The Great radio voice of the New York Mets Howie Rose took the gloves off and laid into Oliver Perez calling his behavior “criminal” at one point in his recent blog post.
It is the strongest statement I can ever recall hearing Howie say toward a Mets player. At one point he says ownership needs to revisit the clause that allows a player to refuse being sent to the minors explaining,
“This is not about getting out from under an onerous contract. It’s about having the right to find any way possible to get at least a fraction of their money’s worth, whether the petulant, overpaid player likes it or not.”
Whether you agree with Howie or not it is a great Blog Post that shows even Howie is frustrated with Oliver Perez and isn’t afraid to say it.
46 comments
saltygary
6/1/2010-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
Fatcessa better learn that his station has a blog service seeing he feels that their irrelevant.
oleosmirf
6/1/2010-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
Dear Omar,
I told you this would happen the second the season was over. I said Ollie would pitch himself out of baseball by the time the contract expired and now that Castillo is on his last legs, and we are stuck with him for next year, it is going to be very difficult to you to keep your job. Although luckily for you your bosses are not going to pay people to leave so you, Castillo and Ollie are going to be here.
what needs to happen is Santana and Wright need to go to the Wilpons together and DEMAND them to release him. Not sure David has the cojones to do that though. Put a little pressure on management…
trs86
6/1/2010-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
While I wish Ollie would go down to AAA and hate that it is placing the team in a bad situation, there is nothing criminal about it.
If Howie has a problem there are 2 things he should do. Take it up with the Players Union and the Owners as they are the ones to put the stupid rule in saying a player can’t be sent down with out his permission. Ollie, while it sucks, is well within his rights and is doing what he thinks he should… looking out for himself. Second, go up to Ollie himself and look him in the eye and call him a criminal. Man these guys get brave don’t they?
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2010-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
I think putting his name to it is brave. It is something you would not expect the voice of the Mets to say publicly. He put himself out there at the risk that his words may come back to bite him. I don’t know what else anyone can ask for?
trs86
6/1/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
Actually going up to Ollie and saying man you are hurting the team and need to go down to AAA. Howie’s been around long enough and respected enough.
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2010-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
Its obvious he is writing a blog post for wfan and chose that forum to express his thoughts. There is no rule that I know of where before a member of the media writes a post he has to confront the player 1st.
trs86
6/1/2010-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
None at all. I just think that if you say things like the player needs to go down to the minors or he is hurting the team that is fine. But using words like criminal seems like more of a personal attack.
Also there IS a rule saying that Ollie does not have to go down, thus it can not be criminal right?
oleosmirf
6/1/2010-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Howie knows its not actually criminal according to the laws but he means criminal in a more metaphoric way b/c he is under the impression that Ollie should care about the team and try to get better.
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2010-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
I am sure TRS knew it wasn’t literally Oleo or at least I hope he did.
trs86
6/1/2010-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
Yeah but again I have a hard time calling something legal, criminal.
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
I see well I don’t share your thoughts so no point in going any further. I think as long as you put your name to it and dont hide under the cloud of anonymity that is all you can ask for.
You feel if it’s in the form of a personal attack one should 1st say it to the person’s face. I understand just don’t share your opinion.
oleosmirf
6/1/2010-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
you think Ollie gives a damn what Howie Rose says.
Boras has instructed his client to stay in the MLB until he gets released. That way another team can sign him, he gets more money and can possibly be successful elsewhere.
trs86
6/1/2010-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
How exactly would he get more money?
Any contract that he signs with another team the Mets would get the money.
oleosmirf
6/1/2010-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
so if Ollie gets released, and ollie signs a minor league deal with lets say the Mariners, the M’s are basically sending a check to the wilpons???
trs86
6/1/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Yes. That is why no team signs the player for more than the minor league minimum. If he is signed again next year the Mets would also get that money. Ollie can’t be a FA and negotiate a contract again until his contract expires. Unless the Mets and Ollie work out a buyout.
oleosmirf
6/1/2010-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
well then why wouldnt he be released??? they can at least get 500K or whatever back instead of wasting effort on trying to fix him here.
trs86
6/1/2010-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
Yeah they would get about 800K for the 2 years assuming he signs an MLB deal I think. Not sure minor league deals count? If so then the amount would be much less.
metsfan4decades
6/1/2010-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
I took oleo’s response to mean possibly more money for his next FA signing. Which…hello, Ollie – isn’t likely to happen now.
oleosmirf
6/1/2010-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
a team would 100% sign him for league minimum for this season and send him to minors.
trs86
6/1/2010-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
IF he would go to the minors, remember he still has the right to refuse that. Could be interesting.
metsfan4decades
6/1/2010-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
Where else but in sports can you have a contract for a guaranteed amount of money no matter how you perform while under that contract? Nice gig, if you can get it….
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2010-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
oleosmirf
6/1/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
the NHL
trs86
6/1/2010-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. Baseball’s players union has done an incredible job for it’s players.
trs86
6/1/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
” His behavior towards his employers and his teammates has morphed from desultory to criminal. He is stealing money, not because of his poor performance, but because he continues to refuse the Mets’ request to go down to the minor leagues to try and get straightened out.
The fact that he is exercising his rights pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement is irrelevant. ”
This is the section I have issue with.
Ollie’s behavior is despicable, damaging to the team, deplorable, but not criminal. He is NOT stealing money and it makes no sense how if he went to the minors he would no longer be stealing money. He is not worth the money he is being paid, that has already been established. The Mets gave him that contract knowing full well his rights to refuse a AAA assignment. The fact that he is exercising his rights is VERY relevant.
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
You should let Howie know that by commenting at his post.
trs86
6/1/2010-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
OK.
trs86
6/1/2010-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
Done and awaiting moderation.
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2010-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
It’s kind of you but you didn’t have to let me know if you commented or not.
I said you should let Howie know since you seem very strong in your opinion that you dislike what he said so maybe you can get some relief by letting him know your thoughts on it.
Hopefully then he can shed some more light as to why he said what he did that may help you in understanding why he said what he said or maybe he will realize it was wrong and apologize.
In either case at least you would have let him know your thoughts on the matter.
trs86
6/1/2010-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
You are welcome.
trs86
6/1/2010-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
LOL.
oleosmirf
6/1/2010-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
Ollie does not deserve an apology. Sure what he is doing is legal but it sure as heck isnt ethical…
it might not be criminal but what he doing is certainly disgusting and flat out wrong…
trs86
6/1/2010-11:30am at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
Never said he deserved an apology. Also, I still disagree that it’s unethical. It is stated very clearly that he does not have to be sent down. Don’t you think that when they wrote the rule they knew something like this would happen?
metsfan4decades
6/1/2010-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
I have to agree with you. Ollie is not trying to circumvent the system or slip through some loophole. He’s exercising his rights – ill advised though that might be. It’s not doing him, nor the team any good.
Bottom line is it’s just not in his best interest.
trs86
6/1/2010-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed but perfectly legal.
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2010-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
Did anyone read Ted Quarters post?
http://www.tedquarters.net/2010/06/01/obligatory-ollie-perez-post/
It is interesting at one point he says.
“It cost the Mets $36 million (committed over three years) to sign Perez before the 2009 season. Cutting him is almost free. All $36 million were as good as gone as soon as he inked the deal, so if the Mets think they can find a better player to fill his roster spot over the next season and a half, the money Perez is owed is immaterial. The only cost to the Mets is the salary of the replacement player on the roster, presumably the Major League minimum.”
I recommend reading it.
trs86
6/1/2010-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
Not only that but as soon as Ollie signs the Mets would get that replacement money back.
That’s why I don’t buy the argument about the Mets being too cheap to spend money they have already spent.
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2010-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
Well I don’t know about all that I will just wait to see what they actually do because right now I don’t know what they will spend money on.
But the post is interesting in the reason why they should cut Ollie.
trs86
6/1/2010-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
My point was that it would cost them absolutely nothing to cut Ollie and replace him with a minor leaguer because that minor leaguer’s salary would be paid for by the team signing Ollie.
stickguy
6/1/2010-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think that right now it is about the met’s being too “cheap” to cut Ollie, since as noted, as soon as he gets picked up elsewhere, the money is a wash. They are paying it regardless. So not cheap.
stubborn, maybe. embarrassed? possibly. Not cheap though.
Most likely, the reasons they signed him still apply. They actually think he has talent, and can give them value for their investment. IOW, he can be “fixed”. And until they come to the conclusion that fixing is impossible, he stays.
stickguy
6/1/2010-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
also, you have to assume that Omar is working the phones, looking for someone to take the problem off our hands, with at least some amount of return (player or salary relief).
DFA is always the last resort, since you get absolutely no return for the asset.
trs86
6/1/2010-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
Joel Sherman says fans should blame the Mets for the bad contract, rather than Perez for refusing to go to the minors.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/1/2010-1:15pm at 1:15 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think Mets/Omar were criticized when Ollie signed the contract. At that time, it was Ollie for $36/3 or Lowe for $60/4. Including myself, many of us thought it was not a bad deal. So the Mets cannot be blamed here for Ollie’s lack of performance. The only person who gets blamed here is Ollie. And maybe Boras…
trs86
6/1/2010-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
Can’t see how you blame Boras, he is just looking out for his player. Unless the Mets set a time table for leaving Ollie in the minors then they could just leave him there forever. Thus Boras would much rather the team release him and him sign with say the Pirates and stay in the majors in a less pressure situation.
metsfan4decades
6/1/2010-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
This is absolutely about the money and nothing else but the money.
If Perez was one of our 5 SP going into this year, and his contract was for say $3MIL, he would have been asked once about going to AAA to work on his mechanics. When the answer came back no, I believe he would have been released right then. The fact that he was not is not b/c they’re trying to be ‘polite’ and are taking his feelings into consideration – or not to any great extent. They’re trying to see if they can get a return on what they consider a big investment. 21/24MIL right now isn’t chump change.
You can’t compare this to the GMJ low $$ right now. Jr. is taking up a way less vital role on the 25 man roster than a starting pitcher. And IMO, I would cut him as well and bring up someone to fill that role but I’m way less concerned about that spot than the one Ollie is taking up…..
trs86
6/1/2010-2:11pm at 2:11 pm (UTC -4)
Return maybe. Most likely they would just rather Ollie go down to AAA and work on his form to return to being the productive pitcher they are paying for. Why release him if you can get him to go to AAA? Eventually one side will blink.