Category: Pitching

Mets’ Oliver Perez Not Going Anywhere

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Starting pitcher #46...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The continuing Oliver Perez saga has taken a few turns but the result has been the same. Perez isn’t accepting a demotion to the minors. He isn’t going to Florida to see a sports psychologist and he wants to know who the anonymous teammates are that told the media that he should go.

He told Fanhouse that he’s staying to work through his problems with Dan Warthen and Randy Niemann. He has to start prepping himself to pitch in New York again and that could get really ugly. There’s been a lot of talk about booing home players over the past couple of years. This one could be off the charts though.

Check out what Perez had to say when asked about the teammates that told the media that he should go.

Audio- Oliver Perez

The fans and the media are calling loudly for him to go including the Times drawing a comparison to Dontrelle Willis and the Daily News as well. But none of that could compare to the barrage of boo’s he’ll get the next time he pitches at Citi Field.

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets’ Oliver Perez Should Refuse Minors

New York Mets starting pitcher Oliver Perez reacts after being pulled from the game at Citi Field in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsIt’s probably safe to say at this point that we’re all tired of Oliver Perez and his lack of focus, free-wheeling side-arming, and general lack of any semblance of pitching ability. Now, we’re hearing from the NY Post that some anonymous Mets players want him off the roster. I’m not so sure I believe that story from the Post. But it’s coming to a point soon when the Mets will have to do something about Perez.

John Fitzgerald of Mets Today wrote a good post today summarizing the different storylines surrounding Perez and the Mets attempts to get him to agree to go to the minors. The organization is continuing to try to convince him and his agent, Scott Boras, that it’s in his best interest to work out his problems in Port St. Nowhere or Buffalo.

I’m going to reiterate what I wrote two weeks ago. If you look at the situation from Perez’ perspective, he should refuse an assignment to the minors. Page 63 of the MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement for 2007-2011 is very specific about assignment of contracts. Perez falls in the category of a player that has the right to approve assignment to a minor league team. Continue reading “Mets’ Oliver Perez Should Refuse Minors”

Mets’ Jon Niese Makes Rehab Start Monday

Jonathon Niese
Image by slgckgc via Flickr

According to the Buffalo News, Jon Niese will be making an injury rehab start tomorrow afternoon for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in their series opener against the Syracuse Chiefs. Niese has been on the DL since May 17 with a hamstring strain.

Niese made 16 starts for Buffalo last year with a 3.82 ERA. So far for the Mets this season he’s 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA in eight starts.

Niese’s return will continue to solidify the rotation for the Mets. Fernando Nieve will go back to the bullpen and the Niese will slot back in. The additions of R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi have made a big difference in the consistency of the Mets over the past two weeks.

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets Road Trip Preview: May 28- June 2, 2010

Travellers Begin To Return Home After Flight Restrictions Are Lifted

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets have proven they can win at home; they have the Majors best home record at 19-9. Now they need to shake their funk on the road, where they have a 6-14 clip, which is the worst in the National League and 3rd worst in the Majors.

Friday, May 28th: Mets (Santana) vs. Brewers (Gallardo) 8:10 PM
Saturday, May 29th: Mets (Nieve) vs. Brewers (Parra) 7:10 PM
Sunday, May 30th: Mets (Dickey) vs. Brewers (Wolf) 2:10 PM
Monday, May 31st: Mets (Takahashi) vs. Padres (Correia) 10:05 PM
Tuesday, June 1st: Mets (Pelfrey) vs. Padres (LeBlanc) 10:05 PM
Wednesday, June 2nd: Mets (Santana) vs. Padres (Richard) 6:35 PM Continue reading “Mets Road Trip Preview: May 28- June 2, 2010”

Mets Home Stand Review- May 21-27, 2010

New York Mets' Reyes and Pagan celebrate after they beat the Philadelphia Phillies to sweep their MLB National League baseball series in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsConsidering the defending American League and National League champions were visiting, I’d say a 5-1 home stand was reasonable, no?

Friday, May 21st: Yankees 2, Mets 1
Saturday, May, 22nd: Yankees 3, Mets 5
Sunday, May 23rd: Yankees 4, Mets 6
Tuesday, May 25th: Phillies 0, Mets 8
Wednesday, May 26th: Phillies 0, Mets 5
Thursday, May 27th: Phillies 0, Mets 3

Predicted Mets Home Stand: 4-2.

Actual Mets Home Stand: 5-1. This is even better, because as I stated in the review, 4-2 got the Mets back to .500. Now, the Mets sit at 25-23, two games above!

Without a doubt, the absolute best part about this home stand was sweeping the Phillies. And shutting them out in all three games! The Mets won the series by a combined score of 16-0. That’s like the score of a Canada-Afghanistan hockey match.

There were a couple members of the team that were a huge part in this successful home stand. The first is Mike Pelfrey. Big Pelf won both of his starts on this home stand, shutting down the Yankees and Phillies for most of their respective games. The second is Jose Reyes, who had multiple hits in all five games the Mets won on this home stand. That whole “the Mets go as Reyes goes” theory? It’s more than a theory, it’s an utter reality. Continue reading “Mets Home Stand Review- May 21-27, 2010”

Mets Must Pursue Roy Oswalt

MLB: Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsHouston Astros’ ace Roy Oswalt recently told management he wanted to be traded.

The Mets have lost three starting pitchers in the last two weeks, two to injury and one to… well, awfulness.

I’m not the only one who sees a fit here, right?

Oswalt’s W-L isn’t the best this season at 2-6, but that’s heavily influenced due to a terrible Houston team behind him. His ERA is 2.66 (career 3.21) and he has 60 strikeouts on the year, putting him on pace for 221.

Oswalt would be under the Mets’ control for the remainder of this season and next season, with a club option for 2012, so this move would be more than just a four-month rental. It would set our top three starting pitchers as Johan Santana, Oswalt, and Mike Pelfrey. Not sure there’s a better 1-2-3 in the majors. Continue reading “Mets Must Pursue Roy Oswalt”

Jose Lima Dead At 37

Former Mets pitcher Jose Lima died today at home in Los Angeles. He was 37 years old. According to his wife, Lima died of a heart attack.

Lima pitched for the Mets in 2006 when he made four starts and was 0-4 with a 9.87 ERA. He was best known for his years with the Astros in the late 90’s. In 1999 he went 21-10 for the Astros and was an All-Star. He was as flamboyant as they come when he pronounced his starts as “Lima Time”.

http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js