Big Sexy appreciation thread

[IndianaTwin]

I know some on these threads have never wanted Colon to throw a pitch for the Twins. I get that he took 15 starts that could have gone to young guys, but I don’t think we can overlook the significant contribution of Big Sexy, particularly if we look at it contextually.

 

After his first Twins game, which amounted to his tuneup, Bart went on a nine-game run in which he threw 57.2 innings with an ERA of 3.59. He was 4-2 on a team that 5-4 in those 9 games, all of which were Quality Starts or very close to it. To have a stretch with that level of effectiveness from your No. 5 starter is significant.

 

And while it didn’t have the drama of the later walkoff games, one could argue that his Aug. 4 win was among the biggest games of the year. The team had lost 9 of 11 and fallen behind the Royals into third place. They were four games under .500 for just the second time all year and were early in a stretch that had one off day scheduled in 28 days, with only Santana, Berrios, and Mejia as viable starting options, since Gibson was in the minors. They’d just traded Garcia and Kintzler a few days before and appeared on the verge of packing it in.

 

But Bart pitched a 9-inning complete game. He gave up two runs on three hits in the first, but then scattered six hits and a walk to give up just two the rest of the way (one in the 9th, with the team up 8-3). The bullpen got a reset, the next day Gibson pitched a solid game in a loss in his first game back up from Rochester, and then the team ripped off six straight wins, including a game in which Bart pitched seven shutout innings in a 4-0 win over the Brewers.

 

Bart did pitch several clunkers during September, including on Big Sexy Night, but in my mind the September games may well have been meaningless if it wasn’t for his success in August, particularly on the first Friday of the month. To me, August 4 was the game in which the team told the rest of the league (and maybe the front office), “Screw you. We’re still in this thing, and we can be a factor.”

 

And then they went out and did it. Thanks, Bart. 

 

 

[USAFChief]

Yes, he gave the team some production, no doubt about it.

[glunn]

Nice post. I was skeptical at first, but now I am grateful that they brought him over. And I can't help but wonder how much he contributed in mentoring the younger players and improving the mood in the clubhouse.

 

Moderator note -- this is a tribute thread. Please post any negative comments elsewhere.

[Craig Arko]

I hope he left a lasting impression on J.O.

[Thrylos]

He stabilized the bottom of the rotation, no doubt, and with the Braves paying all of his salary, he has to be one of the most successful garbage pile dive players the Twins ever had

[notoriousgod71]

He certainly gave the fans something to rally behind.

 

The excitement in Target Field for his starts was beyond anything this organization has seen since Johan's prime.

 

 

[DocBauer]

He brought fun and excitement to his starts and to the clubhouse. I don't think his presence in the clubhouse should be overlooked. Even other Twins talked about it. Yes Gibson turned it on and around big time, but without the solid contributions of Colon, with Mejia out, would we be at 85 wins and the second WC?

 

Thank you Big Sexy for all you did. I will miss you as I just don't think there is room for you next season.

[Doctor Wu]

I'm only sad that we didn't get to see him take some swings in the batter's box these past two months. The home run he hit for the Mets last year (or was it the year before) was a thing of joy!

[Vanimal46]

Bartolo Colon is a national treasure. He'll be sorely missed when he officially retires from baseball. 

[Rosterman]

He was a no-brainer [pick-up for the pro-rated salary the Twins had to pay.

 

Yes, we can argue that 15 starts could've gone to others. But name some names? At this point the Twins were still juggling the likes of Turley, Melville, et al. Yes, I would've liked to see a tandem teamup more, giving Slegers some more innings (or Gee in long-relief). But....

 

This is about the man. He energized the team in some ways with his veteran presence, especially in the area of pitching. It is always hit or miss on clubhouse presence, but Bartolo had it, from hearing management talk at the State Fair. 

 

He also gave his own 99% of the time, knowing that his pitch portfolio was down to 1 1/2 pitches and speed below the going rate across the wilds of the Dakotas. 

 

Someone couldv'e managed his bad stretch here in the end a tad better but we have to say he gave his all in the last game of the season, proving he CAN be an arm to go to if the playoffs are extended for the Twins.

 

Big Sexy! Wonder where he will land (and for how much) in 2018. I'm sure he will show up in someone's spring training camp.

[DaveW]