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Colome taps his potential
Nationals notebook
Date published: 4/26/2007 By TODD JACOBSON BY TODD JACOBSON PHILADELPHIA--There was a time during Jesus Colome's career when he regularly lit up radar guns with triple-digit numbers. But if Colome has learned anything during his resurgent season with the Nationals, it's that faster isn't always better. "Now I want to pitch," said Colome, whose nine-inning scoreless streak ended yesterday when he gave up a two-run homer to Jimmy Rollins. "The last couple years, I want to throw hard, throw hard. Now I don't care about hard. I am patient and I use my breaking ball in any situation in the game." In doing so, he's begun to resurrect a once-promising career. Colome was once a top prospect with the Oakland Athletics and he became Tampa Bay's closer-in-waiting when he was traded to the Devil Rays in 2000. He bounced between Tampa Bay and the minors from 2001 to 2005, struggling with his control and the adjustment to the majors. He also was involved in a car crash in 2003 that killed three people in the Dominican Republic. Colome escaped serious injury. By the end of his career with the Devil Rays, he said he had lost his desire to pitch. He even asked to be traded at one point. "It's a lot different right now," Colome said. "I am having more fun in the game. I have more hunger to play. Sometimes, the last couple years, I feel like I don't want to come out to the mound." He was released by the Devil Rays after one appearance last year and picked up by the New York Yankees, but his most important move came this winter, when he hooked up with Nationals official Jose Rijo. Colome and Rijo, a special assistant to general manager Jim Bowden, worked on developing Colome's slider. Colome also dialed down his fastball to improve his control, though his fastball still has plenty of zip. It has been consistently clocked around 93 mph this season, but he's mixed in his changeup and slider more. He is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in 16 innings pitched this season.
Date published: 4/26/2007
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