Colon returns to roots for 219th win
CCOREY SIPKIN/NEWS LEVELAND — Bartolo Colon was nervous Friday. The Mets’ 42-yearold was seeking the 219th win of his career, which would tie him with Pedro Martinez for the second most wins by a Dominican-born pitcher.
But it was not the company that had him jittery. Rather, it was the surroundings, pitching in Cleveland where he began his career.
“I was nervous because it happened that it would be here,” Colon said. “Pedro is like a brother to me, so it was important. But for it to happen here was special.”
Colon ended up earning the victory with 5.1 solid innings in the Mets’ 6-5 win, leaving him behind only Juan Marichal (243 victories) at the top of the Dominican win list.
The Indians signed Colon as an undrafted free agent in 1993 and he made his major league debut with the Tribe April 4, 1997 — coincidentally against the Angels with Terry Collins managing. He spent six years playing for the Indians, collecting 75 of his 219 wins.
“I want to thank the Indians organization for giving me the opportunity,” Colon said through a team interpreter Friday night.
Over 18 years in the majors, Colon has made the most of that opportunity, going from a power pitcher to a savvy veteran.
“I’ve got a lot of recollections of it and it wasn’t very fun,” Collins said of facing the then-young Colon. “He was 98-97 (miles per hour) with a dynamic breaking ball, just pure power. He threw strikes, so he was one of those guys when you faced him, you better get your ‘A’ game bats out. He was tough to face, they had a really, really good young pitching staff back then and he is still a good pitcher.
That makes Collins appreciate Colon even more. Now relying on a fastball that is around 90 mph, Colon has to be crafty.
“When you reincarnate yourself as a completely different kind of guy and are satisfied with it and settle into what you have to do to get guys out, it just shows how smart he is, how sharp he is,” Collins said. “He knew after some of the injuries to his arm he had to change it and did. It’s really one of the great stories, this guy at his age is still one of the most effective pitchers in this league,” Collins said.
RING ’EM UP
Juan Uribe has two World Series rings and the Indians’ third baseman is looking forward to adding his 2015 Mets’ NL championship ring to that collection soon.
“To me, it’s more important than money,” Uribe said. “When you win a ring, you always have it. But the money — you never know.”
Arriving from Atlanta in a late July trade last year, the Mets credit Uribe with adding a major jolt to their playoff run.
Before Friday’s game, Uribe spent 15 minutes hugging former Mets teammates and chatting with coaches.