Colon happy with outing

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Bartolo Colon, pitching for Boston's Lancaster A-ball affiliate, threw three scoreless innings and allowed four hits with two strikeouts at City of Palms Park this morning.

Colon, according to pitching coach Goose Gregson, showed good arm strength and "stayed in his delivery very well," and Gregson said the ball came out of Colon's hand very nicely. Colon had been pounded by the Yankees last Monday at Legends Field in Tampa, unable to get out of the first inning, but in this performance, while against the Fort Myers Miracle, the Twins' A-ball affiliate, Colon showed better control.

"The big thing is that his arm felt good," said Frankie Rodriguez, who acted as Colon's interpreter yesterday. Rodriguez is Julian Tavarez' "adopted uncle" and lives in Fort Myers. Colon asked him to come to the game and answer questions on his behalf.

While there was no radar gun used, Gregson thought Colon had a "plus" fastball and also incorporated some change-ups which were also effective.

While Gregson did not know future plans for Colon, who was re-assigned to the minor league complex before the team left for Japan, Rodriguez said that Colon had planned to pitch in Los Angeles in one of the exhibition games against the Dodgers after the Japan trip is over.

"I think he's very excited because his arm feels so good," Rodriguez said. "He hit 94-95 over in Tampa and today he had very good velocity. He had better control. It looks like he's very happy with things and can't wait to pitch in Los Angeles."