Watch CBS News

Palladino: Ancient Colon And Aging Sabathia Facing Different Futures

By Ernie Palladino
» More Ernie Palladino Columns

Neither Bartolo Colon nor CC Sabathia have looked great in spring training.

They are two old warhorses clearly struggling to pull that cannon up the hill. The difference between them lies in their respective situations.

Sabathia has to look over his shoulder at a younger challenger, Ivan Nova, as he tries to keep his spot in the Yankees' rotation. Colon doesn't have to cast a wary eye at anyone, at least not yet, as he prepares to take his place among Mets young guns Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, and Steven Matz.

That is why their most current outings created a mixed bag of hope and concern. It's why the 42-year-old Colon could hit the clubhouse smiling last Friday after giving up eight runs, with three homers, in five innings against the Nationals. There simply isn't anyone to challenge him for the spot, and won't be until Zack Wheeler gets back sometime in July from Tommy John surgery.

It's why Colon can breathe easy and tell the media that he remains unconcerned, that he's simply working things out as he does every spring.

He is, quite simply, comfortable.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. In fact, it's a far better feeling than his counterpart in the Bronx faces. On the same day the Nationals lit up Colon, Sabathia handed out seven runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings against the Orioles. It marked his second straight shaky outing and threw into high gear the talk that Nova could push him to the bullpen.

That's a new thing for Sabathia, unless one counts last year's chatter that he'd be relegated to long relief for the postseason following a 6-10, 4.73 season. The left-hander's pre-Wildcard Game entrance into alcohol rehab killed that issue, however.

But now, with Nova itching to get back in the rotation after a slow comeback from his own Tommy John surgery, Sabathia has competition for the first time in his career. Though he has professed a no-worries confidence that his role as a starter won't change, the fading power pitcher has struggled with the changeup he needs to make his fastball more effective.

If he doesn't get it back over his final couple of starts, Nova could overtake the former Cy Young winner.

Nova's own inconsistency, however, could turn into Sabathia's saving grace. He looked anything but imposing in allowing the Twins four earned runs on five hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings on Sunday.

If that race came down to pedigree alone, Sabathia would have the decided advantage. But given the environment that surrounds it, which includes the overall physical creakiness of the rotation, a healthy and effective Nova could easily present a better option for the fifth spot.

For a pitcher who never once come out of the bullpen in a 15-year career, being challenged for a rotation spot is certainly a new thing. And it's quite different from what Colon is going through. Colon knows that once Wheeler comes back, assuming all other hands remain on deck, the aged right-hander will head to the bullpen.

Once an ace, once an Opening Day starter, Colon is merely a half-a-season placeholder now. A comfortable, unchallenged No. 5, but a placeholder nevertheless.

Here is the other difference. When the time does come for each man to recede into the shadows beyond the outfield fence, Colon will go just as willingly as he did last postseason. At his advanced age, he realizes he's playing with house money. And he knows he will not replace any of the other faces in the Mets' young, stacked rotation.

The same won't be true of the 35-year-old Sabathia. He's still young enough to want to fight off a 29-year-old challenger, still fiery enough to think he can still pitch with those who constitute the rest of the Yankees' starting field.

Colon and Sabathia cast contrasting images -- different pitchers on different teams, different circumstances. The commonality between these old warhorses lies in their continued desire to hang on.

The way it might all shake out by Opening Day, only Colon may succeed.

It's the advantage of being an unchallenged contender.

Follow Ernie on Twitter at @ErniePalladino

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.