Gordon Pushed Madson’s Improvement

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Tue, June 16, 2009 11:00 AM

MadsonPaul Hagen uncovered the secret behind the added velocity to Ryan Madson’s fastball: Tom Gordon. Sort of.

In a well-done story for the Daily News, Hagen revealed that the former setup man drove Madson in a “getaway car” to a sports clinic in Tempe, Ariz., where he very quickly worked on his mechanics, starting the process that led to him being the almost unbeatable pitcher he is today.

So, no, it wasn’t PEDs:

“I could never think that way. Early on I said, ‘If I’m going to make it, I’m going to make it the right way. And I don’t care what anybody else is doing.’ It’s one of those things where it’s kind of refreshing. Fans can say, ‘Hey, this guy’s doing it and he’s doing it the right way.’ Who knows how many guys did or didn’t? I don’t know. Because I never paid attention. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. I’m not going to risk my body.”

But the money quote is about Flash:

“I give Flash a lot of credit. He didn’t have to do that. He rented a car. He said, ‘We’re going at 9 o’clock in the morning. Get up and you’re coming with me.’ I’ve got chills right now, just thinking about how he took care of me.”

Incredible. Tom Gordon really set the Phillies up more than we thought.

Permalink Comments (10) | Trackback (0)

10 Responses to “Gordon Pushed Madson’s Improvement”

  1. Richie Says:

    I have a crazy idea to throw out there….what about Ryan Madson as the missing starter that we need. He was a starter, but needed this development to have his stuff come to fruition. If Lidge is back and is throwing well. You have Romero and Condrey to set him up. Use Madson in the Rotation. We have so many good bullpen guys. Romero, Eyre, Madson, Condrey, Lidge. Park is showing signs of life. Why not get rid of one, or use Madson.

  2. Richie Says:

    Don’t give me the whole you don’t wanna mess a good thing up B.S. or his arm has to adjust. It will over time adjust. Myers did it, Smoltz did it.

  3. NJ Says:

    No way, the Yanks would be the best team in baseball if they’d left Chamberlin setting-up. A bullpen can unravel quickly when it doesn’t have the right guys in the right role and a set-up guy that only gives up a handful of runs in a season is one of the most ignored areas of a team.

    Anyway Tom Gordon was a talisman of the Phils success, like Moyer he gave the other guys in the staff a reason to want to take their game to the next level by doing the little things. What a pro.

  4. Albert Says:

    Madson was a very ineffective starter. His role is way to important in the pen to have him starting.

  5. christopher Says:

    FLASH!!
    AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!
    saviour of the bullpenverse!!

  6. Mike D Says:

    Thanks, Flash.

    Madson shouldn’t start. He’s clearly excelling as a reliever. And he wants to relieve.

  7. Manny Says:

    Thanks Flash for the extra 4 mph

  8. Michael N. Says:

    is it 4mph or is it like 6mph still devastating when his changeup is at 82!

  9. Dave Says:

    Nice, christopher.
    Anyway, to me, that’s the mark of a good team. The older guys helping the younger players, even when the younger guys could be perceived as a “threat.”

  10. Lewisauce Says:

    Do not move him to the rotation. Ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

    I know Smoltz and Myers did it, but Smoltz always said it was way, way more difficult than it looked. And he’s one of the more level-headed (i.e. not crazy), disciplined guys in the game. We all know what happened when Myers got moved around. He lost his head, went to AAA. Came back great, but it still messed with him pretty bad.

    I’m not saying Madson is as crazy as Myers. But he has found the thing he was meant to do all along. Let him keep doing it.

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