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Article: Chris Colabello Finds Comfort at the Plate

Parker Hageman

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clutterheart First Round Pick

clutterheart

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What a great read, thanks for sharing this story. I was annoyed when Colabello made the team as it signaled to me the total lack of options this team has. I viewed him as good story sideshow who would be back in AAA by June.

 

Its still possible that comes true. However, this article shows that he is a student of the game. He knows how to hit, knows how to make adjustments and knows what his role should be. His dedication is paying off and it would be nice if he could stay up for a few seasons. He could take that same dedication and work in as a hitting coach on some level as he seems pretty intelligent.

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Otwins Draft Eligible

Otwins

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Article of the year so far. What I have been hoping is that Colabello needed that failure last year to have success this year. It is not at all unusual for a player to struggle the first time he is in the majors. It just felt different because he was 29. I don't know how any baseball fan couldn't root for this guy.

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twinsnorth49 St Paul Saints

twinsnorth49

Community Moderator
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Colabello is a major reason to watch right now, he's paid his dues and has earned his shot, I'm pulling for him.

 

Great to hear what he says about Mauer. I think that's a big plus for Colabello, he's smart enough to pay attention to the things that make guys like Mauer great and take something from it.

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jokin Wichita Wind Surge

jokin

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Ask and you shall receive. This is the story I've been waiting to see written. Kudos to Parker! You have put the rest of the local media to shame.....as I would be stunned if this article isn't picked up and reprinted all around the country. No matter how it all turns out in the long run, thanks for getting the full scope and scoop of what is shaping up to be the early season story of the year.

 

How did you get such great, insightful quotes? I'm assuming that the media, for the most part, has limited access to the players in-season. Cola comes across as an amalgamation of an Everyman, Don Quixote and Robert Pirsig (by coincidence, Pirsig's son in Zen and the Art...., is also named Chris). Here's a guy who's actually living what the Twins preach about playing the game the right way. I've already forwarded this out to all the athletes I've played with and coached over the years. Triumph for Cola no matter how this plays out, and triumph for Parker on a tremendous read.

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tarheeltwinsfan GCL Twins

tarheeltwinsfan

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Parker, I agree that this article should be printed in SI. Outstanding journalism. Well written. Very personal. We fans need to be reminded that these players are human beings with hopes and dreams, families and friends, money problems and injuries, competitive against some of the best athletes in the world who are trying to defeat them...playing an unforgiving game, where the player is not fully in control. Please submit it to SI. Cola is still living his story and it needs to be told. Thank you for telling it so well.

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JB_Iowa Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

JB_Iowa

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When i open up an article from you Parker, I always expect a great, comprehensible technical analysis. I had absolutely no idea you could write the human interest aspect so well. It is the best article I have ever read on this site and one of the best about a Twin that I've read for a long time.

 

Congrats, Parker and thanks and congrats to Colabello for making the first week of the season memorable. I was rooting for him because I appreciated the risk he was willing to take to make his major league dream come true. I had no idea that I should be rooting for him because he is what being a professional baseball player is all about.

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ericchri College Ball

ericchri

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Rarely do I get goosebumps when reading stories about professional athletes playing at the highest level, but this one got me. He seems so level-headed and insightful and has beaten some ridiculous odds to get here, you have to root for him.

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Seth Stohs GOAT

Seth Stohs

Owner
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I'm in complete agreement with everyone here. I don't know how to go about getting it to the proper channels to get out there, so if anyone has any ideas, let us know. For sure, copy the link to this article and promoted on Facebook and Twitter and other social media places. Send it on Twitter to the Ken Rosenthal's, Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, etc.

 

I've said it many times... talking to Chris Colabello about baseball, process, life, anything is pretty incredible... I remember after meeting him in person for the first time last September that I came away immensely impressed by the person. When he did a Q&A for this site last January (2013), I remember reading it over and over and using some of his responses in my daily life.

 

Can't help but be happy for him and this start. Just a tremendous story about a tremendous person!

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jsimssd72 Prep Ball

jsimssd72

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http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/45757/the-incredible-journey-of-chris-colabello

 

I'm in complete agreement with everyone here. I don't know how to go about getting it to the proper channels to get out there, so if anyone has any ideas, let us know. For sure, copy the link to this article and promoted on Facebook and Twitter and other social media places. Send it on Twitter to the Ken Rosenthal's, Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, etc.

 

I've said it many times... talking to Chris Colabello about baseball, process, life, anything is pretty incredible... I remember after meeting him in person for the first time last September that I came away immensely impressed by the person. When he did a Q&A for this site last January (2013), I remember reading it over and over and using some of his responses in my daily life.

 

Can't help but be happy for him and this start. Just a tremendous story about a tremendous person!

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jimbo92107 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

jimbo92107

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I'm in complete agreement with everyone here. I don't know how to go about getting it to the proper channels to get out there, so if anyone has any ideas, let us know. For sure, copy the link to this article and promoted on Facebook and Twitter and other social media places. Send it on Twitter to the Ken Rosenthal's, Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, etc.

 

I've said it many times... talking to Chris Colabello about baseball, process, life, anything is pretty incredible... I remember after meeting him in person for the first time last September that I came away immensely impressed by the person. When he did a Q&A for this site last January (2013), I remember reading it over and over and using some of his responses in my daily life.

 

Can't help but be happy for him and this start. Just a tremendous story about a tremendous person!

 

Chris Colabello sounds like the kind of man you'd like to have on any team, any sport, in any capacity you can get him. The best thing about Twins Daily really is not just baseball news, but also finding out about the fascinating people in the organization. Guys like Colabello, AJ Pettersen, Tim Shibuya, and others have shown themselves not only to be talented ballplayers, but also eloquent and expressive diarists of their experiences in their quest to reach the Show.

 

I really hope the staff at TD continues to encourage these young men to share their experiences and their opinions on any subject they care to discuss. The connections they forge with fans are so much better than just watching the Twins on TV. These are people just like us, struggling to find their way through all the uncertainties of life.

 

Doesn't everybody here just feel like giving Chris Colabello some kind of trophy, just for being such an awesome dude?

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70charger Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

70charger

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I agree with all about the quality of this article. Just top-notch stuff. And congratulations to the author for getting picked up by ESPN.

 

I for one think Colabello's story would make a pretty compelling book. Maybe we're a few years away yet from that point, but I'm over here sharpening my pencils...

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Mr. Brooks Cedar Rapids Kernels

Mr. Brooks

Provisional Member
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Great read.

If only every baseball player worked as hard at their craft as Cola seems to.

I'm not sure what will eventually become of Chris Colabello, but I know that I'll be rooting for him along the way, whether that be in Target Field, Korea, or the beer leagues.

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Riverbrian Cooperstown

Riverbrian

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I was excited about Colabello last year. I love stories like this. The human element of the game is never lost on me and I've been a Colabello fan because of his relentless pursuit of baseball.

 

When he came up last year and I saw him play for the first time. I was immediately concerned because he was so far from the plate. He HAD to step sideways toward the plate to reach outside strikes. Stepping toward the plate made it nearly impossible to pull the ball. It will naturally force you to hit the ball to RF every time. If you pull with this stride it will be a weak grounder or pop up. You have to go to right... It can't be helped.

 

It also makes it near impossible to hit the inside pitch because you are stepping toward the plate. You'd think that standing off the plate makes the inside corner easier but it doesn't... Because you can't get inside the baseball with your hands when your stride is throwing you toward the baseball.

 

MLB pitchers will exploit this flaw. Obviously the AAA guys were not able to... I was worried that he couldn't make it unless he changed.

 

Fast forward to this year... He changed... I know the article downplays the change but it seems pretty obvious to me.

 

He's in the middle of the box and his stride is toward the mound. Now he can pull the ball and also take it the other way. The whole field is now open to him and I think he can keep it up and I'm as happy as can be about it.

 

He may be my new favorite Twin!!!

 

Great Article Parker... Thank You!!! Stories like this and the stuff Seth writes about the players as humans and not a bunch of numbers are always much appreciated by me.

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cmonhank Prep Ball

cmonhank

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Nice read, Parker. So refreshing not to hear the same old, "Oh ya know, I just show up at the park ready to play and it's all about the team and cliche cliche cliche..." This "kid" is truly very smart and knows how to communicate (also why he is the team interpreter for the Spanish speaking teammates). So great to get into the head of exactly what a hitter is thinking and his process. He is the clear example of what it means to "stay within yourself" as a player. Dude is very Zen. Let's hope he can keep it going, but as he says, it's not really about that is it :) Thanks!

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