Tom Gordon’s season, and quite possibly career, is officially over.  On Monday Gordon visited Dr. Michael Cicotti and the news wasn’t good.  Gordon has an injury to his right ulnar collateral ligament and the flexor pronator muscle, which rests on the inside of his elbow, as well as irritation to his ulnar nerve (his funny bone). A small piece of bone has also detached from his medial epicondyle.

In laymen’s terms, Gordon’s ulnar nerve (commonly known as the funny bone), is compressed, and the bone that connects his ulnar collateral ligament(ligaments in the elbow that connect to the forearm), to his flexor pronator muscle (top of the forearm), has detached from the medial epicondyle (elbow).

To break it down in an even simpler form, without medical jargon, when this type of injury happens to a baseball player, namely a pitcher, they normally require Tommy John Surgery.

There are two ways to correct this.  The most obvious being surgery, in which Gordon would miss the remainder of the season and the entire 2009 season, or he can attempt rehabilitation to try and get everything back into place.  Gordon has opted for rehab.  He will wear an immobilizing brace for the next three weeks, when he will make another trip to see Dr. Cicotti.

Although the chances are remote that rehab will work and Gordon is only delaying surgery, I can’t say I blame him.  Should Gordon have surgery now, he will effectively end his career.  Having surgery, then missing the entire 2009 season to allow it to heal, Gordon will not be able to pitch until 2010, when he will be 42.  The odds that a major league team will be looking for an aging former closer are remote.

Even if the rehab would work, Gordon’s career with the Phillies is over.  The Phillies hold a team option on him that will pay him $4.5 million, but it will only cost the Phillies $1 million should they choose to buy him out.