Bartolo Colon Over The Years
Tonight Bartolo Colon will make a start against the team he started his major league career with, the Cleveland Indians.
Bartolo and the Mets look to spring forward on their nine game road trip in which they make stops in Cleveland, Philly and Atlanta. However, despite Mets fans maybe wanting to forget their 3-5 start to the season, maybe wanting to bring back Daniel Murphy, and maybe wanting to be TC’s personal bullpen advisor—a look back might be refreshing. With Bartolo’s career seemingly coming full circle in Cleveland tonight, I present you with
Big Sexy Over The Years
This is Bartolo’s rookie card from 1997 when he was with the Indians. Bartolo weighed in at a lean 185 back then.
Bartolo’s stay in Montreal is now one that will be recorded in the history books. Bartolo only played about half a season with the Expos, but this is noteworthy for two reasons: One, Bartolo is now the only active player to have played with the Montreal Expos. And two, Bartolo was involved in one of the worst trades in recent memory, when he and Lee Stevens were dealt for Lee Stevens, Brandon Phillips, Grady Sizemore, and Cliff Lee. Courtesy of Omar Minaya.
With the White Sox in 2003 is when the Bartolo we now know and love began to take shape.
2004-2007- Los Angeles. So majestic
2008. Boston.
2009. White Sox. His second stint with Chicago. By this time, he’s gone full “Big Sexy”
2011. New York Yankees. HGH, surgeries and pinstripes. A dark time in the life of Bartolo
2012. Oakland
2013-Present. New York Mets.
Finally, Bartolo is home. I’m not sure there’s been a fan base to take to Bartolo as warmly as the Mets. Aside from being a polarizing figure because of his carefree attitude and self deprecation, Bartolo has been an asset pitching for us. No matter how interesting a figure you are, if you can’t produce, New Yorkers will turn on you. Bartolo has posted a respectable 4.07 in his 66 games with the Mets, utilizing a repertoire of fastballs to deceive hitters. Bartolo’s legacy in New York will be remembered for providing a veteran presence out of the bullpen in last year’s post-season, and his batters box antics.
