Game Preview: Royals at Sox GM3

Tomko (2-4, 5.32) vs. Colon (NR)
Game 3 of 4 705 @ Fenway Park

If two kids can pitch brilliantly in back-to-back games against the sliding Royals, why can't a former Cy Young winner keep the streak going?

That's the question the entire Nation wants the answer to as Bartolo Colon, the 2005 Cy winner while pitching for the LA/Anaheim/California Angels, makes his Red Sox debut tonight against KC.

The travails of the hefty Colon have been well documented since he slipped from one of the game's elite pitchers to an embarrassment to his profession in such a short period of time. But just in case you haven't heard the tale, let me recount it here.

Coming up with Cleveland in 1997 Colon became one of the games top hurlers, compiling a 75-45 record, including an 18-5 campaign in 1999, in 5 1/2 seasons with the Tribe before he was shipped to the Expos (remember them?) at the trading deadline in 2002.

Ironically two of the players he was traded for - Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee - have become fixtures of the Indians organization.

After bouncing from Montreal to the White Sox to Anaheim, Colon settled in in Orange County and produced the finest season of his career in 2005, when he went 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA, struck out 157 batters while walking only 43 in leading the Angels to the ALCS, where they lost to eventual World Series champion Chicago.

But since that magical season it has been all downhill for the rotund one as injuries, ineffectiveness and innumerable trips to In and Out Burger derailed his career and made him the laughingstock of baseball.

In 2006 & 2007 Colon went 7-13 while making just 28 starts and pitching 155 2/3 innings while battling shoulder woes that began late in his Cy season. By comparison in 2005 he started 33 games and pitched 222 2/3 innings, so to say the drop off was immense would be an epic understatement.

Long story short the Sox picked him up in the offseason for a mere mil (pending his making the big club) and quickly set about getting him in shape for a potential return to glory. After a lengthy rehab/condition program this spring, he posted a 2-0 record with an 0.64 ERA in three starts for the PawSox, and here we are.

No one is expecting miracles from the guy. But if he turns out to be anywhere near his previous form and can contribute solid innings and keep the opposition under 4 runs per game, the pickup will have proven to be another coup for Theo and the boys.

If not they cut ties and forget it ever happened.

Win/win, I say.

NOTES:

-Hello again Julie, hello: Julian Tavarez, who was not claimed off waivers nor traded to the Rockies as had been rumored, cleared waivers and accepted his reassignment to Pawtucket. Not sure if he'll ever be back with the Bosox, but Francona thinks he will pitch again in the majors.