Oliver Perez, where do I begin? Make it or Break it? The only thing Perez is making is a Starbucks run and you know what? -he’s paying.Â
The biggest mistake he made was playing for the WBC. I believe this is where is all started. He was never in shape to begin with and by skipping three quarters of camp to play, he put himself in front of the organization and his team mates. Of course the Mets were not allowed to stop him from playing(we know this is an entirely different issue to be discussed at a later time) but Perez should have known better especially after signing a 36 million dollar contract.Â
This year, as all of us know, was a nightmare watching him pitch. His inconsistency, lack of command, lost of focus and just plain of desire on the mound typified every outing. I hated watching him pitch, he couldn’t hold a lead and I felt at times that I could do a better job.  I was at his final game against the Phillies and I have to be honest, what happened that day didn’t surprise me one bit. When Jerry pulled him off the mound after watching him give up 2 3-run home runs and going 3-0 to Pedro Martinez, the Mets fans were embarrassed and angry and the Philly Fans(and there were a lot of them) simply laughed. I think the bat boy would have pitched better that day.
Can Oliver Perez help the Mets win? Unless Omar can slip a “roofie” to another Gm and trade Perez in the off season, the Mets have no choice but to keep him. I’ll tell you what, the Mets can win with him if he is their fifth starter. If he is anything but that, we are in serious trouble next year. Â
Just for laughs though, lets play out a scenario that just might work out. IF Perez works out in the off season. And I don’t mean just hitting a gym and running a few laps I’m talking Rocky like training, y’know. Like maybe Perez goes into the mountains and trains real hard, grows a beard,  does all these obscure exercises and listens to bad 80′s music, lose some weight and show up to Port St. Lucie in early March before everyone else does, then maybe he can contribute.  IF Perez is throwing fastballs that look like BB’s in February and is hungry, maybe he can be the starter the Mets envisioned when they signed him.
The sad thing is he needs to want to do this, and right now, I don’t see it. What will motivate him is beyond me.
I would think 36 million dollars would do that for us.
44 comments
jaded1983
9/23/2009-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
Someone once made the comment to me that “most baseball players have never actually worked a day in their lives, they dont know what its like to make 50k a YEAR as opposed to a game”
Its true, and I can see it in a guy like Perez. Its obvious he doesnt have the mental capacity to understand how UNBELIEVABLY lucky he is to be playing major league baseball and be making 12 friggin million a year to do so!
The rest of us wake up, day after day, go to work, bust our butts, for (im assuming) A LOT less than perez makes to throw a baseball every 5th day. This bugs me to no end.
I’m willing to give him one more pass, and see how he comes into camp this year. If, he comes to camp in great shape, is willing to listen to the coaches/santana, etc and comes out firing then excellent. But if its the same old Ollie, then cut him or trade him for anything. Honestly, eat the salary, put Misch/Niese/Nieve/Figgy, someone in his spot as we will get the same production without the expectation.
trs86
9/23/2009-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
I agree giving him 1 year. However life is setup so that people with a natural talent make more than people who do not have it. Imagine how much he would make if he worked hard and had natural talent, he would make twice as much.
fongy2
9/23/2009-10:31am at 10:31 am (UTC -4)
Lets thank God Omar was already a somewhat weak GM when he gave Ollie that contract, a couple yrs ago it would have been a 4 or 5 year deal.
jaded1983
9/23/2009-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Very true, and I am not jealous of him, I’m just mad that he doesnt realize how good he has it, and therefore doesnt put in the requisit effort.
To your point, if he worked really hard given his natural talent, then he would be good (hopefully) and we wouldnt be having this discussion!
metsfan4decades
9/23/2009-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
Well said.
prismo
9/23/2009-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
One of the worst unanswered questions for the rest of our lives will be “what contract would Ollie have gotten if the Mets didn’t sign him?” So curious…
trs86
9/23/2009-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
I have a good guess. Now the question is, were we involved at all?
If not then I would guess 3/24-27. Were we involved and backed out? 3/30.
wannybackstra
9/23/2009-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
Not so sure Ollie’s conditioning is as critical to the blame for his season as what’s inside his own head. Perhaps earlier in the season his arm was not as strong as we would have liked — his velocity was down. But then we were lead to believe that it was a result of his “knee injury.” Later in the season his velocity was back to normal — and so were the results, i.e. crap.
His problem is and always was that he doesn’t concentrate. No two pitches are released from the same arm angle.
saltygary
9/23/2009-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
Maybe once he got the contract he decided to stop juicing. Now that his performance has waned he is now in a mental tailspin. I would love to see him rebound and I will give him a shot but I just dont see it happening. These issues have plagued his career.
metsfan4decades
9/23/2009-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
Ollie doesn’t know how to pitch. He has no game plan whatsoever. All he has is a god given talent to throw some nasty stuff at times. And throw is all he ever does.
It ought to be required reading for him over the off season to review Ronnie’s recently released book on pitching. Now there’s a man who knows what it takes. He goes over and over that every game, every batter, every pitch has to be thought through. It’s all about pitch selection. When Ollie gets in trouble, he immediately just tries a new arm angle or release point. When all he really needs to do is make adjustments on what he’s throwing to who and when….
stickguy
9/23/2009-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
I think the mets might have to hire someone to read it to him and explian all the big words.
I am crossing my fingers that Ollie has one of his fluke decent years next year. If not, and he is still a mess in the first half, they might have to bite the bullet and trade him somewhere just to get rid of him (paying the whole contract of course!), or just release him and move on.
I still don’t know how he managed to throw some of the really good games he did pitch. Was he jsut focusing that day?
TOo bad he will be at lest the #4 SP, but they can probably live with that if they get a good #2, and someone like Maine ends up in the 5 hole.
metsfan4decades
9/23/2009-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
Did anyone notice that Pedro Martinez has a ‘sore neck’ after his last start? He doesn’t expect to miss his next start but that didn’t take long…
Myers is out also with a strained shoulder. Same problem that cost him two months in ’07. It was debated here on a previous blog about maybe looking at acquiring Myers. Between ’07, hip surgery that cost him most of ’09 and his bad first half in ’08, I’ll pass.
Myers joins 4 other BP arms for the Phillies out due to injury. With Lidge as a closer and the state of their BP, good luck in post season….
trs86
9/23/2009-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah that was contingent on him being healthy. He’s not so moving on.
stickguy
9/23/2009-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
I still take Myers. It was not his shoulder, it is a mild (lowest level) strain of a back muscle, probably because they overused him out of the pen before he was fully ready. Really nothing that would change plans for 2010.
Pedro, is even funnier. In the paper today, it said that he mentioned something to a reporter about it being a rib out of place. Of course, no one with the team had heard anything about a rib, just the sore neck 9that he got just standing on the mound).
He was a good flyer PU for the phils, but anyone who plans to pencil pedro into the rotation and expect reliability is nuts.
wannybackstra
9/23/2009-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
M4D: You forgot to add in that Myers is a creep.
metsfan4decades
9/23/2009-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
LOL – well that too. Just another reason I don’t want to see him on this team.
dirtysanchez
9/23/2009-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
Problem is…i dont think anyone knows how to motivate him
stickguy
9/23/2009-4:34pm at 4:34 pm (UTC -4)
Sholdn’t Jerry be removed fromt he premises before the gbame for being stupid enough to pencil in Schnieder for a 2nd straight night?
Think maybe getting Thole as much time as possible to evaluate him for next year might be worth while?
Jerry is a debacle as a manager. he really, really needs to go.
gonzowill
9/23/2009-4:38pm at 4:38 pm (UTC -4)
I have no problem seeing him go, I’m scared of who might replace him. I have to admit, Bobby V scares the hell out of me.
Kingman 26
9/23/2009-5:05pm at 5:05 pm (UTC -4)
Really? While he is something of an arrogant self-promoter, he seems to me to be the precise opposite of Jerry in terms of strategy, and, most important, getting the very most out of the talent he has.
He did OK with Texas (four winning seasons of the 16 in franchise history), one of the worst franchises in the game (I believe the ONLY MLB team to have never won a playoff series) and he led us to two consecutive postseasons without a great roster. No other Met manager has led us to two postseasons in a row.
Tim Teufel, Buck Showalter, and Bobby V.
Teufel could be the next Scioscia/Gardenhire, Showalter might be desperate enough to get back to MLB that he might take a 2-year deal, which would mean he would have to chill out and not wear out his welcome if he wanted to be here more than two years, and Bobby V I imagine could do a LOT more with this group than Jerry the Joker and Champagne Willie.
stickguy
9/23/2009-5:45pm at 5:45 pm (UTC -4)
well, there is a little revisionist history with Bobby V.
Before Willie and jerry came along, he manager the biggest (or one of the biggest) reg season collapses in Mets history, and damn near followed it up the next year with an even bigger one.
If you want a nice (but very long) retelling of the 1999 season end, check out faith and fear.
I would prefer someone like the Tuefel, stearns, or eqivalent non-met younger guy waiting to make his mark. Not that it worked with Willie, but that was because it was Willie!
Kingman 26
9/23/2009-6:19pm at 6:19 pm (UTC -4)
Well, Bobby V followed it up by leading us to consecutive postseason appearances; no one else has done that.
We won one series in the postseason in 99 and two in 2000.
And can you argue that he did not maximize the talent he had? Check out the outfield he made it to the WS with!
Nothing revisionist there….
fongy2
9/23/2009-6:32pm at 6:32 pm (UTC -4)
I’m w/you on this brock! Bobby V.,given the talent
he had was the best Mgr. in our history and after
one down season was pushed out by Little Stevie”can’t
keep his hands off the interns”Phillips in an obvious
power struggle which the GM won.
If Bobby shows any sign he wants to come back, you give
him the job!
B/T/W, did ya hear Ghadafi’s rant on how the U.N. should
investigate the JFK killing?..Seems to think Ruby was an Israeli spy and that they were the ones responsible
for his death. Now that’s a new one.
It seems you’re in good company my friend!
Just jokin’ ya
Kingman 26
9/23/2009-6:52pm at 6:52 pm (UTC -4)
Fong my esteemed friend, the idea that Ruby was an Israeli spy is perhaps almost as completely idiotic as the idea that he acted alone and killed Oswald for the ridiculous reason that he wanted to spare Jackie the grief of returning to Dallas for a trial.
I think so very much of you, but this is one area where you are on the wrong side of history.
fongy2
9/23/2009-7:09pm at 7:09 pm (UTC -4)
Jeez, no offense BUT I’m still waiting
for the one, just one piece of evidence
that anyone but the skinny Righty Pitcher
for the ‘stros was involved AND/OR
the Kennedy family member who believed
it was anyone else.
Also, since I wasn’t involved nor do I
take an absolute stance(unlike you) one
way or the other…how can I be “on the
wrong side of history”?
But are you sure the Tribe wasn’t involved?
Again, the esteemed leader of the great
state of Libya seems to think so!
Kingman 26
9/23/2009-7:34pm at 7:34 pm (UTC -4)
LOL! No offense EVER taken at anything you say…I enjoy the debate…I am only absolute on the idea that Roy Harvey did not do it all alone…he may have even been up there shooting.
But Bobby Kennedy most definitely did not believe in Roy Harvey, and told loads of people this, commissioned a private inquiry before he ran for Senate (which came to the same conclusions as today’s most logical anti-Warren folks), and he often said that he would only find the truth when he became president.
If you really care email me through the site for some book recommendations.I have read many on all sides of the debate.
And in many ways Ruby is the easiest way to prove conspiracy.
Love ya Fong and maybe we will meet at a Met game someday and we can debate over drinks!
Kingman 26
9/23/2009-4:55pm at 4:55 pm (UTC -4)
Stick, thank you for providing reason number 587 why this fraudulent, strategically challenged, double-dealing, young-player hindering, gets-a-hard-on-thinking-about-bunting, third rate loser MUST GO!
stickguy
9/23/2009-5:48pm at 5:48 pm (UTC -4)
We are only up to reason 587? I think there has been soe sloppy recordkeeping going on. We must be in 4 digits by now.
Kingman 26
9/23/2009-6:20pm at 6:20 pm (UTC -4)
Angel Pagan is keeping the records, when he is not busy with his daily baserunning drills…so, we may be missing something…
trs86
9/23/2009-10:08pm at 10:08 pm (UTC -4)
For those who say HR are not a problem. I offer tonight. We continually get players on but it takes a lot of singles and even doubles to score multiple runs an inning.
metsfan4decades
9/23/2009-10:34pm at 10:34 pm (UTC -4)
I know it’s taking a chance, but this is just another reason that I don’t have a problem with offering Delgado a cheap, 1 year contract…
trs86
9/23/2009-10:41pm at 10:41 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, you missed it. We debated that one so much the screen wore out.
trs86
9/23/2009-10:12pm at 10:12 pm (UTC -4)
Oh an by the way I know someone had asked about Matt Murton. He passed through waivers and resigned with the Rockies and is up playing with them now…
stickguy
9/23/2009-10:15pm at 10:15 pm (UTC -4)
mets should have claimed him. Oh well. GUess no noe else wanted him either!
also, Pelfrey needs to take the rest of the season off. Get a shrink, get a pitching coach, and figure out what he really is, and come to ST ready.
trs86
9/23/2009-10:18pm at 10:18 pm (UTC -4)
I really think, hope like hell, that it’s just the Verduccwhatever effect.
metsfan4decades
9/23/2009-10:33pm at 10:33 pm (UTC -4)
11 hits, 2 runs.
This team couldn’t get that lead off hitter in to save their lives.
How in the world are we leading the league in BA? And up there with RISP?
Absolutely unbelievable.
trs86
9/23/2009-10:40pm at 10:40 pm (UTC -4)
Because it’s all walks and singles. We have an issue with power, especially low in the order. After Frenchy there is no more power.
whataputz
9/23/2009-10:52pm at 10:52 pm (UTC -4)
Thats a good reason to not build a giant cavern. Say all you want about how it’s a pitchers park, and it will help them in the future and blah blah blah, but I’m not one for gimmicks. Just build a normal stadium! Was that too much to ask for!
trs86
9/23/2009-10:53pm at 10:53 pm (UTC -4)
Hit more HR at home than on the road.
stickguy
9/23/2009-10:45pm at 10:45 pm (UTC -4)
I just had a horrible thought.
Jerry being here next year (yes, that is horrible, but not what I meant), talking about needing the veteran pitching savvy catcher, while starting Schnieder 2 games in a row?
Oh no, can they catually be thinking of bringing back Jerry and Brian?
trs86
9/23/2009-10:54pm at 10:54 pm (UTC -4)
Schnieder I think knows he is gone but they will be on the market for a catcher. I have one ready to go for tomorrow. Wanny is licking his chops on this one.
stickguy
9/23/2009-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
as long as you are off the Bengie Molina kick.
There are a few of th evets floating around that could be tollerable for 1 year I guess.
Or get a young guy, like your buddy Morales.
trs86
9/24/2009-7:22am at 7:22 am (UTC -4)
I would still love to get Morales, but with Thole waiting I don’t think that is what they will look for.
And around the All-star break I was over Molina. He has been terrible this year.
steveo
9/23/2009-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
All I want is it to be over already these up comming 2 weeks are going to kill me. In the begining of the year all I wanted was october ball well I guess I got what I wished for