Colon throws well
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Bartolo Colon continues to be a pretty good story in his attempt to become Boston's fifth starter. The former Cy Young winner popped a couple of good fastballs, had good movement on his pitches in two innings of work here at City of Palms Park vs the Rays.
Colon, asked if he felt he could ever reach the level that made him one of the best pitchers in the game said, "I'm definitely trying to reach that level. I'm older and my body is in a different stage, but it doesn't mean I can't keep trying."
Colon threw 26 pitches. He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, caused in part by Alex Cora's error at shortstop in trying to one hop a broken-bat pop up hit to him. Colon said he knew he could et out of the jam as long as he got the first out. he struck out B.J. Upton and then got Jonny Gomes to pop out to catcher Dusty Brown and retired second baseman John Rodriguez on a ground ball to first base.
Colon allowed a solo homer to left fielder and No. 9 hitter Jon Weber with two outs in the second inning.
Colon said he was pleased with his arm strength. "I'm thrilled. My arm is responding. I didn't know how hard I was throwing, but it felt great."
how hard was colon throwing? 80's mid 90's??
I think he will be a big fat flop, thank god he came cheap I mean if he is serious about pitching, then he should drop 100 lb.
rotoworld says he topped out at 94 mph, but his fastball was generally around 89-90. sounds pretty good to me.
Give Colon and Theo credit. Colon is already throwing harder and is only slightly fatter than the 2007 version of Curt "38 sandwiches" Schilling, but at one-eighth the cost!!
It's a no lose situation. If Colon can keep from eating himself out of baseball, then they have a cheap veteran starter. If not, they can have him join Mirabelli as a bench coach. Although Dougie was already promised the job of shaving Tito and Millsies domes.
Well, I think its too early to tell what Colon will do for the Sox. I have my suspicions and a good gut feeling that all will be known what he will do and what can be done after the All-Star break. Lets face it fellas, (RSN) we've been known to take chances on guys far worse than Colon, ie. , Gagne. That guy gave me the heebie jeebies every time he took the mound during the playoffs and the World Series.
So lets wait, be patient and lets see what he will do. I've seen him pitch before when he was with the Angels and let me tell you, he was a sight to behold. And another thing, its not all about speed insofar as location. Some of the best pitchers have been able to adjust to not throwing so hard as they've done before in their youth. The only exception was Nolan Ryan, he got faster as he got older. A freak of nature, for lack of another way of putting it and a "once in a lifetime" pitcher of his caliber will not ever be seen I think in my life again.
Colon has always been big. For some guys it works. How sweet would it be to have a recent Cy Young winner as your #5 pitcher, and to give up nothing, not even much money, to get him? This was such a no-brainer gamble. If it works out, huge. If it doesn't, thanks for your time, and I'm sure the spring showcase will get you a job somewhere. Everybody wins.
Pat he was that big when he won the Cy Young award three years ago. Think he was probably "serious about pitching" then? I don't think he's going to get back to that level of success, but I think he'll contribute, especially while Curt's out.
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