Three takeaways from Monday’s Mets victory

Bartolo Colon found extra velocity and toyed with the Nats
Many people – including the person writing this – weren’t thrilled when Terry Collins announced Bartolo Colon as the Opening Day starter.
I wasn’t disappointed because I doubted Colon’s ability to rise to the occasion. Instead, it was the fact that Matt Harvey wasn’t pitching.
More from New York Mets News
- NY Mets: Trade market for starting pitchers feels non-existent
- NY Mets need to call the Athletics about a Matt Chapman trade
- NY Mets dream starting lineup for the 2022 season
- NY Mets offseason makeover might be a simple “She’s All That” situation
- NY Mets: 8 Ex-Amazins who killed it with other teams in 2021
Well, Colon went out there and thoroughly dominated the Nationals over six terrific innings.
More impressive than Colon’s always-impeccable control was the velocity on his fastball, which routinely touched 92 and 93 MPH on the gun.
Last season, Colon’s average fastball velocity was 88.7 MPH, the lowest of his career and down a bit more than a MPH from 2013.
Perhaps Colon was simply dealing with extra adrenaline on Monday, but if his fastball can average just 90 to 91 MPH in 2015, that would be a very positive development.
Next: D'Arnaud impressed