Just days shy of his 47th birthday, Bartolo Colon isn’t quite ready to step away from the game. The big righty spoke to ESPN’s Marly Rivera this week, telling her that he’s holding out hope for one final run in the Majors — ideally with the Mets. “Big Sexy” praised the organization from top to bottom, lauding everyone from the front office to the clubhouse staff while delivering some heartfelt memories of the Amazins’ fanbase:
Mets fans are the best. In the beginning, when they laughed at me every time my helmet fell off, at first I felt uncomfortable. But when I saw how much the fans enjoyed it, I asked for a bigger batting helmet so that it would fall more because it was so much fun for them!
That said, Colon made clear that he’s willing to pitch with any team, in any role, so long as it means one more run in the Majors. The well-traveled righty has already suited up for 11 clubs to this point in his big league career: the Indians, Expos, White Sox, Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, Athletics, Mets, Braves, Twins and Rangers.
Colon didn’t pitch in the big leagues last season and last appeared with the 2018 Rangers, tallying 28 games (24 starts). However, he hasn’t had an above-average campaign on the mound since his age-43 season with the Mets back in 2016 (191 2/3 innings, 3.49 ERA, All-Star appearance). Over his past two seasons in the big leagues, Colon has worked to an ERA just north of 6.00 while soaking up 289 1/3 frames for Atlanta, Minnesota and Texas. To his credit, Colon had plenty of sharp outings with both the Twins and Rangers — they were just mixed in with numerous clunkers that outweighed much of the good he did when at his best.
Seeing Colon back in the big leagues is a long shot at this point, but teams will need more depth than ever as rosters expand to accommodate a shortened ramp-up period to the 2020 season. And Colon was already set to play in the Mexican League prior to the pandemic shutting down pro sports around the globe, so perhaps he’d explore alternatives if a deal with a big league organization can’t come together.
I love it when you call me Big Sexy!
I screamed out loud when I heard this! Baseball could always use a little Big Sexy.
He had one of the most epic home runs in recent history.
He was the last guy to hit a home run unless I’m wrong.
He hit the only HR ever.
At just 21 years of age no less
Hi Steve,
“That said, Colon made clear that he’s willing to pitch with any team, in any role, so long as it means one more run in the “Majors.The” well-traveled righty has already suited up for 11 clubs to this point in his big league career: the Indians, Expos, White Sox, Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, Athletics, Mets, Braves, Twins and Rangers.”
Should “Majors.The” be separate not together?
Thanks Steve!
Holy crap… seriously… you nit-picked the lack of a space at the end of a sentence? Lol c’mon man you knew what he meant.
I bet you’re a lot of fun on long car rides, like Richard Nixon-type fun.
Badda Bing!
JT: it clearly seems to be a case of Steve typing too fast on bleach covered keys…..
Give him a chance!! Love Bartolo
He was terrible in ‘17 and 18 pass
We don’t care about his performance lol
Baseball needs more large attractivness, I’d love to see him back on the Mets.
we need a new Hall of Fame just for Bartolo
Best post today. Lol
If there was a meme Hall of Fame, he’d be a first ballot selection.
His worse season had to be the one with the Braves. He was terrible.
Yes, that’s who he was worst statistically with, but if you’re going by a season where he pitched for just one team, his worst season would be 2018, although it wasn’t as bad statistically as 2017 was.
I would retire big sexy, because your killing your career! You wasted bum
I wouldn’t mind seeing him out of the Angels bull pen this season.
Depending on how the roster is being shaped this season, Mets could potentially use him as a 6th (or ideally 7th or 8th) starter.
The roster would be shaped differently with him on it.
His dry cleaning bag is shaped differently.
How can you not love this guy’s love for the game?!? It ain’t about the money with him and hasn’t been for a very long time. He just wants to play our game and entertain. We’ve always needed more of these guys in the game. He’s a very humble person that puts others first. I’m honored to have been able to hang out with him a few times over the years. Every time, he made me feel like a kid I spite of being 11 years his senior.
Because some people aren’t too fond about the fact that he was suspended 50 games in 2012 because he tested positive for testosterone.
Still looking to get to 300 wins eh big sexy?
* 300 pounds.
no way! Jumbo Diaz’s LB record is untouchable!
LOL when the Reds had Jumbo and Broxton in the same bullpen, buffet tables and bullpen commodes never took such abuse
Please sign with an NL team as a DH.
So he can be close to his “secret” family?
give it a rest
More like, give it a TEST. Haha! Smooches 😉
Terry Forster thinks Colon let himself go
With expanded rosters if I had a young team that wasn’t going anywhere I’d sign him in a mop up pitcher veteran mentor type role
Kids could learn a great deal from him he was able to be successful throwing slop
I forgot he played 1 season for the Yankees
Pirates DH, make it happen
Big Sloppi sitting outside of spring training sites with a sign saying “will work for food!”
The man is worth the price of admission, hope he gets his swan song.
Who knows maybe this condense season and expanded roster situation could be just what Bartolo needs to make one last run at the majors. He could certainly soak up some innings either as a SP or swing-guy for a bad team. The only thing really working against him (other than that he was really quite ineffective in 2017 and 2018) is that the uncertainty around the minor league season might mean that teams could wind up relying on AA/AAA guys who otherwise would just be developing in the minors but without games to be played there might end up filling out roles like the one Colon could potentially fill on a ML team
Let him play let him play let him play! Say it with me! Let him play let him play!!!
I’ll take no season on 2020 to see colon back in the bigs
can we make an exemption and pet him use PEDs again
Everyteam could use the Big Sexy
I’d like him as insurance for the Mets.
I’d sooner they give him a chance rather than Matt Harvey!
Bartolo, at age 47, is probably still logs more quality starts than half the current rostered starters.
Darn auto correct. Hopefully you know what I meant.
If Bartolo could he’d pitch till he was 60. He’s the captain pierce of baseball Claypool was talking about in Jerry Was A Racecar Driver. Baseball writers are talking about voting him into the hall of fame based on his tenacity alone.
The Mets loved him, the city loved him more. Sign him to a league minimum contract, use him as a mid inning reliever to allow some minor leaguers to refine their skills. Give him a retirement year to travel the mlb stadiums and let the fans who love the guy give him his tribute. Worst case scenario he can’t put it together and hopefully both mutually agree to let him hang it up on the field in a Mets uniform. Hell, I’d go!
Mets dh home run hitter ….lol. Kidding I’d like to see him pitch again