The Mets had two reliable left handed relievers last year in Hisanori Takahashi and Pedro Feliciano; however, after Feliciano declined the team's offer of salary arbitration, it appears that neither will be with the club in 2011; per the terms of his contract, the Mets lost the right to sign Takahashi before 2011 if a deal was not in place by October 31. So, what is a team that needs lefties in the bullpen to do? Well, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News seems to think he has a solution, and, it's not one that most fans are going to like...Make Oliver Perez the team's lefty reliever in 2011. Yes, that Oliver Perez.
Why does Martino think the Mets should do this? I'll tell you why. Perez will make $12 million this year, which is guaranteed, so they may as well get something for him. After struggling early, Perez has pitched very well recently in the Mexican winter league. Lefties hit only hit .215 against him last year. Ollie's not really lazy, and despite knowing the team wouldn't be using him, he still worked his butt off in the bullpen. There are no obvious replacements for Takahashi or Feliciano in the Mets' farm system. And, if Perez does struggle in spring training, they can release him before the season anyway.
Alright, let's go through these reasons 1 by 1.
If he struggles in spring training, they can release him anyway. Spring training is a time to give players a chance, I agree; however, haven't we seen enough from Ollie to know what he is? But, if the team wants to use the Grapefruit League to give him a chance, I can't go too crazy because those games don't count anyway.
Lefties only hit .215 against Perez. This point is actually fairly solid, and if Perez could duplicate this result over and over again during the course of the year, I'd be willing to, perhaps, let him try being the lefty specialist. However, when has Ollie actually showed any consistency that would give you any reason to trust him, especially in a big spot. I mean, do you really want Ollie on the mound in a tight game in Citizens Bank Park with Ryan Howard and Chase Utley up and the tying and/or go ahead runs on base? I definitely don't.
Ollie is not lazy. Look, I can't dispute this one at all because I'm not around the team ever. If Perez works as hard as everyone says, then I have to take their word for it.
There are no obvious replacements for Takahashi or Feliciano, so why not use Ollie? Again, I don't trust Perez, and I don't want him facing Howard and Utley in the scenario I described above. I'd be fine with letting a prospect cut his teeth at the major league level and learn what it takes to get big league hitters out, and, who knows, maybe the Mets will catch lightning in a bottle.
Ollie is now pitching very well in the Mexican League. I must have missed something, since when did getting hitters out in the Mexican League equate with success at the Major League level? Kei Igawa set the franchise record for victories for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre AAA franchise, yet the Yankees have him buried in AAA with no intention of calling him up.
Perez will make the $12 million anyway, so they should get something for him. No. In the 2 prior years of his 3 year deal, which expires, thankfully, after this year, he has not given any indication that he is going to give them any production this year either. Some guys can't pitch in New York, and Oliver Perez appears to be one of them. In this case, the best course for the team would be addition by subtraction. Let Perez go finish out his career playing in a city where they don't care and won't be bothered by the fact that Perez is a godawful pitcher.
So, how would I fill the voids left by Feliciano and Takahashi? I would give some of the young lefties in the team's farm system a chance because, as I said earlier, they may catch lightning in a bottle. I would also explore the scrap heap for lefty relievers--maybe Jesse Orosco can still pitch--because relievers are up and down from year to year anyway. I definitely would not fill the voids with an even bigger void, however.
Showing posts with label Oliver Perez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oliver Perez. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Mets Issues
Mets GM Sandy Alderson has been on the job for about 3 weeks now and is still undergoing an extensive search for the team's new manager. The prospects have been narrowed down to 4, Bob Melvin, Chip Hale, Terry Collins, and Wally Backman, and Alderson hopes to name a manager by Thanksgiving. While I do think that Alderson should be given the opportunity to hire the guy he is most comfortable with, I am disappointed that Bobby Valentine was not even considered. But, like I said, Alderson deserves to hire his guy, and if Valentine isn't it, then so be it. Besides, there are more important issues.
What are those more important issues? How about making sure that Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo aren't on the 2011 Mets...under any circumstances. Alderson can hire whoever he wants to be the team's manager, but if he wants to win over the fans immediately, he'll get rid of Perez and Castillo. It makes absolutely no sense to have either one of those two on the team, or in the organization, next season. Perez can't get an out without walking 6 and giving up 10 runs (OK, that's an exaggeration, but you get the idea) and Castillo no longer has the speed and the ability to get on base that made him so effective earlier in his career (and I don't even hold that botched pop-up against him, that could happen to anybody, unfortunately).
So, Mr. Alderson, hire whoever you want to manage the team, but PLEASE get rid of Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo, even if it means buying out their contracts and getting nothing in return.
What are those more important issues? How about making sure that Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo aren't on the 2011 Mets...under any circumstances. Alderson can hire whoever he wants to be the team's manager, but if he wants to win over the fans immediately, he'll get rid of Perez and Castillo. It makes absolutely no sense to have either one of those two on the team, or in the organization, next season. Perez can't get an out without walking 6 and giving up 10 runs (OK, that's an exaggeration, but you get the idea) and Castillo no longer has the speed and the ability to get on base that made him so effective earlier in his career (and I don't even hold that botched pop-up against him, that could happen to anybody, unfortunately).
So, Mr. Alderson, hire whoever you want to manage the team, but PLEASE get rid of Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo, even if it means buying out their contracts and getting nothing in return.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
It's Official: Mets Sack Omar and Jerry
Today the Met ownership made official what most have suspected for weeks as they chose not to pick up the option on manager Jerry Manuel's contract and would be removing Omar Minaya from his role as General Manager (GM).
While I understand the decision to let both men go, I would have liked to have seen Jerry Manuel have a shot with a healthy team because he was able to get the team back in the race when he took over in 2008. When Manuel took over for Willie Randolph, who was fired in a most despicable fashion, the Mets were 7 games out in June 2008 and Manuel had them 3.5 games ahead with 17 to play when they again choked and lost on the last day of the season. In 2009 they suffered catastrophic injuries and all of the team's core players missed extensive time. This year they were within 2.5 games of first place at the all-star break all while Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes missed significant time again, but a 2-9 trip on the west coast to start the second half did them in. On that fateful trip out west, the team lost Jason Bay for the year due to a concussion, and even though he had underperformed all year the team still missed his presence in the lineup. Manuel also had to deal with operating shorthanded much of the year because of Minaya's two biggest mistakes as GM: Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo. Perez pitched 7.2 innings in 7 appearances from July 21 until the end of the season and gave up 8 earned runs on 11 hits and 9 walks. Castillo has hit .245, .302, and .235 in each of the last 3 years and no longer possesses the speed and defensive range that made him a thorn in the Mets' side when he was a member of the Florida Marlins. While Minaya did change the Mets around immediately and he had them within 1 game of the World Series in 2006, he will ultimately be remembered for the epic collapse of 2007, the mini-collapse of 2008, two dreadful years in 2009 and 2010, and the awful signings of Perez and Castillo.
Jeff Wilpon, the team's COO, said that the organization would do an extensive search for a new GM and he hopes to have the new GM in place within 3 or 4 weeks. Wilpon further said that the GM will not come from within the organization, although current assistant GM John Ricco would have a role in the search, and that the new GM will be charged with the task of changing the culture of the team. Neither Jeff Wilpon, nor his father Fred, the team's CEO, seemed committed to a particular style of GM, a new school, statistically driven type or an old school type, but only to a GM who is going to put a winner on the field.
When the team negotiated with Minaya in September 2004 to bring him in as GM, one of the issues was that Minaya wanted complete autonomy in baseball operations and was not interested in sharing the GM duties with then-GM Jim Duquette, or anyone else. 6 years later the idea that the GM of the team does not have complete autonomy over the baseball operations is still an issue with the team, at least in the eyes of the fans and the media. During their press conference, both Wilpons said that this perception was not true, and, while the team has does have a budget, in the 30 years they have owned the team, they have always gone over budget. In addition, they stated that not once had Minaya come to ownership with a proposal that ownership rejected. Regarding this idea Jeff Wilpon was asked by Mike Francesa if Minaya had approached him about jettisoning the much maligned Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo, and Wilpon said that this idea had not been broached by Minaya. Finally, in regard to selecting a new manager for the team Jeff Wilpon averred that the new GM will have the autonomy to select the new manager; however, ownership would reserve the right to ask the new GM to rethink his decision if ownership felt the manager was not a good fit.
Jeff Wilpon stated that team has not been rendered broke in the wake of the Madoff scandal and the team would have the ability to go out and sign free agents if the new GM wanted to pursue a player. Fred Wilpon stated that he was especially hurt by the Madoff scandal and it is a betrayal that he would take to his grave. It is not known, however, how much the Madoff scandal has cost the team, although there are reports suggesting that the team may have actually profited from the scandal. An account called Mets LP was on Madoff's books and that account deposited $520 million and withdrew $570 million.
NOT ME! - When Jerry Manuel brought in Oliver Perez in the 14th inning of Sunday's season finale against Washington it was not at all surprising that Perez hit a batter and walked 3 batters to force in the winning run. Nor was it surprising that Perez was booed loudly (well, as loudly as the few that were left at Citi Field could boo) when Manuel removed him for Pat Misch. However, as SNY went to a commercial break Gary Cohen, SNY's play-by-play man, said that he felt bad for Perez and that Perez was in an impossible spot. Normally Cohen is right on in his assessment of the team, but I could not disagree with him more here. Perez deserved nothing but the boos he received and it's only a shame that Citi Field was not full so he could have received more boos. Perez has done nothing but, essentially, steal $24 million over the past two years, and he still has one more year and $12 million left on his contract; he's 3-9 with a 6.80 ERA over the last two years. Instead of accepting the team's assignment to AAA Buffalo, he selfishly declined and decided he could work out his problems pitching from the bullpen, thereby costing a roster spot that could have been used by someone far more deserving. Perez [and Castillo] cannot be back next year if the Mets want to be taken seriously. Even if Perez goes on to become the next Sandy Koufax, the Mets have got to get rid of him because he is just not a fit on this team and he never will be.
IRONY? - One final thing, it did seem a bit ironic that Adam Rubin was at the press conference today. Rubin, a beat reporter, and Minaya, if you remember, had a heated discussion after assistant GM Tony Bernazard was fired after a report by Rubin and Minaya accused Rubin of angling for a position with the Mets. So, is Rubin going to be applying for Omar's old job?
While I understand the decision to let both men go, I would have liked to have seen Jerry Manuel have a shot with a healthy team because he was able to get the team back in the race when he took over in 2008. When Manuel took over for Willie Randolph, who was fired in a most despicable fashion, the Mets were 7 games out in June 2008 and Manuel had them 3.5 games ahead with 17 to play when they again choked and lost on the last day of the season. In 2009 they suffered catastrophic injuries and all of the team's core players missed extensive time. This year they were within 2.5 games of first place at the all-star break all while Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes missed significant time again, but a 2-9 trip on the west coast to start the second half did them in. On that fateful trip out west, the team lost Jason Bay for the year due to a concussion, and even though he had underperformed all year the team still missed his presence in the lineup. Manuel also had to deal with operating shorthanded much of the year because of Minaya's two biggest mistakes as GM: Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo. Perez pitched 7.2 innings in 7 appearances from July 21 until the end of the season and gave up 8 earned runs on 11 hits and 9 walks. Castillo has hit .245, .302, and .235 in each of the last 3 years and no longer possesses the speed and defensive range that made him a thorn in the Mets' side when he was a member of the Florida Marlins. While Minaya did change the Mets around immediately and he had them within 1 game of the World Series in 2006, he will ultimately be remembered for the epic collapse of 2007, the mini-collapse of 2008, two dreadful years in 2009 and 2010, and the awful signings of Perez and Castillo.
Jeff Wilpon, the team's COO, said that the organization would do an extensive search for a new GM and he hopes to have the new GM in place within 3 or 4 weeks. Wilpon further said that the GM will not come from within the organization, although current assistant GM John Ricco would have a role in the search, and that the new GM will be charged with the task of changing the culture of the team. Neither Jeff Wilpon, nor his father Fred, the team's CEO, seemed committed to a particular style of GM, a new school, statistically driven type or an old school type, but only to a GM who is going to put a winner on the field.
When the team negotiated with Minaya in September 2004 to bring him in as GM, one of the issues was that Minaya wanted complete autonomy in baseball operations and was not interested in sharing the GM duties with then-GM Jim Duquette, or anyone else. 6 years later the idea that the GM of the team does not have complete autonomy over the baseball operations is still an issue with the team, at least in the eyes of the fans and the media. During their press conference, both Wilpons said that this perception was not true, and, while the team has does have a budget, in the 30 years they have owned the team, they have always gone over budget. In addition, they stated that not once had Minaya come to ownership with a proposal that ownership rejected. Regarding this idea Jeff Wilpon was asked by Mike Francesa if Minaya had approached him about jettisoning the much maligned Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo, and Wilpon said that this idea had not been broached by Minaya. Finally, in regard to selecting a new manager for the team Jeff Wilpon averred that the new GM will have the autonomy to select the new manager; however, ownership would reserve the right to ask the new GM to rethink his decision if ownership felt the manager was not a good fit.
Jeff Wilpon stated that team has not been rendered broke in the wake of the Madoff scandal and the team would have the ability to go out and sign free agents if the new GM wanted to pursue a player. Fred Wilpon stated that he was especially hurt by the Madoff scandal and it is a betrayal that he would take to his grave. It is not known, however, how much the Madoff scandal has cost the team, although there are reports suggesting that the team may have actually profited from the scandal. An account called Mets LP was on Madoff's books and that account deposited $520 million and withdrew $570 million.
NOT ME! - When Jerry Manuel brought in Oliver Perez in the 14th inning of Sunday's season finale against Washington it was not at all surprising that Perez hit a batter and walked 3 batters to force in the winning run. Nor was it surprising that Perez was booed loudly (well, as loudly as the few that were left at Citi Field could boo) when Manuel removed him for Pat Misch. However, as SNY went to a commercial break Gary Cohen, SNY's play-by-play man, said that he felt bad for Perez and that Perez was in an impossible spot. Normally Cohen is right on in his assessment of the team, but I could not disagree with him more here. Perez deserved nothing but the boos he received and it's only a shame that Citi Field was not full so he could have received more boos. Perez has done nothing but, essentially, steal $24 million over the past two years, and he still has one more year and $12 million left on his contract; he's 3-9 with a 6.80 ERA over the last two years. Instead of accepting the team's assignment to AAA Buffalo, he selfishly declined and decided he could work out his problems pitching from the bullpen, thereby costing a roster spot that could have been used by someone far more deserving. Perez [and Castillo] cannot be back next year if the Mets want to be taken seriously. Even if Perez goes on to become the next Sandy Koufax, the Mets have got to get rid of him because he is just not a fit on this team and he never will be.
IRONY? - One final thing, it did seem a bit ironic that Adam Rubin was at the press conference today. Rubin, a beat reporter, and Minaya, if you remember, had a heated discussion after assistant GM Tony Bernazard was fired after a report by Rubin and Minaya accused Rubin of angling for a position with the Mets. So, is Rubin going to be applying for Omar's old job?
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Raise the White Flag
The baseball season is over. With their 5-2 loss last night at the hands of the Florida Marlins, the New York Mets have been officially eliminated from post-season contention. Now, the Mets have been out of the post-season race for a few weeks now, but last night's loss made it official that there will be no serious October baseball for the Mets this year. Hopefully the final 11 games of the season will also be the final 11 games in a Met uniform for Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez. It would make little to no sense to retain either player for 2011 considering that they have both been used sparingly in the 2nd half of the season. When fellow second baseman Luis Hernandez was injured in Saturday's game against the Braves, Castillo was left on the bench in favor of Joaquin Arias, and Perez has only been used for 5 innings since August 1.
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