Last chance for NY Mets pitcher Oliver Perez...
Jerry Manuel has already said he will move Ollie from the pitching rotation if he does not perform well in his next start. That next time is tomorrow at Citizens Bank Park. Oliver Perez's first four starts have been terrible...9.31 ERA, 20 earned runs off 23 hits...okay, so beyond terrible. I am pulling for Ollie (especially because Johan really believes in him and I think Johan does not support someone lightly) but Perez really needs to compete for two reasons: the location and the others.
The location of course is cheesesteak land...Ollie has to make this all important start in the home of the Mets bitter rival, the Phillies. As if he did not have enough pressure, now he faces an opponent who wants to demolish him and his team and a park that's more Little League field than Major League ballpark in comparison to Citi Field.
The others are the guys waiting to come up from the Minors if necessary. Nelson Figueroa is again a Met after his two minutes on the free agent market. He showed he can pitch in a pinch, replacing Mike Pelfrey April 20. The Mets lost 4-2 but Figueroa held his own: 6 IP, 5 H, 3ER, 3K, 2BB. In his short time at Triple-A Buffalo, he has had one start, going 7 innings, giving up just 1 earned run on 4 hits. Look for the Brooklyn native to say hello to the Big Apple again if Ollie falters. Manuel said after Figueroa's start in April: "There's no doubt he is very comfortable pitching at this level ... It's just a matter of, do we have a place (for him on the roster) at this particular time?" (NY Daily News)
Tim Redding is rehabbing nicely from his hurt shoulder. He is expected to start at Triple-A on Tuesday and fast tracked to NY. He could come as a long reliever but if it was up to him, as a member of the rotation. Again, it's about finding a spot and an Ollie departure leaves one ripe for the taking....
Ultimately, I want Oliver to perform well. You know how they say, when you give a speech to imagine everyone naked (it was in an episode of the Brady Bunch)...well, Ollie should envision every team is the Yankees and he would be straight. We shall see tomorrow....
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Comments: 3
I said it before in an earlier post last week. Ollie is a "head case" and it certainly wouldn't hurt for him to see a Sports Psychologist or some type of therapist. Conscensus was, he would mature after getting married,etc. Not yet.
As someone with w/ graduate degree in counseling for over 25 years; the guy should explore all options to keep his job.
I hope Omar hasn't wasted the team's $$$.
Lolita, read your twitter message earlier today. I too wish Ollie would have performed well today. His control was off. It certainly sounded like Ollie will be lifted from the rotation.
Like your Brady Bunch analogy.
Nelson Figueroa pitched well vs. Milwaukee two weeks ago. He may be the short term answer.
Seems like Ollie has better stuff, but velocity and command were a problem.
Lolita, read your twitter message earlier today. I too wish Ollie would have performed well today. His control was off. It certainly sounded like Ollie will be lifted from the rotation.
Like your Brady Bunch analogy.
Nelson Figueroa pitched well vs. Milwaukee two weeks ago. He may be the short term answer.
Seems like Ollie had better stuff, but velocity and command were a problem.