CLEARWATER, Fla. - The title of Satchel Paige's autobiography is "Maybe I'll Pitch Forever.''
The legendary Negro Leagues star nearly did. He pitched in his first major league game at 42, and made one appearance for the Kansas City Athletics in 1965 at the age of 59.
Sure, Tom Gordon, the Phillies' 39-year-old closer, would like to continue pitching as long as his right arm allows. But with Gordon's career winding down, the club knows it must at least think about its closer of the future.
Obviously, with the start of the season upon them, the Phillies have more pressing pitching concerns to ponder. But with just one guaranteed season left on Gordon's 3-year, $18 million contract after this year, preparing for this situation sooner rather than later would be a wise move.
Assuming the Phillies are looking for a closer after the 2008 season, the front-runners within the organization appear to be righthanders Joe Bisenius and Ryan Madson.
Assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said if he had to make a decision today, the likely candidate would be Bisenius because of his mid-90s fastball and breaking ball. Arbuckle still considers Madson, who is entering his fourth full season with the Phillies, more of a setup guy because he doesn't possess the type of out pitches Bisenius does.
During spring training, Arbuckle said the 24-year-old Bisenius, the Phillies' 12th-round draft pick in 2004, has continued to show growth and maturity. He began his pro career as a starter at Class A Batavia in '04 but was converted to the bullpen at Lakewood in '05. Bisenius' command of his pitches has improved tremendously because Arbuckle said he has simplified his delivery.
"He's always had the stuff, but now he's starting to 'pitch' a little bit and command the strike zone,'' Arbuckle said. "That's going to be a work in progress, but he's making huge strides to do that.''
Bisenius' numbers were impressive last season. In 35 relief appearances with Clearwater, of the Class A Florida State League, he was 4-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 60 2/3 innings. He struck out 62 and walked just 22 and earned a promotion to Double A Reading. In 16 games there, he was 4-2 with a 3.09 ERA in 23 1/3 innings, striking out 33 and walking only eight.
