May 6, 201511 yr I didn't see anyone post anything, so here goes. After raking for the Jays AAA team in April and early May, Chris Colabello was called up and immediately inserted in the Jays LF spot for Tuesday's night's game with the Yankees (following Danny Valencia in LF for the Jays on Monday night- Valencia's played four positions for the Jays this year, and was a scratch for this game after spraining his ankle while tripping on the clubhouse stairs on Monday night). Meanwhile, back to Colabello, he's played all of one professional game in LF, back in 2013 for Rochester, but apparently survived out there, at least for one night. Oh.... Cola also went 2-4 with a single and a double Amusingly. in the call-up announcement, a Toronto website described Cola as a "utility man." Uh-Huh.
May 6, 201511 yr Colabello was called up to the Jays yesterday... started in LF. His line:2-4, 2B, RBI. Guy has clearly put in the work... swing is looking very quick. If they give him a decent amount of at bats, he's going to produce. Neat to see him back up in the bigs.
May 6, 201511 yr It's good to see him get another chance. MiLB numbers indicate he ought to be able to hit, given time, but at his age time is always a big factor. I hope he sticks around for a while this time.
May 6, 201511 yr Colabello was batting .337 with five home runs and 18 RBIs at Buffalo before being called up. Do the Blue Jays get more from him than the Twins?
May 6, 201511 yr Good for Chris. I hope he stays in MLB for a few years and all that hard work pays off.
May 6, 201511 yr Colabello was batting .337 with five home runs and 18 RBIs at Buffalo before being called up. Do the Blue Jays get more from him than the Twins?Colabelo had an OPS over 1.000 for Rochester in 2013. He had an April OPS over .800 for the Twins in 2014. I'll be surprised if the Blue Jays get more than that.
May 6, 201511 yr His OPS for Toronto is roughly double what the Twins coaching staff was able to wring out of him. What eldritch wizardry do the Blue Jays perform to achieve this?
May 6, 201511 yr I saw this last night & I'm happy for the guy. I think I read a story last winter about him turning down a chance to play somewhere else (Japan, maybe?) this year but turned it down because he wanted to give MLB another shot. I hope he sticks, too.
May 6, 201511 yr I saw this last night & I'm happy for the guy. I think I read a story last winter about him turning down a chance to play somewhere else (Japan, maybe?) this year but turned it down because he wanted to give MLB another shot. I hope he sticks, too.Pretty sure it was Korea but yeah.
May 6, 201511 yr Sometimes when I'm watching Kennys Vargas strike out or roll one weakly to a middle infielder I like to dream about what could have happened if Chris hadn't hurt his thumb last spring and/or hidden the injury once it occured. He had a great April. That was fun.
May 6, 201511 yr I'm in agreement that it was largely because of the thumb injury that wasn't allowed (or wasn't admitted) to heal. The guy can hit. I'd love to see him DHing or PHing with the Twins!
May 6, 201511 yr WHAT? I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! How can he be with Toronto, when he is still listed on the Twins Daily Organizational charts????I thought the charts were infalliable.
May 6, 201511 yr Author I'm in agreement that it was largely because of the thumb injury that wasn't allowed (or wasn't admitted) to heal. The guy can hit. I'd love to see him DHing or PHing with the Twins! Yep. Just not as a "utility man."
May 6, 201511 yr Sometimes when I'm watching Kennys Vargas strike out or roll one weakly to a middle infielder I like to dream about what could have happened if Chris hadn't hurt his thumb last spring and/or hidden the injury once it occured. He had a great April. That was fun. I'm in agreement that it was largely because of the thumb injury that wasn't allowed (or wasn't admitted) to heal. The guy can hit. I'd love to see him DHing or PHing with the Twins! No doubt Colabello was fun to watch hit and is still fun to root for, but even in April 2014 he generally wasn't pulling the ball or hitting it over the fence, which are not signs of sustainable success for a player with his profile. What's his MLB upside with good health? 100 OPS+? Garrett Jones lite? Still rooting for him, obviously. I see he is currently listed as the #1 LF on the Blue Jays MLB.com depth chart. Assuming that is accurate, it could be interesting... Edited May 6, 201511 yr by spycake
May 6, 201511 yr Author No doubt Colabello was fun to watch hit and is still fun to root for, but even in April 2014 he generally wasn't pulling the ball or hitting it over the fence, which are not signs of sustainable success for a player with his profile. What's his MLB upside with good health? 100 OPS+? Garrett Jones lite? Still rooting for him, obviously. I see he is currently listed as the #1 LF on the Blue Jays MLB.com depth chart. Assuming that is accurate, it could be interesting... Yeah, interesting indeed. One game played in MiLB in LF, one game played in MLB in LF, and now the #1 LF on the Jays depth chart. Baseball is a funny sport.
May 6, 201511 yr Yeah, interesting indeed. One game played in MiLB in LF, one game played in MLB in LF, and now the #1 LF on the Jays depth chart. Baseball is a funny sport.The Blue Jays webmaster might be a funny person too.
May 7, 201511 yr I didn't see anyone post anything, so here goes. Interesting, because I started this thread. I didn't know mods could swipe the thread I made, then insert their own post as the first post. Didn't know that was even possible... now I know otherwise. Wow. Anyway, Chris' line tonight: 4-4, 2B, RBI. Nice start thru 2 games: 6-8, 2 2Bs, 2 RBIs. Guy can legitimately rake. I think THIS webmaster might be a funny person. Edited May 7, 201511 yr by Patrick Midthun
May 7, 201511 yr This is the second elderly minor league lifer/ DH type to come from the Twins to the Jays and have success. The last one? This guy.
May 7, 201511 yr Author Interesting, because I started this thread. I didn't know mods could swipe the thread I made, then insert their own post as the first post. Didn't know that was even possible... now I know otherwise. Wow. Anyway, Chris' line tonight: 4-4, 2B, RBI. Nice start thru 2 games: 6-8, 2 2Bs, 2 RBIs. Guy can legitimately rake. I think THIS webmaster might be a funny person. Check the timestamps.... the thread wasn't "swiped", as you actually posted second on the topic. No problem though, the mod overlords merge threads all the time. NIce action pix, btw.
May 7, 201511 yr Oh I thought you changed the timestamp. LOL. NP, anyone who is following CC is good in my book. I was hoping to see him rake in Dunedin when I went to see the Jays/Twins this spring, but they had Valencia at first. Colabello really deserves this playing time he's getting, albeit in left field, and I'm really hoping they give him a fair shot. He's got such a neat story.
May 8, 201511 yr Interesting, because I started this thread. I didn't know mods could swipe the thread I made, then insert their own post as the first post. Didn't know that was even possible... now I know otherwise. Wow. You and jokin both started threads on the same topic in different forums. They were merged. No one 'swiped' anything and jokin isn't a moderator. As often happens, posters see some interesting news and we get multiple posts on the same topic. As is our charge to maintain the forums, we merge such topics so as not to have the same discussion happening in two places. Since jokin's thread was posted before yours, his post became the lead in the thread, but I kept your title over his.
May 9, 201511 yr Some guys just need management to have a little more faith. Colabello despite being 30+ can rake. Great pick up for Toronto
May 9, 201511 yr Colabello crushes mistakes but struggles when MLB pitchers execute. It's a great story but the Twins shouldn't be criticized for their handling of him. Even putting aside his MLB performance in 2013 and 2014, the Twins have young guys they need to play in LF and DH... there just wasn't a role for him with this club.
May 9, 201511 yr You and jokin both started threads on the same topic in different forums. They were merged. No one 'swiped' anything and jokin isn't a moderator. As often happens, posters see some interesting news and we get multiple posts on the same topic. As is our charge to maintain the forums, we merge such topics so as not to have the same discussion happening in two places. Since jokin's thread was posted before yours, his post became the lead in the thread, but I kept your title over his. For some reason this reminds me of the argument about who discovered America. Columbus?. Or Leif Erickssen? (Sp).
May 9, 201511 yr For some reason this reminds me of the argument about who discovered America. Columbus?. Or Leif Erickssen? (Sp). Probably Zheng He. I'd like my Chris Colabello watch with a nice gold and naugahyde sport band, please.
May 9, 201511 yr Still a great story. It does make you wonder how many more can be found in the indy leagues.
Create an account or sign in to comment