Noticed Bartolo Colon just turned 45. He is in a position to become the all-time winningest Hispanic pitcher in MLB history. Colon is in his 21st season, and has a career record of 242-178 with a 4.04 ERA. He currently trails 2 men, Dennis Martinez who accumulated a 245-193 record with a 3.70 ERA over 23 years, and HoFer Juan Marichal, who went 243-142 with a 2.89 ERA over 16 seasons. So, 4 more wins gives Colon the mantle, and given the pitching problems in Texas, Colon should have plenty of chances to win the 4 games needed. He is in heady company with his fellow Dominican Juan Marichal. Marichal won 20 or more games 6 times, had 244 complete games and 52 shutouts, as well as being the leading winner in MLB during the 1960's, a decade that included such legends as Koufax and Gibson. Although Martinez never won 20 games, he managed to complete 122 games, throw 30 shutouts, and pitch 4000 innings, not too shabby. Colon has won 20 or more twice, has 13 shutouts and pitched 3372 innings to date, impressive totals. Colon won't make the HoF, and Martinez certainly isn't, but Colon has the chance to make his mark alongside of Martinez and Marichal, even though Martinez and Colon aren't the pitchers Marichal was. Colon's career marks are nothing to sneeze at. Happy Birthday, Bartolo. -- Al
