Shields at peace with Colon HR: 'I'd be trotting pretty slow myself'

James Shields was in no mood to talk about Bartolo Colon's home run Saturday night, going so far as to respond to queries about the momentous event with "Next question."

A day later, Shields was finally ready to talk about the now-famous homer that will likely stay with him forever. Though he wasn't happy about giving up the blast (or the fact that his Padres lost), Shields was more than fine with letting the New York Mets pitcher and cult hero have his moment.

"I'm happy for him and his career," Shields told Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I've always respected Bartolo.

"I definitely didn't think it was going to happen to me, but it's all good."

Related: Colon calls HR 'the biggest moment' of his career

Shields was also fine with Colon taking his time rounding the bases, given that he's not much of a hitter himself. The 34-year-old sports a career .173/.192/.197 line with just three extra-base hits, none of which have left the yard.

"I think if I hit a home run, for my first home run, I'd be trotting pretty slow myself," he joked. "I'm not a very fast guy, either."

Related: Colon's 1st career HR is one for the record books​

One thing he did learn from the incident was how to pitch to the 42-year-old's weaknesses. Shields, who gave up 33 homers in 2015 to lead all of baseball, went back to the scouting report after the homer, and struck out Colon swinging each of his next two at-bats.

"I threw him one fastball," Shields said. "Then I threw him a slider and two curveballs. In his third AB, I threw him all curveballs.

"When you give up the first home run to Bartolo Colon and he's 42-years-old, you try not to give up the second."