PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Bartolo Colon pronounced it a wise decision by the New York Mets staff to have him skip Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Washington Nationals and instead pitch in a simulated game in the morning. Colon is due to face the Nats on Opening Day and does not want to give their batters too much spring-training familiarity.
"I think it was a really good decision from [pitching coach] Dan [Warthen] and the staff, because last year they saw me a lot," Colon said through an interpreter after logging 73 pitches against Mets hitters at Tradition Field.
Colon (41 years, 317 days) will become the oldest Opening Day starter in franchise history when he opposes Max Scherzer at Nationals Park on April 6. He downplayed the significance of pitching on Opening Day in general, but did like the age milestone aspect. He also will become the oldest opening-game starter in the majors since 2006.
"I'm really proud and really honored, and for me my own record," Colon said. "So it will go in my memories to be the Opening Day starter -- and the older guy."
