I loved this characterization Mike Puma of the New York Post made about Bartolo Colon last night.
“The 42-year-old right-hander quickly has become the Mets’ most reliable reliever not named Jeurys Familia this postseason.”
One highlight that went overlooked during the loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday night, was that Colon needed just 26 pitches to deliver two shutout innings in relief of starter Steven Matz.
It was his third consecutive relief appearance in the NLDS, and he allowed just one hit, walked none and struck out two.
“When we were getting down to the end of the regular season, he went to bullpen coach Ricky Bones and said, ‘I hope Terry knows I don’t mind pitching out of the bullpen,’ ” Terry Collins told Puma.
“I’ve seen him, both games come in, big smile on his face. He likes to pitch. He loves to pitch. He doesn’t care, doesn’t bother him a lick.”
With Syndergaard and Harvey each available to pitch on Thursday night, we’ve probably seen the last of Bartolo in this series.
But then again, you never know with this guy.
LGM
October 13
One of the things I love most about baseball is the colorful personalities of some players that make them so interesting and unique, and of course the bonds we form with these players.
As a Mets fan there’s so many to choose from and some of my favorite connections were with Jerry Grote, Rusty Staub, Tug McGraw and Keith Hernandez for how they played the game. But there were also other players who I loved because they were fun to watch like the prankster Roger McDowell, licorice-wielding Turk Wendell, John Pacella – who couldn’t keep his hat on, the hot-dog Willie Montanez, and so many more.
Sometimes you have players who fall into both categories, a player who is fun and serious at the same time. Right-hander Bartolo Colon is just such a guy. Nobody can meld an all-business approach with the boyish fun and enthusiasm for the game as well as Bart can.
Is there any other player on the Mets who has accepted a complete role change without so much as a peep of resistance the way Bartolo Colon has? Here is a veteran of 467 starts who could have certainly raised a stink about being demoted to the bullpen, and yet he embraced his new role with such gladness as well as effectiveness.
Already appearing in two of the first three postseason games for the Mets, it’s become quite evident that Colon is one of the scant few relievers that Terry Collins actually trusts out of that bullpen.
“He’s going to move the ball around the strike zone, but he’s not going to change his demeanor,” Collins said. “And that’s why I put him in. I wanted strikes, and he came in and he did a good job.”
The 18-year veteran was brought in to face one batter and induce a double-play ball in Game 2, and he did just that before it all fell apart at the hands of the villainous Chase Utley.
However, when he relieved Matt Harvey on Monday night in Game 3, Bartolo expertly carved up the Dodgers and struck out the side as Citi Field exploded with approval.
https://youtu.be/DCShYOExzeg
“He’s the same guy out there, he has a huge smile on his face and loves being out there,” catcher Travis d’Arnaud said. “I think that role for him is perfect for us, and he’s been loving it.”
In the seventh, Colon was tagged for an opposite-field home run by Adrian Gonzalez, nothing to be ashamed of there. But ultimately he got the job done, pitched two solid innings, and was then told to be ready to pitch tonight if needed. “No problem, boss”.
Tough to tell what the future holds for Bartolo and the Mets in the offseason. But no matter what happens, Colon has etched himself into Mets lore as one of the most professional and colorful players ever to don the orange and blue.
