Smile, Please

Bartolo Colon has never been one of my favorite players.  Former White Sox GM Kenny Williams felt differently, or else why would he have brought Colon to the Sox twice?  It must be those fuzzy warm feelings the now 44-year old starter gives off from the mound.  That, and all those smiles, like Stalin.

Colon is a textbook case of the mercenary athlete—have talent, will travel for the right price.  Over the course of a career that began when Clare wasn’t yet 2-years old, Colon has pitched for the Indians; Expos; White Sox (twice); Angels; Red Sox; Yankees; Athletics; Mets; and, most recently, Braves, who have designated him for assignment.  Along the way, Colon has picked up 235 wins to go with his frequent-flyer miles.

This is a case where the each of us needs to walk in the other’s shoes.  Colon needs to realize that fans want a connection with their players; showing up every fifth day doesn’t count.  I need to appreciate that Colon comes from the Dominican Republic, where baseball is the difference between a decent life and lifelong poverty, for a player and his extended family; in that environment, smiles can seem like a waste of time and energy.  

Mark Buehrle had his number retired by the White Sox last week, and fans filled Guaranteed Rate Whatever to show their appreciation for a player who offered them a connection.  It’s something Bartolo Colon will never know, even as he smiles all the way to the bank.