Bedtime Fan Fuss - Flash of Greatness?

It's official. Billy Wagner has just signed on with the New York Mets for $43 million, leaving the Phillies searching for a closer. Where to look? How about in the same city as Wagner, but with the real NYC team, the Yankees.

Reliever Tom "Flash" Gordon, who amassed 46 saves in 1998 for Boston, is now on GM Pat Gillick's radar. With a 2005 salary of under $4 million, Gordon would be a steal if he can return to his past form. The catch is that Gordon is already 38. How long of a contract can you give a player that old, especially when he's never come close to duplicating his career year?

If the Phils are looking for longevity, they need to search elsewhere. The time has come for the team to get creative, and bringing in a guy who's nearly 40 with one great year is not the answer. The Blue Jays and Mets have both secured solid closers, because they looked around for the best player available.

Not to take anything away from Flash, but I think that nickname might better describe his "flash" of greatness '98 campaign more than it describes his current abilities. If the Phillies want to go after someone older, why not try for Trevor Hoffman of the Padres. The guy has had 10 consecutive seasons (min. 10 games) of more than 30 saves, including 53 in 1998. Or maybe Troy Percival of the Tigers, who before a sub-par season this year had racked up nine straight seasons of at least 27 saves.

Gordon might come in and close out 40 for the Phillies, but that's highly unlikely. As a believer of history, we should let it guide us. With the way fans in this town expect results for their money, Gordon could be gone in a Flash too.