A few thoughts as we ride the closer carousel …
* Philadelphia’s Tom Gordon has a sore elbow. Sore forearm, too. But he says it’s nothing to worry about.
Sorry, Flash, but I’m worried. Significantly so.
When you consider Gordon is 39 years old, has always had trouble staying healthy and battled a sore shoulder last year, there’s reason for concern. Every ache and pain needs to be taken seriously. I don’t think “normal spring training soreness” applies to him.
Be careful when Gordon’s name comes up at the draft table. If you do draft Gordon, consider nabbing Geoff Geary as insurance in the end game or reserve draft.
* Brian Wilson has received a lot of attention recently, as the Giants said he’ll be the man if Armando Benitez gets traded, is ineffective, suffers an injury or spontaneously combusts. But be aware that Wilson isn’t a sure thing to succeed as a closer -- at least not yet.
Wilson has a live arm, no doubt about that. He struck out 53 batters in 58 innings between Triple-A and the bigs last year, so he’s got the stuff. Problem is, can he control that stuff? He issued 35 walks in those 58 innings. He needs to improve his control if he’s going to be a big-time closer.
I’m not saying to avoid Wilson or anything like that. Just don’t overvalue him.
* Six innings don’t mean much, particularly when they’re six spring-training innings. Nevertheless, it’s encouraging to see what Kansas City’s Octavio Dotel is doing: 10/1 K/BB, just two hits allowed.
I’ve been in a couple of drafts so far where Dotel sunk to the late rounds. I guess that’s not surprising, considering his recent injury history and the fact that he plays for the lousy Royals. Dotel certainly looks good now, though, and he could be something of a sleeper.
