As a Mets fan,I hate to be reactionary when one of my players is stinking up the joint. But in the case of Oliver Perez, I believe the writing on the wall – and the Handwriting states “THAT IF OLLIE WON’T ACCEPT A DEMOTION TO THE MINORS THEN HE SHOULD BE CUT !!!”
I know it sounds harsh but yesterday Mets manager Jerry Manuel all but conceded that “It’s going to be tough to find spots” where Ollie can pitch. I think that it was safe to say that a majority of the fan-base was seething when Jerry had Ollie replace Fernando Neive in the midst of a close game – a game which Perez let get away from the team by surrendering three more runs in a inning. Lets face it , as long as Oliver is in the bullpen, we will be playing short because as long as the Mets have a chance of winning a game – Oliver will have no shot of pitching in it. Honestly if I were Omar Minaya, I would march into Jeff Wilpon’s office and demand that I be allowed to designate Ollie for assignment. Maybe then Oliver will accept the demotion to Buffalo – if not – and he is released, at least we don’t have to curse our televisions every-time he is announced into a game. I wonder what ever happened to the Oliver Perez that wore his heart on his sleeve? The player who admitted he was embarrassed by his performance last year, and came into spring training after a labor intensive off season in which he even went to a sports rehab facility? The Oliver Perez I see is content in his pseudo-benching, looking more board in the bullpen than being seething about losing his spot in the rotation- I guess there are thirty-six million reasons why Oliver feels this way. At this point I am comfortable with either Takahashi on Dickey filling his slot in the rotation. They have proven they belong up here … Ollie – not so much.
Â
                                                                                    
                                                                                         ” Ollie’s on the road to nowhere !!”
And with that said … HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Happy Birthday wishes go out to Mets middle reliever from the ’78- ’79 campaigns, Dwight Bernard (1952)
Journeyman outfielder, and one of the lone bright spots of the early to mid ’90′s teams – Joe Orsulak is 50 (1962).
New York Mets traded second baseman,Tim Teufel to the San Diego Padres for outfielder, Garry Templeton on May 31, 1991. I wondered at the time why the Mets would trade Teuful- who was still a decent player for Templeton, who was washed up – ala Garry Matthews Jr. – I still haven’t found an answer!
And Mo Vaughn and I would like to wish all of our active service-men and Veterans who have served a Happy Memorial Day . Your sacrifices are appreciated !
83 comments
trs86
5/31/2010-8:56am at 8:56 am (UTC -4)
I had planned on making a post on this today but you got there first.
We are in a very difficult situation with Ollie. It’s almost like he trying to force us to release him where he can get out of NY and maybe find a pitching coach or mentor that can deal with him in a less pressure situation. Should we grant him that goal? Obviously he’s not worth 24M but he has to have more than 0 value so our best hope is to some how trade him eating a ton of cash or taking back a bad contract.
Perhaps eating cash for Willis or Kazmir? Trading Ollie in a package for Zambrano to help eat the cost of Zamby? Obviously he can’t spend the rest of the year in the pen and has no plans on going to AAA. The Mets appear to have no plans of him pitching in the rotation.
Thus to me the only hope is to trade him.
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-9:06am at 9:06 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. Creative for Kazmir or Big Z. Omar better charge up extra cell phone batteries and get to work!
On a side note, Big Z is back in their rotation.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
Yeah the problem is finding a G.M that is either stupid , crazy or savvy enough to make deal for Ollie – I wonder if we did cut ollie if it would impact us going after a cliff lee or oswalt in season or a big name pitcher this coming offseason ?
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-9:10am at 9:10 am (UTC -4)
Did you see that Olney and the other clowns already have Lee on the Yanks? sigh…
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/31/2010-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
Well it’s always a safe bet to assume any top FA would go to the Yankees.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:16am at 9:16 am (UTC -4)
Yeah him & carl Crawford
trs86
5/31/2010-9:18am at 9:18 am (UTC -4)
I can’t understand why it would. If nothing else it creates a hole to be filled (not that there is not one already). We already paid the cash so…
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/31/2010-9:10am at 9:10 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. If the Cubs can trade Bradley and Halos can get rid of GMJ (granted only for $2M), there could be a chance someone would take a 28yr old LHP.
But then Castillo is still here and Ollie doesn’t throw 93 anymore.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:14am at 9:14 am (UTC -4)
When have the mets ever shown the willingness to eat a major contract ? Even eating a portion of one ?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/31/2010-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think they have any other option but to eat his contract. The only way to get rid of Ollie’s entire contract is to trade for a huge contract like Vernon Wells or Soriano. I don’t think that’s a smart idea to trade for even bigger worse contract.
Or just stash him on the bullpen and hope that someone hires a hitman.
trs86
5/31/2010-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
Not sure DND.
Suppose the Mets were willing to eat 16-18M of the 20 left? Don’t you think that someone would bite?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/31/2010-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
Nope. Would you trade for him and pay him $4M plus prospect? Not me.
To me his value is zero. Not even worth bag of balls.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
doubt it
trs86
5/31/2010-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
Why would you give a prospect?
Again it would be a salary dump so the guy being obtained would be worthless anyway.
While to you his value is 0 others may see 2/4M for Ollie.
You don’t think as soon as he is released that someone won’t take a chance on him?
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
I think he gets snapped up in a heartbeat. Milwaukee to reunite with the jacket? Houston, just cause. Back to Pittsburgh, again, just cause?
A mental midget at $400K is much more attractive than a mental midget at multiple millions.
trs86
5/31/2010-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
True but again the chance to have sole rights to that mental midget for 2 years at 2/4 million total would entice someone. Why take the risk that say the uh Dodgers snag him if you are the Brewers?
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
or he can become another bruce chen or chan ho park
trs86
5/31/2010-9:48am at 9:48 am (UTC -4)
It’s hard for us to think objectively but seriously Perez has more value than GMJR. I know that was Omar but there are moves like this all the time. I have no doubt that if we were to take the time to eat 16-18M of his 20M owed someone would take him.
trs86
5/31/2010-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
Bonilla?
Mr North Jersey
5/31/2010-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
Did the Mets eat Bonilla’s contract?
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
It was a lot cheaper than the 20 plus mill we owe Ollie
Mr North Jersey
5/31/2010-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
According to this the Mets rather than eating his contract and just paying his 5.9 million for the year they prefered just paying him $1,193,248.20 every year till 2035.
“I’m not going to stay quiet again next year,” Bonilla announced in December. But by that point, it was clear that Bonilla had no future in New York. He was finally released in January after reaching an unusual agreement with the Mets: Instead of picking up his $5.9 million salary for the 2000 season, the team pledged to pay him $1,193,248.20 each July 1st from 2011 to 2035 — nearly $30 million all told. Less than a month later, Bonilla signed with the Braves.
http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Bobby_Bonilla_1963
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
It’s amazing that people who make these decisions make more in a year than I’ll ever see in my lifetime.
trs86
5/31/2010-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
Bobby Bo is being paid 30M to go away. LOL.
Mr North Jersey
5/31/2010-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
You have to wonder how bad the Mets situation was that they decided to defer his 5.9M for 12 years and instead payout over all nearly 30M rather than just paying him off?
I would think getting the SNY Network and Citi Field up and running may have played into it. If not why would they decide to do such a thing is beyond me.
trs86
5/31/2010-9:51am at 9:51 am (UTC -4)
Agree. It was only 5Mish.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
penny smart – pound foolish – also bonillia might have refused to be bought out unless that stipulation was made
Mr North Jersey
5/31/2010-9:53am at 9:53 am (UTC -4)
Like TX said,
“It’s amazing that people who make these decisions make more in a year than I’ll ever see in my lifetime.”
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
yeah scary isn;t it
trs86
5/31/2010-9:42am at 9:42 am (UTC -4)
Also that’s not a fair way of putting it. What other player owed 20M have the Mets ever NEEDED to release?
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
has never happened – although we had our share of players we wanted to run out on a rail – i.e benitez, rich rodriguez, Vince Coleman, juan samuel etc
trs86
5/31/2010-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
True but none of them were owed much money. The Mets just like a lot of teams give there players every chance they can get before releasing them. Even Marlon and Julio were owed decent amounts.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:53am at 9:53 am (UTC -4)
also rickey henderson – but the closest i can think of was saberhagen i think he had close to 10 mil left and the mets traded him for midlevel talent
Mr North Jersey
5/31/2010-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
The chances of the Mets simply eating Ollie’s remaining contract are slim to none.
It would be unrealistic to believe such a thing ever happening. Ollie will either be traded or he will have to be used eventually in hopes the Mets can get some type of return in their investment.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-10:00am at 10:00 am (UTC -4)
you are so right – it is just disheartening when you see lower level teams like the tigers, d’backs and angels do it with guys like sheffield, willis, byrnes and gmjr
trs86
5/31/2010-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
I think Castillo is still here because it never made enough sense to eat the cash to trade him. He’s still semi productive is not really hurting the team and we have no real replacements.
Perez on the other hand is actually hurting the team.
metsfan4decades
5/31/2010-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
And let’s not forget Castillo did agree to go down to triple A end of ’08 – so they could bring someone help that would help the team those last several weeks. He clearly was not happy about it but he knew how bad he was at that point so he consented to do it for the good of the team. So kudos to Louie on that.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
I agree with u on slappy – that was a overreaction by us fans – I’m just wondering if Detroit would want Ollie
trs86
5/31/2010-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
No….
But they don’t want Willis either.
I guess the pitch would be hey you guys are already gonna pay 8M to ditch Willis. Why not pay 12M and get 2 years of a project instead?
trs86
5/31/2010-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
Most likely we would have to include another player to make it work as well. Someone to balance that 4M that is under control and cheap. Like maybe an Evans type?
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
Isn’t it ironic that perez was a project when we obtained him . I wonder if pascal perez is willing to come out of retirement ?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/31/2010-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
I think there are two scenarios where Ollie gets traded.
1) Mets eat all/most of his contract and trade for some backup/AAA player.
2) Trade for even worse contract like Wells/Soriano/Zito/Rios(?)
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
mets will never hamstring themselves with wells contract – zito is pitching well & his contract is now reasonable where are u going to put sori or rios plus rios is hurt isnt he?
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
Wow. Orsulak is 50. I feel old, or it could be the gray creeping into my hair.
As for Ollie… If you cut him, he gets signed by someone asap. Heck, even Phillie could snag him. Should that matter? Not really. Like TRS said in another post, I’d try trading him to Detroit for Willis, hopefully save a little money in the deal and have Willis accept a minor league assignment, essentially getting back a roster spot for someone useful. Having not seen the stats for the boys in the minors, I would think Misch should come up. I know that he’d have to clear in order to go back down, but with the General apparently breaking Nieve, a long man/spot starter is going to be needed.
And yes, something should be done. I just can’t see him accepting a minor league deal with Boras at the helm. I still think DL for Social Anxiety Disorder is the best made up DL thing that should happen for all parties. Goes to minors, has something to blame for the whole ordeal, if he comes back decent, his stock soars back up, Met’s get the roster spot and hopefully he fixes whatever it is that is destroying his mental and physical capacity.
I’m also thinking that Warthen’s tough guy approach isn’t something that works for Ollie or Maine. Maine is going to get tough right back with him, which he did, pitched hurt without anyone knowing, etc. etc. Ollie is going to just shut down mentally, which he did, played with his head in the clouds or up his butt, and that’s why we are where we are.
Clean sweep of management team is still in order. I can’t say it will cause a tremendous turn around, but I would prefer to know we are seeing losses due to the team truly not being good vs. bad choices leading to said losses. Let’s subtract the bad choices and see what is actually there.
trs86
5/31/2010-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
Boras would never let that fly because then big teams would not sign him in his next deal. We laugh at that thought anyway but a guy like Boras gets paid to do that.
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
I know. Trying to think outside the box.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
plus our relationship with boras is strained as it is – not saying he wouldn’t enjoy doing buisness ( fleecing us) down the road
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
You think it could ever be possible to just boycott Boras and all his players? I’d say no, but it’d be nice.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-10:04am at 10:04 am (UTC -4)
in a perfect world yes. but unfortuanately this is scotts world and we just buy seven dollar hotdogs because of him
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/31/2010-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
Can’t the Mets file for insurance for mental DL? That would be nice…
metsfan4decades
5/31/2010-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
After this debacle with Ollie, I’m not convinced trying to trade him – which would include probably eating most of his contract anyway and getting back another team’s headache – is the best way to go. If the Mets are going to lose that much money on this Ollie investment, I’d just assume release him.
It’s obvious the Mets have no intention of working with Ollie on his mechanics as long as he’s on the 25 man roster. I think that’s a little on the stubborn side as well, but they want him to accept a AAA assignment to do just that. Or….by now, they’re convinced he’s hopeless and sending him down will buy them some time on what to do.
On asking Ollie to go down and him saying no, I’d really like to know what his answer is to the question ‘why not’? What reason does he have for saying no? What possible reason can he give right now that would make any sense?
As an outsider looking in who probably doesn’t have all the facts on this, way I see it both Perez and the Mets are at fault right now and both are playing games.
That being said, I don’t want to see Perez pitching in any game that could be decided by his ineffectiveness. The goal is to try and win ballgames and right now he gives you about a 5% chance of helping them do just that.
trs86
5/31/2010-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
The idea would be to trade him for someone that could be useful this season or a guy that would go to the minors. We can’t leave him up so at this point you try and trade him for anything that would save you any money at all. Eating maybe 16-18 of his 20.2M left.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
I think Willis fits that bill or wary rodriguez from the astros
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
I think Wandy is held in too high regard in Houston for that to happen.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
so is oswalt lol and drayton would never take ollie anyway
metsfan4decades
5/31/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
As long as whoever we were getting back would not hold the Mets hostage as Ollie is doing – ala would accept a minor league assignment if necessary – then fine, I’m for that. But just don’t want to exchange one headache for another that puts us in the same spot we’re in now.
We need competent production out of all 25 guys to make a run this summer.
And on that note, I don’t think GMJ applies to ‘competent production’ either.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:48am at 9:48 am (UTC -4)
yeah but its easy to hide him on the bench – its hard to hide ollie when jerry is overtaxing the pen case in point would uyou havepitched uncle elmer yesterday?
metsfan4decades
5/31/2010-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
Depends on who might have been available if Ollie wasn’t taking up a spot – instead of Dessens. Truthfully, I had no problem with Dessens coming in there.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
i had flashbacks to the yankee game – sorry lolthe case in point is that either omar or jeff or even johan should pull ollie aside and say – do whats best for the team – go down !
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
Btw did anyone see o-dawg In that collision ? I was holding my crotch In pain
trs86
5/31/2010-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
Was it Gritty?
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
It made my testicles ache
trs86
5/31/2010-9:53am at 9:53 am (UTC -4)
What about Jeff Supan? He’s terrible. Owed about 8.5M. I wonder if the Brewers would take a chance to reunite Ollie?
Say we take Suppan and send them Ollie and 4M?
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
i think i threw up a little in my mouth – no suppan i belive has stated that he wouldnt want to play for the mets – i remmeber the mets courting him after the ’06 season. I wonder about Manny Parra though?
rustyjr
5/31/2010-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
I think the most likely candidate to come to the mets is either sonnestine or rich harden – harden would thrive in citifield
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-10:00am at 10:00 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, thrive for about 114 pitches through 3 2/3.
I wonder what Harden’s value will be, trade wise.
I’d take Sonnestine. He’d fit well within Citi Cavern.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
lol yes but harden was once a dominant pitcher when he was with oakland – and he is a flyball pitcher which is conducive to citi field
i keep reading that sonnestine is more of a reliver these days
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
Well, if you want to get technical, or 4-5 pitchers are relievers as well, no? haha and sad.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
touche lol but taka was a excellent find by omar – and dickey should go to the pen if we get another starter
stickguy
5/31/2010-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
actually they are both starters. Taka was a SP in Japan up until this year, and DIckey was starting for AAA this year.
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-10:20am at 10:20 am (UTC -4)
I know, I know… Taka, yes, I concede he is a starter. Dickey, while his efforts are commendable and we couldn’t have asked for more than what’s he’s given, he is not what I would call a major league starter. That said, keep throwing it as you are RA!
metsfan4decades
5/31/2010-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
This on MLBTR:
After being designated for assignment, Willis would like to play for a West Coast team, according to FOX Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi. Morosi says the Diamondbacks are Willis’ first choice.
stickguy
5/31/2010-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
Willis should really be planning for what to do with his life after baseball.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
so should John Maine
stickguy
5/31/2010-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
wow, lots of comments for easrly on a Holiday!
Good debate though. I don’t expect Ollie to be flat out releasesed for a couple of reasons. And the WIlpons not realizing the concept of sunk cost isn’t one of them!
Ollie still does have value. And the Mets are going to hang onto him until they realize it (either by trading for soething they can use, or having him pitch again). He is still 28 YO LH SP. and since he has never had any (known) arm issues, he should be fixable. At this point though, through sheer stubbornness or plain incopetence (or a bad combo of the 2), I don’t think it hapens with the MEts.
But, even if he gets cut and say ends up in St. Louis and Duncan finally straightens him out, I don’t care as long as it makes the Mets better in the process. Now, the MEts likely carea a great deal, which could be a problem.
I do fault the Ollie camp for not making the minor concession of a 3 week trip to AAA for some rework. I honestly can’t see a downside. He gets his service time, and salary, and it can’t be any more embarrassing that being banished to rot in the pen, can it? Plus there is the chance that he A) gets his stuff back, and B) gets looked at as a team player. ANd either one should help when he wants his next contract!
speaking of which, I bet he is playing himself right out of type A or B FA status. screwing the MEts 1 more time.
SO, I bet TRS is right. They are going to spend some time to look for a trade option, before they finally release him. And while I think they actualy need more SP depth, he ain’t providing that now (not viable one at least). And there are a few guys in the minors that can help in the pen too.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-10:14am at 10:14 am (UTC -4)
it will be a very underwhelming trade thats for sure – garbage for garbage – look i liked Ollie but there is a perception that he took the money and just doesnt care anymore – thats dangerous for any organization that has a restless fanbase
metsfan4decades
5/31/2010-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
Ha! The Phils DFA’d Figgy to make room for Lidge.
Ouch. Lidge sucks but they owe him big $$ and the Phils have their fingers crossed he can regain some of his former closing talent.
Mr North Jersey
5/31/2010-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
If he clears I am sure Mets will bring him back to AAA. That is unless he finds another team.
metsfan4decades
5/31/2010-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
You would think Figgy, who has been around as long as dirt, would have looked a little to the future and kept his mouth shut somewhat when he went to the Phils. Not only did he get his say, he still was talking about not making the Met roster when the Phils were in town.
I like Figgy but I think he over values his talent as compared to others. He ought to take a page out of RA Dickey’s book. His interview post game yesterday didn’t come close to the ‘about damn time someone gave me a chance’ mindset…
Mr North Jersey
5/31/2010-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
What he said was wrong and he came off is immature and like he was somehow owed something when the truth is regardless of what happened he was afforded the opportunity to do what few people ever get a chance to do.
Not knowing Figueroa personally and only having observed him from the outside I want to believe that in retrospect he will see the error in his comments and one day recognize how lucky he actually was/is.
He let his emotions get the better of him and made a mistake. I still think highly of him I can’t explain why except to say that I see a good man that fought hard to achieve a goal and never let other people’s opinion of him stop him from trying to reach his goal of making it and being a MLB pitcher.
That he had a moment of weakness and said the wrong thing only makes him human in my eyes.
rustyjr
5/31/2010-10:20am at 10:20 am (UTC -4)
I wonder if figgy will bad mouth the Phillies now? Well I guess we’ve found ollies reacement – kidding trs
njstuckintx
5/31/2010-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
I wonder if we can expect a “whiner’s rant” from Figgy about Philly. “I gave them my blood, tears, many an earned run, and this is how they treat me?!?”
vcmetsfan28
5/31/2010-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
Hey Rusty great post… This Ollie thing has gone to far… way to far, I pray I am in the stadium when the Mets bring him into a game (hopefully Mets are up 9-1) but I will throw my no Boo policy out the window and join right in with the Citi faithful and let him have it…
This is not about performance (although it could be) this is about selfishness, not doing what is best for the team and himself. He may have to much pride or whatever you want to call it not to go down to the minors but its not doing ANYONE any good… He has officially become a waste of a roster spot, even more so than GMJ, and the Mets are now playing 25-24 baseball and shorthanded in one of the most important parts of a team.. the bullpen..