That’s right, I gave Ollie a pass yesterday. I’m chalking his performance up to the regular bevy of excuses: working on some pitches, hoping to pitch without pain in a real game, a little nervous, just trying to get some work in, first real game in 4 months, shaking off the cobwebs. I’ll take them all today for I am behind Oliver Perez and I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.
I’m not kidding.
I’ve been hard on Perez in the past and the one thing I wanted him to do this off season is lose some weight, get in shape and show up to Port St. Lucie in shape and ready to  play and Ollie did them all. So yesterday was his unveiling and by all means it was not impressive. As a matter of fact it was downright Oliver Perez like;  three innings, 5 runs on 7 hits, walked one and struck out two.  Actually,  the Nationals had three runs on the board before Perez could register an out-very Perez like indeed.
I’m not making any predictions nor conclusions.Â
Barring any injury or tightness(which I know none of as I write this), Perez is scheduled to make his next start. THAT’S the one where I expect a better performance. I’m not looking for a three up three down, 4 inning performance. I just want Ollie to keep his composure and throw strikes and keep the Mets in the game a little longer than yesterday.Â
Because, honestly, if he begins to revert to that old Ollie form, Minaya better start working the phones and getting someone, anyone in here that could pitch. We all know what the Old Perez can do to a bullpen on any given day-not to mention the psyche of a team on a winning streak. We have some pieces (Santos, Matthews or Pagan) that might net the Mets someone decent. But lets not go there yet.Â
So Ollie, welcome back, ice up and get ready for your next start.
108 comments
stickguy
3/8/2010-8:09am at 8:09 am (UTC -4)
Well, if he can keep his walk rate at 3/9 for the year, I will take it!
And feeling good right now counts for a whole lot.
It eas also encouraging to see him throw (from reports of 92) harder than at any point last year.
One thing though with him is to not get too good at throwing strikes. He seems to be one of those guys that is best when “effectively wild”. So it is worthwhile to take a couple more walks to save a bunch of hard base hits!
still too early to panic, even if it does go against the very nature of Met fans, unless you see guys getting carted off on stretchers, or arms flying off at the shoulder.
Besides, if you want to write off Perez from this start, you can replace him with take a gucci, since based on his outing, he should be fighting with Johan for the Cy Young!
And actually, one of the MOP heads faltering is not that big of a deal, as long as they have someone to step in and give good starts.
darknova306
3/8/2010-8:10am at 8:10 am (UTC -4)
To his credit, I guess, he only walked 1 in 3 innings. I’d expect at least 2 more walks than that, if not more. That said, I couldn’t care less what he does in ST. He gets no slack from me until he strings together some decent starts in the regular season. The benefit of the doubt for me extends only to Pelfrey and Maine, with optimistic expectations for Niese as well.
stickguy
3/8/2010-8:22am at 8:22 am (UTC -4)
From what people were posting, it even sounds like the ump blew the call on the 2-2 pitch.
Hey, after last year, you gotta look for positives where you can find them!
metsfan4decades
3/8/2010-8:59am at 8:59 am (UTC -4)
I saw that at bat. On that 2-2 pitch, Ronnie says ‘Oh, good pitch Oliver. Oops, looks like the ump didn’t agree with me’….
That made the count 3-2. Would have been nice to have come back with a K, but he walked him on the next pitch.
ceetar
3/8/2010-8:46am at 8:46 am (UTC -4)
I think Perez gets a pass on the next start (From real people anyway, not the Post) and maybe even the one after that. He likely won’t be going at it the same way he would in a regular game, so it’s hard to judge. He made some good pitches, he threw a lot of strikes. Probably too many. But most pitchers aren’t at pin-point control in March and it’s hard to hit corners.
He was healthy. on the mound. threw the pitches, and he _did_ finish the inning right? got the work in he was supposed to. movingo n.
DNDJohan aka kistics
3/8/2010-8:57am at 8:57 am (UTC -4)
I like the fact that Ollie threw strikes. If I’m not mistaken, the walk was to the first batter and the 2-2 call was questionable as well. So after the walk to the first batter, it was a good sign to see him throw strikes. One thing I was concerned was he was off in hitting targets that Omir was setting up, but still give him pass.
But it was really good to see Takahashi pitching. It’s going to be tough making decision on #5 for Jerry and co, which is a good thing.
Who’s the odd man out if Takahashi, Niese and Nieve all pitches well in the spring?
stickguy
3/8/2010-9:01am at 9:01 am (UTC -4)
Taka or Neise, since they pretty much are going to be the #5 or in AAA. Neive is out of options, and is also being considered for a role in the pen.
So, if Takaguumy is lights out, I think they give him the job, with Neise taking it a little slower in AAA, waiting for the 1st need of a call up.
Interesting to see that the Mets most likely will have a rotation with 3 lefties (and if say Maine hit the DL with Neise as the #6 to fill in, 4!)
GOod for the Philly series at least.
stickguy
3/8/2010-9:07am at 9:07 am (UTC -4)
Just my gut feeling, but based on some of the comments already (not so much here, but at “other” places), I am really afraid that a lot of fans haven’t bought into the whole new year/frresh start concept.
And that it will be manifested in severe grouchiness over ST results, and booing starting on opening day (probably starting even before introductions, with people heckling the black walls).
Hopefully I am wrong, or that it would be a small enough # of fans that they will get drowned out.
But man, even though it is a marathon, and I am afraid of what stunts Jerry might pull to get there, but if any team could really use a quick start, it is the Mets.
ceetar
3/8/2010-9:10am at 9:10 am (UTC -4)
I see little hope that Perez and Castillo don’t get booed. Everyone else is probably safe.
stickguy
3/8/2010-9:16am at 9:16 am (UTC -4)
wonder what kind of reception Jerry is going to get?
Castillo I think might fly under the radar a bit to start. And a good spring finish would help ollie, but at least he won’t be pitching that day!
darknova306
3/8/2010-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
Well, regardless of my expectations for the season, I’ll be cheering loudly as they introduce the players.
ceetar
3/8/2010-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
Likewise. emphasis on players. I’ll be quietly silent for Manuel. maybe a quick ‘boo’ may escape my lips, but I’ll try to contain it until my second game, game 4.
darknova306
3/8/2010-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
Good point. I might boo briefly/quietly for Manuel and Ollie, but everyone else gets an ovation.
It’s getting harder by the day to wait patiently for the season to start…
trs86
3/8/2010-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
At this point, why boo Ollie? I would think he already knows he stunk last year and it appears he worked hard in the off-season to correct that problem.
darknova306
3/8/2010-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
Just can’t stand him, that’s all.
trs86
3/8/2010-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
That’s fine that you don’t like him. But I am pretty sure you root for the name on the front not the name on the back right?
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
+ Many
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
But booing has been shown to dramatically improve performance…guys like getting booed by hometown “fans.”
DNDJohan aka kistics
3/8/2010-10:00am at 10:00 am (UTC -4)
That is too logical..
metsfan4decades
3/8/2010-9:14am at 9:14 am (UTC -4)
Good post. I agree with these points.
He did show improvement yesterday with velocity and throwing strikes.
njstuckintx
3/8/2010-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
I have to agree with the pass for Ollie. I honestly don’t put much stock at all in spring training for those that are assured spots on the everyday lineup. If they get their work in, are physically healthy and are ready to ramp it up come opening day then all is well. Just through strikes there Ollie!
saltygary
3/8/2010-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
Ollie needs to produce to get a pass. So far all he has done is take the teams money.
trs86
3/8/2010-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
Not sure that is fair. According to fangraphs from 2006-2008 Perez’s pitching was worth 15.3M and he was paid 9.5M. Highlighted by a 2007 that has him at 8.8M while he was paid 2.3. Last year was the first year that he was significantly overpaid. However, he was also injured so you usually do overpay during an injury year.
stickguy
3/8/2010-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
Actually, I have to disagree with this common theme (you just happened to have done the post I am responing too, so not personal Gary!)
2009 was a lost year. Ollie was also hurt. And that happens. Reyes did nothing really but take the teams money last year too by that logic.
But, in part of 2006 and then 2007-2008 he certainly did earn what he got paid. Wasn’t the best pitcher in the league, but the Mets got what they paid for!
maybe Omar overpaid a bit, but it was really bad luck that he had the train wreck year after getting his contract. But you do have to wait and see what happens over the last 2 years of it to judge.
saltygary
3/8/2010-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
I had no problem with Ollie’s re-signing. Omar was in a tough position with a lack of SP on the market and Lowe getting such a crazy contract. Also, sometimes the devil you know is better then the devil you don’t.
My gripe is how Ollie approached last year. He got his contract and mailed it in. I probably should of added a little more to my original post, because I don’t really get caught up in how any pitcher performs in ST. There is too much going on, especially in the beginning, and pitchers aren’t really trying to pitch like it’s a real game.
For the season though, he needs to earn my pass. If he comes out and puts his heart out there, regardless of results, then he’ll get me pass back.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
Ollie needs to produce once the season starts.
For now, he needs to stay healthy and gradually dial up the velocity.
DNDJohan aka kistics
3/8/2010-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
I agree. If he shows same old Ollie once the season starts, then no pass
saltygary
3/8/2010-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
Sure I’ll give you that. I don’t get too caught up (especially with pitchers) with ST results. For the season, Ollie needs to show that he wants to put the effort in. The team gave him the money and he has yet to attempt to earn it.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-11:22am at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
Agreed, up to this winter—if he really did spend all winter at that Institute for Underachieving Jackasses working hard, then maybe he has started to try to earn it.
CaseStreet
3/8/2010-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
Hey, Pelf wasn’t outstanding either, though he did have a 1-2-3 3rd inning. Right now, all I care is that they are able to throw hard and get in shape for the regular season.
njstuckintx
3/8/2010-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
Agreed!
CaseStreet
3/8/2010-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
BTW, was there any reason given for why Santos caught Perez instead of Blanco or Barajas?
trs86
3/8/2010-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
I’m sure it was just Santos’ turn.
metsfan4decades
3/8/2010-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
No. Booth discussed it but came to no conclusion. Not minutes before Omir hit that inside the park GS, Kevin had commented ‘I’m really surprised Barajas is not catching Ollie today’.
udontmesswthejohan
3/8/2010-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
Before the game, Omir said he was going to hit an inside the park grand slam and Jerry decided to just go with his gut.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
Again, a fine, and optimistic piece.
And remember, Ollie’s gameplan yesterday may very well have been to throw strikes—regardless of the consequences.
I do think we need to see better velocity in the next couple of starts.
No matter what the Nabobs and people who don’t understand baseball say, Ollie’s results in the spring mean zero. Zero. He needs to get the appropriate work in to make himself healthy and to work towards the regular season.
saltygary
3/8/2010-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
Most pitchers results in ST mean zero. It’s all about slowly building up ARM strength, and attempting new things like different pitches and motion.
Anyone not named Johan has something to prove this year, but we all should just wait until the season begins.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
Could not agree more!
udontmesswthejohan
3/8/2010-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
“The enigmatic $36 million lefthander gave up three runs in the first inning, including a towering home run to 6-5 rookie first baseman Mike Morse, another in the second and one more after two were out in the third on a single by Pudge Rodriguez and a double by Kevin Mench.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/03/08/2010-03-08_perez_outing_is_tough_sell.html#ixzz0hayJZoCJ
A towering HR? That was a frozen rope of a line drive. Madden is a hack. Have to wonder if he even watched the game. Not that that precludes him from passing judgement.
stickguy
3/8/2010-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
doesn’t stop me from doing it!
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
I definitely do long for the days in the 70s and 80s when spring training was treated like spring training.
Not targeting you AT ALL here Udont, but the way the reporters act as if games on March 7th mean anything is really ridiculous and obnoxious.
Spring of 2008 saw Maine and EVERY bullpen pitcher look like Cy Young, and we remember how that turned out…..
stickguy
3/8/2010-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
they did pitch well at the beginning of the year. Maine especially.
And if Maine hadn’t developed the shoulder problem, you wouldn’t have been looking for a #2 SP this off season most likely.
The pen? Combo of use and coming down to earth? IOW, they got Jerryfied.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-9:43am at 9:43 am (UTC -4)
If you can find the spring 2008 stats, Wagner, Heilman, Schoeneweis—it was like they all did not even HAVE ERAs.
ceetar
3/8/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
That’s the year Wagner threw the Closer no-hitter right?
udontmesswthejohan
3/8/2010-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
No problem. My point was only that Madden clearly didn’t watch the game if he referred to the HR as a towering fly ball. Ergo, how are we to take his article seriously. I mean even if you didn’t watch the game, do a little fact checking.
I had a friend who used to intern at the Daily News Sports section, and he said Madden would just make up names and they would have to go and figure out who he was talking about and edit his articles. I think he’s kind of clueless.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
People on Metsblog have already decided that Takahashi should be the number 3 starter.
Plus, and I did not see the beginning of the game to verify whether this was wrong, but according to Baron, Cora AND Slappy played 2B….no shortstop….
trs86
3/8/2010-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
Because NO one can replace Reyes.
metsfan4decades
3/8/2010-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
And did you see his latest post on Reyes to be tested today in NYC?
He’s going back and forth between hyPER and hyPO thyroidism and confusing the issue – IMO.
trs86
3/8/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
LOL< how do you refer to one in the opening sentence and then spend the rest of the article talking about the other?
ceetar
3/8/2010-9:48am at 9:48 am (UTC -4)
indeed. And going back and forth on the HGH issue too. If it’s worth noting, then note it, if it’s not, you’re just making it worse by bringing it up in most cases.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
Truthfully, at this point I almost go over there solely to see mistakes…when I saw 2 second basemen and no shortstop, I literally laughed out loud…and I think I saw it at night, so no one fixed it all day.
It is comedy, but I just cannot imagine how SNY does not assign them an intern to spend 60 seconds proofreading their posts.
ceetar
3/8/2010-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
It’s so obvious they copy and paste from the old game posts. sloppy all around, and I don’t generally even care about grammar and this stuff, but sometimes it’s just so egregious.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
Agreed 100%, but in all seriousness, how long does it take to just be sure you have nine guys in the lineup and that they each cover one position!!
stickguy
3/8/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
actually, it probably takes both of them to have full range coverage at 2B.
Might be a lot of balls going through the SS hole though…
maybe the Mets can get permission to play 10 on the field like in softball?
saltygary
3/8/2010-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
Why are you reading that crap. Nothing good will come of it.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
LOL! Not only are you right, but I have said that exact same thing SO many times on here!
I think that, as the season approaches, I am seriously starved for news; I was working at home a lot this weekend (including while blissfully watching the Nets kick the Knicks butts at MSG; how SWEET!) and during breaks I was going everywhere for Met info.
But you are 100% RIGHT!
ceetar
3/8/2010-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
it’s one of the few places that posts reliable, regular news and information during the offseason. However, with Twitter, I found I no longer need to look for the information about lineups, starters, and the like.
You read it the same reason you peek at teh Post and News headlines. Because they’re popular.
GravediggerHebner
3/8/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
The biggest thing I take from Ollie’s 1st ST start is 16 batters faced, 1 base on balls. That he was able to hit 92 mph on the gun while maintaining decent control seems to me to be a good foundation to build on moving slowly toward the season.
metsfan4decades
3/8/2010-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
And his ratio of strikes vs. balls was good. Somewhere around 39 strikes for 50 some odd pitches – if I remember correctly.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
Agreed, and I really think that is what the coaches told him to do….throw hard, throw strikes, and well, if they hit it, let’s not worry about that!
oleosmirf
3/8/2010-11:22am at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
Takahashi was exceptional. Ill reserve judgment until after I see him pitch more than a few times but no matter how you spin something, giving up 5 ER in 3 IP is not good.
What is good however is that, so far at least, we (especially our prospects) have been tearing the cover off the ball. Davis, F-Mart, Tejada in partuclar…
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
“but no matter how you spin something, giving up 5 ER in 3 IP is not good”
Yeah, but for those of us who understand the significance of the date on the calendar, and what the word TRAINING means in Spring TRAINING, no spin is necessary.
If he was throwing 87 and walked 6 guys, or if it was April 7, then your comment might have some more validity.
ceetar
3/8/2010-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
Actually, I think Perez will probably be starting April 8th, not the 7th.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-11:30am at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
You are almost certainly correct, and he will hopefully be ready to finish off a sweep of the pesky Marlins!
ceetar
3/8/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
Looks like I’ll probably get to see Santana and Maine my first week.
wannybackstra
3/8/2010-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
Spring Training results matter less than other things but I think in Ollie’s case it is fair to say that he needs to generate results immediately when the season starts. Every Spring Training start like this one — even with the positives regarding his walks — discourages the belief that he will get it together.
wannybackstra
3/8/2010-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
This mostly superficial article classifies the Mets as $130m sleepers:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/lee_jenkins/03/05/mets.postcard/index.html?eref=sihp
njstuckintx
3/8/2010-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
The Mets do have a legitimate shot at this thing. Yes, they have questions, but so do others. I find it humorous that with so many people being down on them, they are easily overlooked. Barring injury and disaster to those currently healthy and a semi-speedy recovery from Tron, the line up is faily deep. Just a matter of outscoring the opponents, which gives them a punchers chance at the wildcard. Having a puncher’s chance to me is more than a sleeper. Your New York Rodney Dangerfields…
ceetar
3/8/2010-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think they’ll win the wildcard. I think if things click like they can/should, they win the division, if not they probably languish around 85wins, sorta being ‘close’, but never really stepping up and getting there.
njstuckintx
3/8/2010-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, it very well could be a coin flip between the two. Does that make them a sleeper? I guess that label is in the eye of the coin flipper.
fongy2
3/8/2010-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
In order to Win THIS Division,
we’ll need 96/97wins,because
THAT’s about where the Phillies
will be.
ceetar
3/8/2010-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
ahahhahahaha
that’s funny.
the Phillies will be nowhere near 96 wins. They haven’t gotten close recently and the division is much better this year.
fongy2
3/8/2010-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
Really Homey?!
92&93Wins the past two yrs.Terrible home start last season,no BP, little SP.
Halladay for the entire season,Hamels
bounces bad,re-tooled Pen and Polanco over Feliz
@3B.
Are you kiddin’?
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Other than the Cards, who is good in the whole rest of the NL outside our division?
The Wild Card should be in the NL East.
fongy2
3/8/2010-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry to disagree my friend BUT
I’m goin’with
The Rocks and Dodgers
in The West..
Along with The Phils and
Cards.
ceetar
3/8/2010-12:22pm at 12:22 pm (UTC -4)
92-93 is the top of their game. The division is better. the Mets will easily win 16 more games which even just randomly would be one or two against the Phillies. They got a ton out of Lee last season, and Halladay is just one, older, pitcher. Hamels won’t bounce back much and the other guys will probably be about average. Their pen isn’t very retooled and I think Polanco is a downgrade. Plus, this is all ‘best case’ and they have no depth or money to deal with adversity if say Hamels doesn’t bounce back, or Utley gets hurt.
trs86
3/8/2010-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
About Hamels, as noted many times by even Phillies supporters he really did not pitch poorly last year. Hit rate increased but walk and k rate were fine. He won 14 games perhaps pitching over his head and 10 games pitching “unlucky” last year. Thus 12 wins is a good guess.
trs86
3/8/2010-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
I still don’t understand how Polanco playing a position he has played little of and not played in years is an upgrade over Feliz. Nor do I understand how they have improved their pen at all.
trs86
3/8/2010-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
Regardless, they are the cream of the crop and if healthy I assume 88-92 wins.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-12:35pm at 12:35 pm (UTC -4)
The Dodgers lost Hudson!
They will be lucky to win 55 games!
metsfan4decades
3/8/2010-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
Well, we can do that ‘if’ with the Phillies too.
- IF Cole is the 2008 version, not 2009
- IF Happ doesn’t have the sophomore slump
- IF Moyer stays healthy enough to be their #5 and/or they can come up with another for that spot
- IF that BP (which isn’t all that great right now) and especially Lidge does better than 2009
- IF Ibanez bounces back from his injury/surgery and is the first half Ibanez, not second half.
- IF their regulars once again remain healthy b/c their bench still isn’t good
On paper, they look very good. So do the Mets.
If, if if….
trs86
3/8/2010-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
Right on paper they look like an 88-92 win team. On paper in my opinion we look like an 86-90 win team. Gonna be a fight to the last week in my opinion.
ceetar
3/8/2010-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
Honestly, I think people misuse sleeper. And I don’t think you can predict them by definition.
If people are predicting the team, and while not a ton of people are, there ARE people picking the Mets to do well, then they’re aren’t a sleeper.
We all know Perez Maine and Pelfrey are capable of doing well. They’ve had flashes of different lengths.
If Heyward rivals Pujols and Reyes for the MVP and Tommy Hanson rivals Santana and Lincecum for the Cy Young THAT is a sleeper team.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
That was surprisingly fair…but, as with most of the incredibly lazy major media he did not really delve to do his homework, as he has Jose leading off and Murph hitting 2nd!
darknova306
3/8/2010-11:50am at 11:50 am (UTC -4)
Sounds like a lazy sports-writer is trying to make a safe sleeper pick so he can sound like a genius at the end of the year without actually doing any real work. *yawn*
fongy2
3/8/2010-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
Amazin’ how low expections have become for Ollie!
Everyone’s happy “He threw strikes” AND “He hit 92 on the gun”.
12 Million dollars……..Unreal!
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
Come on buddy, it is the first week of spring training games!
25 years ago, we would not have gotten this much detail, and it would mean nothing!
You know the game better than this.
He was told to air it out without hurting himself and throw strikes…it is March 7th!
Didn’t Joba the Nutt get shelled for the Skanks too? Is the sky falling in the Bronx?
fongy2
3/8/2010-12:22pm at 12:22 pm (UTC -4)
Likely not. But that might be b/c they’re coming off another Championship AND b/c if Joba wasn’t Joba, they’re so deep with Pitching it wouldn’t really matter that much.
If Ollie isn’t the “Good Ollie”, we’re in alot
of trouble since thatnks to the job our FO has
done putting this group together we have no depth at all.
trs86
3/8/2010-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
Fongy are you not a happy person? LOL. You very rarely have anything positive to say except when it comes to the Phills. I know that you think you are just being realistic and you are a die hard Mets fan. But isn’t part of being a fan having that hope that every year is your year?
metsfan4decades
3/8/2010-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, I’ll take the good Ollie/bad Ollie of ’07 who won 15 games…
He’s probably never going to be anyone’s definition of consistent.
GravediggerHebner
3/8/2010-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
Hardly unreal.
I’m not holding his contract against him on March 7th.
Talk to me in the regular season and I might feel differently but I don’t have “expections” in spring training much beyond showing up healthy and getting on the field when you’re supposed to.
oleosmirf
3/8/2010-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
well to be fair you cant judge expectations based on a contract.
i mean Ollie was a 12 mill dollar player once in his career and that was in 2004. If he can pitch like an avg 4-5 SP ill be happy…
Mr North Jersey
3/8/2010-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
I think considering that Ollie averages 92, 93mph and last season he barely hit that it is a good sign that he was hitting 92mph in his 1st start. Especially when he is not throwing at 100% velocity yet.
Again had he gone out there and struck out every hitter he faced I am sure many of us would still be saying “let’s see him do it when it counts”. Which is the best way to go about it. Let’s see what Ollie has at the sound of the bell. It’d be nice to see him throw no-hit stuff but with his past season we would still need to see it in the regular season.
GravediggerHebner
3/8/2010-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
Your 1st paragraph is precisely what made his mph yesterday noticeable and positive in my opinion.
I don’t know what his average mph on the fastball was yesterday but I do know that his average in 2009 was exactly 90.0mph which was the lowest of his career. That’s why I look at what he showed yesterday as a positive.
The increase in velocity coupled with the control demonstrated in yesterday’s very small sample is something I can’t fathom finding negativity in. Whether it leads to anything is of course an open question but in and of itself it was a positive every way I see it.
trs86
3/8/2010-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
Hmmm, although I was on vacation at the time, I vaguely remember him having good velocity during the WBC but then when it got back being all to hell. I think we had the discussion that either the speeds were off in the WBC or he hurt himself.
trs86
3/8/2010-12:35pm at 12:35 pm (UTC -4)
As I look at his average pitch speeds from last year what really stands out is that his off-speed pitches were much faster than his career averages. Thus it is possible that he was not able to finish off those pitches due to injury.
trs86
3/8/2010-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
He threw his change up 11% of the time compared to an average of about 5% of the time with the Mets. The speed was 84.9 instead of 81. That combined with a decreased speed on his fastball is just pure disaster.
trs86
3/8/2010-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
One more thing for stats here. He threw his slider the least he had ever thrown. We may not know that much about Perez but we know his slider is his best pitch and he could not throw it last year.
Mr North Jersey
3/8/2010-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
On that note it was reported that he barely threw his slider yesterday. Another reason why you can’t judge Ollie yesterday on the results of his outing.
trs86
3/8/2010-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, threw it about 5 times I think. What I would really like to know is what the change-up was coming in at.
GravediggerHebner
3/8/2010-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t recall WBC specifics but I believe his stay on the DL last year was due to an actual physical problem and I am pleased that the small sample of early returns this spring suggest that problem may be behind him.
trs86
3/8/2010-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed.
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
I just have to say to so many of you how great it is to be on a site where the overwhelming majority understand that velocity and strikes are what mattered yesterday for Ollie.
The reaction at Metsblog and the Ledger is the usual sky is falling drivel.
Thank you all.
saltygary
3/8/2010-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
God forbid if the poop hits the fan, don’t take offense if I start agreeing with Fongy again
Mr North Jersey
3/8/2010-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
Nothing wrong with agreeing with Fongy.
Fongy tends to need to see something before he believes it. Considering our last 3 years it’s hard to fault him for that.
If the poop hits the fan this season Fongy is on record of saying he was not surprised by it. In fact he will say he hoped he would be proven wrong.
Mr North Jersey
3/8/2010-1:02pm at 1:02 pm (UTC -4)
It’s funny, in a way Fongy is like a measuring stick if he gives a Met a good compliment you know they must be really doing good.
It would be like if Francesa started singing the praises of Ike Davis. If he did that you know Ike has to be good. Unless your VCraver who would tell you Mike has an ulterior motive and can’t be trusted.
I wonder who VCarver argues with today?
Kingman 26
3/8/2010-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
LOL! I love Fongy despite his excessive realism, as I will call it…he’s a real fan if there ever was one.
He just has a LOT of glasses which are half empty.
stickguy
3/8/2010-1:33pm at 1:33 pm (UTC -4)
for all the phils talk, Lidge still isn’t back on a mound after yet another knee operation. And Vicky has been shut down with a shoulder injury that they are being somewhat mysterious about (downplaying heavily).
Maybe it is time for the worm to turn a little?