it sometimes on the mound when he’s not feeling right, but when you talk to him, he hides it.”

Gordon has been diagnosed with a “balky shoulder”, though management says he is available if needed.  That most likely means he’s behind Clay Condrey on the depth chart.

As bad as Gordon has been as of late, this is terrible news for the Phillies.  In 28 of Gordon’s 30 appearances he’s 5-2 with a 2.08 ERA.  Expect Gordon only to pitch if necessary and by sometime next week, he’ll be back to his normal spot in the bullpen, or placed on the disabled list.

Should Gordon go to the DL, the Phillies would most likely recall Stephen Randolph, Robert Swindle, or Fabio Castro.

If Gordon is out for an extended period, expect the trade rumors to heat up.  It opens the door for the Phillies to make a deal for a bullpen arm, or possibly bring in a starter and move Brett Myers to bullpen, to set up Brad Lidge.