Bartolo Colon takes over Atlanta, but will he live up to the hype?
Bartolo Colon signing with the Atlanta Braves wasn’t the winter’s biggest blockbuster move, but it was big enough to inspire its own blockbuster-sized movie trailer.
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The hype trailer for Colon’s move title “Bartlanta” was released by MLB.com on Friday, and it’s every bit as epic as you’d expect.
It’s the epic Bartolo Colon movie trailer you never knew you needed. #OscarsBuzz pic.twitter.com/YDrGjL0hC9
— MLB (@MLB) February 10, 2017
As is often the case with Bartolo Colon, we’re not sure if “Bartlanta” would make us laugh, cry or laugh until we cry. We are certain that it would make us smile though, and that’s what matters most.
If nothing else, this fictional trailer speaks to the legendary status Colon has achieved during his 19-year career. Though unlikely to earn enshrinement into Baseball’s Hall of Fame, Colon has garnered a following second to none, while carving out his own unique place in history.
How’s he done it? By being himself. He’s simply Bartolo Colon, baseball’s jack-of-all-trades and master of none, with the gift to make the impossible seem possible.
Now though, he’s going to Atlanta, where he’ll need to be more than the most entertaining supporting player. The Braves are rebuilding on one end of the roster, while relying heavily on veterans on the other. That means pitchers like Colon, R.A. Dickey and Jaime Garcia will have to contribute if Atlanta hopes to make a giant leap into contention.
Of course, having a guy like Colon can be valuable for more than just performance purposes. He’s a veteran first and foremost, which means young players can lean on him for advice. He’s also a calming influence during a six-month grind that never slows down. Beyond that though, he’ll keep fans interested in Braves baseball every fifth day, regardless of the team’s outlook. That’s valuable when you’re attempting to fill a new ballpark.
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Colon won’t be the Braves most exciting player. That title will likely belong to Freddie Freeman or Dansby Swanson. But if he could regularly steal the show in New York, he’ll definitely find a way to steal the show in Georgia.
That’s why we love him. That’s why we celebrate him. And that’s why we hope Bartolomania lives forever.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
