Will the New York Mets bring back Bartolo Colon?
Are the New York Mets bringing back pitcher Bartolo Colon?
In the New York Mets universe this cold stove season, first it was Tim Tebow, and now it’s Bartolo Colon. As is widely known now, Tebow has been invited to the Mets spring training. This has drawn some comment. It is what it is. The most optimistic view is that Tebow might one day be a major league 5th outfielder.
However, now word is making the rounds that the Metropolitans could also bring back Bartolo Colon, a New York and nation-wide favorite, in large part because his bat once got in the way of a home run pitch for New York. All right, that’s not fair. Colon has always been an innings eater and has hung around long enough that he is closing in on Dennis Martinez’ record in wins for Latin American pitchers (245).
Yes, this rumor seems to be dependent on only one person’s word at this point. Colon’s Twins teammate Ervin Santana had a little talk about his and Colon’s futures with Mike Berardino in St. Paul, who dutifully reported the Mets’ “interest” in Big Sexy. But Santana also said Colon “just wants to win six more games and then he will retire.” This would put him one win ahead of Martinez.
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That Colon apparently has such lofty goals would, therefore, make him a perfect fit for the circus that seems to be pitching a tent in Queens. If he got to 246 wins, surely he’d hang around for the rest of the year with his seemingly effortless motion and co-operative nature.
Memo to Mets general manager Sandy Alderson: Why stop there?
Keith Hernandez looks pretty healthy, and he’s a mere 20 years older than Colon, who’s 44. If he could manage a few more homers to add to his career total of 162, hell, he could catch Enos Slaughter. Or Tim Raines. If he applied himself in the gym this winter, he might catch…Mickey Vernon. This would make him co-holder of the record for Tall, Thin First Basemen with Fewer than 173 Home Runs.
Records are worthy goals to consider when building a team, particularly a team needing to put butts in their stadium seats.
Next: David Wright opens up about his MLB future
Keep going? How about Nolan Ryan? Ryan, one of the greats in baseball history, but a losing pitcher for the Mets, is only 70 now. Wouldn’t it be nice to see him nudge his 29-38 Mets record to maybe 40-39? He would be 11-1 in 2018!
I’d buy a ticket to see him try. You should too.