Frank The Tank
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00:00All right, we're here for another Frank Walks, you know, Bartolo Colon, you know, he had some of the most viral moments as a Met.
00:11And he's a pitcher who leads all Latin-born players in career wins with 247.
00:20And, well, he's going to be joining me for a walk, and I'm going to have Miriam Luz as my translator.
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00:49Frank, Frank, Frank.
00:54Frank Walks, Frank Walks.
00:56It's time for Frank Walks.
01:00Now, I see you, Bartolo, and I can't help but notice.
01:03It looks like you're down a few pounds.
01:05What have you been doing to lose weight?
01:08I've lost weight.
01:09What have you done to lose weight?
01:12I didn't do my exercise, as I always say.
01:16Yeah, he's just been doing, like, eating differently.
01:27He's lost 35 pounds.
01:30Oh, that's terrific.
01:30It looks like changing his lifestyles, doing a little bit on his part to better his health.
01:36Now, we're getting close to the anniversary of your home run.
01:41First of all, walk me through this home run.
01:44This has got to be the craziest, like, one of the most unlikely home runs in the history of baseball.
01:51We're getting close to the anniversary of your home run that you did.
01:55How did you feel to give that home run?
01:59How did you feel to be getting close to the time that you did that home run?
02:04How did you do that?
02:04That he's glad that he's done it.
02:27I think there's, like, eight or nine days left until the eighth anniversary that I've hit that home run.
02:33Ninth?
02:33Ninth.
02:33Ninth.
02:34Ninth.
02:34Ninth.
02:35But I'm very happy about the Mets fans, like, just cheering me on during that moment.
02:41And very happy what I've done in my career.
02:44Now, a lot of Mets fans cheered for that home run.
02:48That home run also means something different to me.
02:51Now, 2016, I was at my heaviest.
02:56I was 520 pounds at least.
02:59Because, I don't know, because the scale didn't go any higher.
03:02And the night you hit that home run, I started feeling really sick.
03:11Five days later, I was in the hospital at MRSA.
03:16My blood sugar was over the moon.
03:22And I spent a week in the hospital and, like, six weeks of work.
03:30And I think that was, like, kind of like an early turning point in my health journey.
03:36And so, when I think about your home run, I actually think about how that was probably a turning point in my life.
03:45I think that he weighed about about 500 pounds.
03:50He also had insulin.
03:52And the same day that you connected that home run.
03:54And for him, he thinks that that moment he impacted a lot to improve his health.
04:00And he also was in the hospital.
04:02Basically, he talked about his health and that he impacted a lot of his life.
04:09How did he get out of the hospital?
04:11That he's glad that he helped you out during that process.
04:39And he's also been receiving a lot of feedback on people that he's been with
04:44and people that he's talked to about how taking care of your health is really important.
04:49So, he's got that with his home run that he was glad to make that impact on your life.
04:53I'm glad, too.
04:54Now, what I've always admired about Bartolo's career is how he transformed his career.
05:03Came up speedballer, fastballer.
05:06He won the Cy Young with the Angels in 2005.
05:10Now, after that, you had shoulder injuries, shoulder problems.
05:15What was it like?
05:15What was the process in coming back from those shoulder injuries?
05:18That you won the Cy Young, and after that, you lost your shoulder, how could you overcome it?
05:28Nothing.
05:28I was working hard, even though I thought it was my last year of career, that was in 2009.
05:37I was really sad, because my number wasconomized, and it started in 2005, in the playoffs against the Yankees.
05:44But when I was in 2009, I thought I couldn't win more球.
05:49Yeah, he thought that 2009 was going to be his last year playing baseball from his shoulder
06:07injury, but since he had some teammates that just gave him the motivation to keep on playing
06:14baseball. Because when you came back eventually you were a different pitcher, you were more crafty and you were able to like transform yourself into a different type of pitcher. You don't see many pitchers do that and that shows a lot of good work. What was the key to changing your pitching style?
06:44What kind of style did you use when you started playing again without that lesion?
06:51I started to work harder, I started to leave a lot of things, especially the drink that was the most affected in my career.
07:04Like the wall while I was playing the ball. And that helped me a lot. And to work hard on what I needed was to throw more strikes, get more, or get more. And that helped me a lot.
07:19Yeah, he just basically focused on the thing that impacted most was just not drinking. That's the thing that bettered his career. But also focusing on throwing more strikes and having more command when he throws.
07:33Because at the end of you and your career finally ended. You ended with more wins than any other Latin born pitcher. What does it mean to have that record?
07:46Well, that's the situation you mean to have all the rest of you, but he's like, that record.
07:47That you had more championships than any other NFL fan superstars. How do you feel about having that record?
07:56Uh to me it's all a pride in having that record The last game but you had some guys that weren't the most on Knowing Series and have been this record.
08:02I feel honored, but also there were some people in my career that doubted my pitching, so
08:24that's the reason why I've been the pitcher that I am always.
08:30Now when you came to the Mets, the Mets kind of brought you in to mentor a young pitching
08:38staff.
08:39Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob DeGrom, Zach Wheeler.
08:44What was your role, you think, in helping these pitchers become professionals that they've
08:49become?
08:50When you started playing with the Mets, you entered to basically help or be a mentor
08:58for those pitchers like Noah Syndergaard, Zach Wheeler, Jacob DeGrom, those five basically,
09:06that rotation.
09:08How did you feel with that career?
09:10How did Mets use it to you?
09:12No, I felt very happy and grateful.
09:16I had a lot of help from the players that I mentioned, because I left the SAC, how do
09:25you call it?
09:26Max?
09:27Yeah, he was glad to help out and play that role with the Mets.
09:51He was glad to make an impact, not only with the Mets rotation, but with them as well and
09:57with himself.
09:59But the thing that he wanted the most was to make it to the World Series, which he did,
10:05but he wanted to win a ring.
10:07I wish he would have got that ring.
10:10Now, I remember that 2015 run.
10:14There was a play in that run that to me is almost as memorable as the home run.
10:19The behind the back throw in Miami.
10:23What was the story on that?
10:25When you shot him in Miami, he was behind his back, how was that play?
10:33No, for me, that was a tremendous play, I went out of the corner and said I was going
10:40to throw the ball, I was going to throw the ball back, because if I had two out, if I
10:44threw the ball back, I was going to throw the ball back to the third and second, and I
10:47was going to take the ball back, but for me, that was a tremendous play that I did at that
10:52moment.
10:53Yeah, he had no choice but to throw it behind his back.
10:56He knew that he was going to put himself in a tough position, men were going to go on second
11:01and third, so he basically took a risk on that play.
11:05I mean, that play, I flipped it behind the back.
11:08I always laugh at that play.
11:11That he always, till this day, he always watches that video, and it makes him laugh.
11:29Now, when you're at the Angels, you won a Cy Young in 2005, would you say that was your
11:36best season?
11:37For me, it was one of the best, but for me, one of the best for me was in 2002, when I
11:55played 20 games for the D.A.B. in both leagues, and also in 2013, I was one of the best
12:02seasons I won the 18th game with Oakland, and I stayed in the second.
12:07That was, for me, one of the best.
12:10Tell me, what were those two?
12:13The two teams, Cleveland and Montreal.
12:16He was favorite in his favorite season, yes.
12:19It was one of his best seasons, but he thinks that he has more seasons as well.
12:24Cleveland and Montreal.
12:25Cleveland and Montreal, when he won 20 wins.
12:31Oh, yeah, I remember that season.
12:33Spent half a season in Cleveland, half a season in Montreal.
12:36What was it like to pitch in Montreal?
12:38I know by then the Expos were pretty much on their way out of town.
12:43You know, what was it like pitching in that situation?
12:47How was your experience in Montreal?
12:50How was it?
12:51For me, it was very, very, very easy.
12:54For me, it was pretty easy, because they were not fans of the play.
12:58You know, when they were fans of the play, there was less pressure.
13:01For me, it was good.
13:05Yeah, he loved the experience.
13:07He also loved that there weren't a lot of friends there.
13:10It was better pitching.
13:12And you played for a lot of teams.
13:15You played for the, after the match, you went to the Braves,
13:19and I think the Twins and Rangers, if I'm not mistaken.
13:21Uh-huh.
13:23And then, I think you tried to pitch like in Mexico or something like that,
13:28if I'm not mistaken.
13:29I mean, what was it like to be a pitcher that could, uh, that went so long into your career?
13:38Because I think you're the last player on a major league team sport that was still active older than me.
13:48Uh-huh.
13:49Uh-huh.
13:50Uh-huh.
13:51Uh-huh.
13:52Uh-huh.
13:53Uh-huh.
13:54Uh-huh.
13:55Uh-huh.
13:56Uh-huh.
13:57Uh-huh.
13:58Uh-huh.
13:59Uh-huh.
14:00Uh-huh.
14:02Uh-huh.
14:10I think it was just like my preparation, pitching, that made me pitch as how old I was.
14:29I know there's going to have to be some circumstances, they're going to have to change things, and I think they eventually will.
14:35Well, we're not going to get into why, but I think eventually you're going to have the door open for a lot of Hall of Famers.
14:42And for me, I think this guy should get serious Hall of Fame consideration.
14:49Do you think he has to be considered for the Salon de la Fama?
14:55No, ya esos son decisiones de de de de de de de toman eso.
15:02A veces no me gusta hablar mucho sobre eso, pero yo cometí una falla que eso me, me afecta mucho.
15:10Pero estamos en la tumbla, como dicen.
15:14I don't really like talking about it, but I took a decision that wasn't really the best, but here we are.
15:24Now, if you do get in the Hall of Fame, which hat would you want on your plaque?
15:30If it was for me, the Mets, but if it was for my dad, Cleveland.
15:57Now, I want to thank you for joining me.
16:00I enjoyed your time at the Mets.
16:02I enjoyed this walk.
16:04You're like, you know, it's like they're cult heroes for every franchise.
16:08And you had a couple of cult moments.
16:11You were a big part of the 2015 team.
16:13And I'm glad to see that you're doing well.
16:15And I see that you have settled in New Jersey.
16:19What do you think, what is about New Jersey that made you want to stay here?
16:24Well, thank you for this pleasure of walking with us.
16:30And you also, you were a very important piece for 2015 when you arrived in the World Series.
16:39But I also see that you stayed here in the city.
16:43You live here in New Jersey.
16:45What was the impact of making that decision?
16:49No, when I played with the Yankees 2011, my wife and my kids and all that.
16:59We decided to stay here in New Jersey.
17:03We decided to stay here in New Jersey because we have more family here.
17:07We have things to stay here in New Jersey.
17:10And that's why we decided to stay here in New Jersey.
17:15And that's why we decided to stay here in New Jersey.
17:182011 was basically the time that I took the time to just think about where I wanted to live.
17:26And it was just more of like a family decision.
17:28My wife and I talked about it.
17:30And our kids are here as well.
17:32We have a lot of family.
17:33We have more family here.
17:35So we just decided to live in the New Jersey area.
17:37That's beautiful.
17:38That's beautiful.
17:39You know, he lives in Clifton.
17:40And I don't know if you want to see it.
17:42But Clifton, for me, is a low-key hot dog capital.
17:48But it's hot.
18:01He didn't know, but now he knows.
18:03Yeah, the Ruts Hut, it's probably one of the most famous hot dog places in the world.
18:08Ruts?
18:09Ruts Hut.
18:10Ruts Hut.
18:11It's like the Jodot, the most famous Jodot place in the world.
18:16I don't know.
18:18I didn't know.
18:19He has to go.
18:20I would have to ask my kids to see.
18:24Good morning.
18:25Good morning.
18:26Good morning.
18:27Good morning.
18:28Okay.
18:29He needs that.
18:30That he's glad that he asked you.
18:33Yeah.
18:34Yep.
18:35So I don't.
18:36Let these people go by.
18:37Yeah, let these guys go by.
18:42Thanks again for joining Bartolo.
18:46Yeah, continue success in your weight loss journey.
18:50And I know that anytime you get to City Field, fans will be there cheering you on.
18:57Because you'll always be a Met to me.
19:00Thank you so much.
19:01Thank you so much.
19:02I also feel like I'm a Met for life.
19:07And just want to thank you again.
19:08That's why.
19:09That's what makes the Mets more special.
19:14I mean, come on.
19:15I know you even play for the Yankees, but the Mets are more family.
19:20The Mets are more real.
19:21I mean, come on.
19:23How do you feel the Mets are more family.
19:25And to be a part of him, you can be a part of him and just want to thank you again.
19:29That's what makes that to be a Met more special.
19:31I mean, come on.
19:32I know you even play for the Yankees, but the Mets are more family.
19:34The Mets are more real.
19:35I mean, come on.
19:36I mean, come on.
20:07It was not only the Yankees. I also played for eight other teams.
20:10Oh, yeah.
20:12I felt the most with the Mets.
20:16Well, thanks. Thanks again.
20:18No, thank you.
20:19Thanks.