If you told me back on May 14th that 22 days later Oliver Perez would be put on the 15-Day Disabled List (retroactive to June 1) with patella tendinitis of his right knee I would not have thought much of it and would of said that is probably the cause of his problems. But now having seen how things have unfolded the last 22 days to get where we are now all I can say is I wonder how long it will be before we start hearing MLB is investigating the Mets to see if Oliver Perez’s DL stint is on the up and up?
Let’s take a look back to see how we got to where we are today with Oliver Perez.
May 14, 2010 – After the Mets 7-2 loss to Marlins where Oliver Perez pitched 3.1/IP 9/H 4/HR 7/ER failing to get out of the 4th inning for the 3rd time in his last 4 starts. Jerry Manual soon after announced that Oliver Perez is now a member of the Mets’ bullpen. What did Oliver Perez have to say about it? “I don’t like going to the bullpen, but I think this is better for the team,“ It was reported that Manuel said a demotion to Triple-A was discussed internally, but never proposed to Perez. Oliver Perez insisted he was healthy he said “I feel fine,“.
May 25, 2010 – Before the Mets took the field to take on and beat the Phillies 8-0 Oliver Perez says “Baseball in the minors is different.“ explaining that “If I go to the minors and feel confident there, that doesn’t mean I will feel confident here,“.
May 30, 2010 – After watching Oliver Perez come in the night before and give up 3 runs in 2 innings of work out of the pen Jerry Manuel described the Mets suggestions that Oliver Perez should go to the minors as an “ongoing process” It is also reported that 2 Mets feel the Mets should get rid of Oliver Perez saying “You tell him you go to Triple-A or that’s it, you are finished,†and another player saying “At some point you have to cut bait,†and “You owe him a lot of money, but for what?â€. In the meantime Perez continued to say he did not want to go to minors saying “I want to stay here,â€. The Mets went on to beat the Brewers that day 10-4 behind a 7 inning performance by R.A. Dickey.
May 31, 2010 – Oliver Perez continues to insist that staying in the Bigs and pitching out the pen is better. He says “I feel better. I know it’s hard being in the bullpen and coming to the games, so I have to get used to it. I know everything is going to get back. … Like when you’re not hitting, that can come in one game. Everything can start doing well. This is how is baseball. … You have to keep positive and keep working. I’m around here and I know what I have to do to be better.“ Mets go on to lose to Padres 18-6.
June 1, 2010 – It is reported that the Mets are working with Oliver Perez’s agent Scott Boras in hopes that Perez will agree to go down to minors by the weekend. They are even reported to be trying to throw in perks like first-class travel and a major league per diem. When asked directly why he continues to insist on staying with the Big club he said, “I think that right now, everything I’m doing right now is good,†and “I feel good and I’m doing everything I can. I’m just waiting for an opportunity.†Mets beat the Padres that day 4-2.
June 2, 2010 – Jerry Manuel says “That would be ideal, but if not we have to explore something different,†to the hope that Oliver Perez would accept a minor league assignment in time for Jon Niese’s return from the DL this Saturday. Mets lose to the Padres 5-1.
June 5, 2010 – The New York Mets in an Official Press Release said they had placed Oliver Perez on the 15-Day Disabled List (retroactive to June 1) with patella tendinitis of his right knee. Mets say Perez complained of discomfort in his right knee the day before. He then underwent an MRI that evening at The Hospital for Special Surgery, and was diagnosed with patella tendinitis. Clearing the way for Jon Niese to be activated from the DL to face the Marlins. What did Niese do? He pitched 7 innings giving up 1 run on 6 hits 1 walk and 6 strikeouts. Mets won 6-1.
So now that I have finished writing this post for you all to read it is Saturday June 5th 6:38pm. I now have the answer to my initial question when I started this post earlier on Saturday June 5th at 3:31pm. How long it will be before we start hearing MLB is investigating the Mets to see if Oliver Perez’s DL stint is on the up and up?
Answer - Just a couple of hours it turns out. The NY Daily News is reporting that a league official said Major League Baseball will independently review Oliver Perez’s medical records, including the MRI he underwent Friday. The article goes on to quote the official to say “This could be 100 percent legitimate,†and “When there are questions, we look into it.â€
Yes, and just like that the curtain drops on Act 1 and we await with anticipation for Act 2.
6 comments
rustyjr
6/6/2010-7:34am at 7:34 am (UTC -4)
So what happens when the MLB realizes that this dl stint isn’t on the up & up ? Are the mets forced to keep him on the roster or will they have to release him ?
stickguy
6/6/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
I wondered the same thing. maybe a fine?
But, IMO, no chance they come down hard on this. GIven that probably ever pro athlete likely has some tendonitis, and he did have surgery on that knee recently, odds are the MRI will show something. You could MRI my knee and it would show something.
SO, it is all just a sham by MLB to make it look like they are in control. Selig’s boys ain’t coming down hard on the Mets, and opening the can of worms where many teams do this type of flim flam at times.
The Yankees did it to a much more blatently obviuos degree not too long ago. I just forget who the player (players?) was.
GravediggerHebner
6/6/2010-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
If Selig does somehow punish the Mets for this, I hope they punish him back by taking the best available player with the 7th pick in Monday’s draft and pay him way over slot.
Mr North Jersey
6/6/2010-12:44pm at 12:44 pm (UTC -4)
Ditto
metsfan4decades
6/6/2010-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
Quotes I read yesterday had Jerry saying this is all on Ollie, that Ollie came to him complaining of pain.
Another said that no matter what the medical test reveal/don’t reveal, if the player has pain, there isn’t much they can do about it or for them to get involved in.
So to me the real question is, did Ollie complain of pain or is this something both sides agreed to say, and followed up with the obligatory MRI to back it up?
oleosmirf
6/6/2010-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
as long as he is gone, i could care less