Vet Colon Not So Mature with Health

Note to Bartolo: you are 36 years old. You've been in the majors for 12 years. Did you really think it was in the best interest of yourself, let alone the teams, to pitch your next start with inflammation in your elbow?

Your career was built off a 96-MPH fastball that would add velocity as games went on (and that you somehow short-armed your way to eight straight full seasons seasons of 30+ starts). You are now throwing 87-MPH with no secondary stuff. That alone is hard enough to make it through starts, let alone doing so with an injured elbow.

Guillen:

"I was upset because our trainers didn't even know anything about the situation," Guillen said Wednesday after learning Tuesday night that Colon couldn't start the series finale at Minnesota and would be placed on the 15-day disabled list. "When we got the news, I talked to [trainer] Hermie Schneider about it. He didn't have anything about it. I had the [trainer's report] and I don't see anything with Colon, and all of a sudden he couldn't [pitch].

"[General manager] Ken Williams wasn't too happy. ... I think [Colon] handled it the wrong way. You feel something, you should tell the trainers where you're at."

I give Colon credit for making it this far with the Sox. He didn't look particularly well in spring training and has walked a fine line this year in the few starts he's had, but he's somehow managed, though not through veteran-savvy.

That said, actions like this, when your team is in the race and you have five capable starters aside from yourself, should keep Colon out of the rotation for good.

After losing 3-of-4 to the Tigers and getting swept by the Twins, the Sox should now place more of their attention to the future, while still keeping an eye on the divisional prize. That means parting ways with Colon and leaving Richard in the rotation, even if they are short a quality left arm in the pen. Prepare for next year, but battle for '09.