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It's being reported today the Mets have cut LHP Oliver Perez. Just as much as the Castillo cut, this signals to Mets fans that they finally refuse to knowingly pay for nothing.
They still owe him the $12 million left on his deal, but it's a good investment.
Perez will only turn 30-years old this summer but damn it seems he's been around since Lefty Grove was pitching. He signed as an amateur free agent in 1999 with San Diego and he made his debut in the majors in 2002 at the age of 20 as a starter. He started 15 games, went 90 innings, gave up 71 Hits, 35 ER, 13 HR, 48 BB and had a 1.32 WHIP. The big stat was his 94 strikesouts.
In 2003, he was having an average season at best (in 19 starts for SD, he had a 1.62 WHIP, a 5.38 ERA and although he struck out 117 batters, he gave up 103 hits and 65 walks along with 7 more HRs and 27 more ER than the year before) when San Diego dealt him in a waivers deal along with acareer minor leaguer and Jason Bay to Pittsburgh for Brian Giles. At the time, Bay was only 24-years old and this was the third time he had been traded (Expos to Mets, Mets to Padres, Padres to Pirates) and he had only played in 3 games in the majors up to this point. So, it was apparent this was a salary dump move for Pittsburgh who was able to move Brian Giles' $8 million deal to San Diego for a prospect in Bay and a troubled young lefty in Perez.
(After playing in 27 games in the 2003 season for Pittsburgh, he established himself the next year. He became the rookie of the year in the NL with 26 HR, 82 RBI with a .358 OBP {would be the third lowest of his career all-time now} and then he would be an All-Star the next two years and eventually in 2008, traded to Boston because Pittsburgh won't pay...the highest his base salary ever was with Pittsburgh was his final year there....$6 million)
Anyway, back to Ollie. He pitched in five starts after being traded and his only redeeming quality was 24 strikeouts in 23 innings.
In 2004, he had the BEST YEAR OF HIS CAREER...even to this day. He was only 22 years old but he went 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA (1.16 WHIP) and in 30 starts (196 IP) he had given up only 145 hits, 65 ER, 22 HR, 81 BB....while striking out 239 batters, his career best. He was #1 that year in strikeouts per 9 (10.9) while also being #3 in Hits per 9 (6.7). He was paid just over $300,000 for that season.
I'm not sure what happened next in Pittsburgh. Either he lost confidence right away or they tried altering his mechanics and then he lost confidence. In 2005, he went 7-5 with a 5.85 ERA (a 1.67 WHIP) and in 93 less innings, he still managed to walk 70 batters, allow 102 hits and he only struck out 97 batters.
2006 would prove to be his worst year in Pittsburgh as he went 3-13 with a 6.55 ERA (1.74 WHIP) and in 112.2 IP, he gave up 129 hits, 82 ER, 68 BB while striking out 102 batters.
Pittsburgh was sick of him by then and decided to get whatever they could for the kid. At the deadline in 2006, they traded him and reliever Roberto Hernandez to New York for OF Xavier Nady (who had become a fan favorite in his 75 games in NY). As it turned out, the deal went pretty well for the Mets. Hernandez became a key hand in the pen while Perez worked with Rick Peterson, his new pitching coach and paid off in the post-season. In his 7 starts as a Met that season, he wasn't real good. He had a 6.38 ERA (a 1.58 WHIP), giving up more hits than IP although he struck out 41 in 36.2 IP.
THE 2006 NLCS
'Trust in Oliver' - Bing Videos
The Mets and the Cardinals. Perez didn't pitch in the 3-game sweep of the Dodgers in the NLDS. The Mets took game 1 on the back of Tom Glavine as they shut out the Cardinals. Game two (I went to this debacle) included a fine performance from John Maine but the Mets bullpen gave up five runs in the final three innings to blow the game. Fuck you Scott Spiezio and So Taguchi, Fuck YOU!
Game 3 saw Jeff motherfucking Suppan foreshadow the entire series with an amazing performance. He pitched 8 innings of shut out ball and only gave up 3 hits. He was untouchable for reasons I'm still not sure of. The fucker also hit a solo home run.
The bombs came off in game four with the Mets putting a 12 spot on Anthony Reyes (who?) and company. Oliver Perez started this game, went 5.2 innings, giving up 9 hits, 5 ER, 3 HR but only 1 walk
He struck out 3. Despite that bad line, the bats saved them and the series was tied.
In game 5, Jeff Weaver bested Tom Glavine as the Cards won 4-2.
In game 6, John Maine pitched the game of his life opposite Chris Carpenter. Maine pitched 5.1 innings of shut out ball only allowing 2 hits...although he walked 4. Carpenter and Braden Looper (who gave it up in the 9th) each allowed 2 runs and the series was tied for game 7.
Game 7 was Jeff Suppan vs. Oliver Perez. PITCHERS DUEL!!!!
Surprisingly, the Mets scored first in the bottom of the first....but the Cardinals tied it in the second. It remained tied until the ninth motherfucking god damn piece of shit bastard inning.
Fuck you Yadier Molina. FUCK YOU!
Oliver Perez pitched 6 innings in GAME 7, allowing just 1 ER and 2 BB. He struck out 4 men. The BIGGEST play of the game before the end was the 6th inning....with Edmonds on first and one out....Scott Rolen nails a pitch out to left field. It's gone. BUT WAIT! ENDY CHAVEZ LEAPS UP AND CATCHES THE BALL OVER THE FENCE AND BRINGS IT BACK!! Chavez then relayed the throw to first and the inning was over as Shea was rocking...literally the old fucker.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUicBDFYbfo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUicBDFYbfo[/ame]
Then Willie Randolph had Aaron Heilman pitch a second inning in relief and gave up the two run dinger to Molina. Series over.
---------
Perez got over $2 million to avoid arbitration and had his best year as a Met in 2007. 15-10, 3.56 ERA, 174 Ks in 177 IP, only 79 BB and a 1.31 WHIP.
In 2008, he got over $6 million in arbitration and he had an average year. 10-7, 4.22 ERA, 180 Ks in 194 IP, 105 BB an a 1.40 WHIP.
The potential for greatness fucked the Mets over. Perez became a free agent after the season and the Mets wanted Derek Lowe. He signed a 4-year $60 million deal with Atlanta.
The Mets didn't like any of the other available pitchers so they brought Perez back with a 3 year $36 million deal. Scott Boras. The shits.
2009, he only pitched in 14 (all starts) games going 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA. In 66 IP, he gave up 50 ER, 58 BB and struck out 62 (1.92 WHIP).
2010, he pitched in 17 games, only starting 7. He went 0-5 with a 6.80 ERA. In 46.1 IP, he gave up 35 ER, 42 BB and struck out 37 (2.07 WHIP).
He refused to go to the minors to refine his mechanics and so the Mets essentially stashed him on their bench.
They gave him every opportunity to earn a roster spot this year but he has been dreadful this spring. In the pen or starting, he had no future in New York.
It's over.
:applause:
They still owe him the $12 million left on his deal, but it's a good investment.
Perez will only turn 30-years old this summer but damn it seems he's been around since Lefty Grove was pitching. He signed as an amateur free agent in 1999 with San Diego and he made his debut in the majors in 2002 at the age of 20 as a starter. He started 15 games, went 90 innings, gave up 71 Hits, 35 ER, 13 HR, 48 BB and had a 1.32 WHIP. The big stat was his 94 strikesouts.
In 2003, he was having an average season at best (in 19 starts for SD, he had a 1.62 WHIP, a 5.38 ERA and although he struck out 117 batters, he gave up 103 hits and 65 walks along with 7 more HRs and 27 more ER than the year before) when San Diego dealt him in a waivers deal along with acareer minor leaguer and Jason Bay to Pittsburgh for Brian Giles. At the time, Bay was only 24-years old and this was the third time he had been traded (Expos to Mets, Mets to Padres, Padres to Pirates) and he had only played in 3 games in the majors up to this point. So, it was apparent this was a salary dump move for Pittsburgh who was able to move Brian Giles' $8 million deal to San Diego for a prospect in Bay and a troubled young lefty in Perez.
(After playing in 27 games in the 2003 season for Pittsburgh, he established himself the next year. He became the rookie of the year in the NL with 26 HR, 82 RBI with a .358 OBP {would be the third lowest of his career all-time now} and then he would be an All-Star the next two years and eventually in 2008, traded to Boston because Pittsburgh won't pay...the highest his base salary ever was with Pittsburgh was his final year there....$6 million)
Anyway, back to Ollie. He pitched in five starts after being traded and his only redeeming quality was 24 strikeouts in 23 innings.
In 2004, he had the BEST YEAR OF HIS CAREER...even to this day. He was only 22 years old but he went 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA (1.16 WHIP) and in 30 starts (196 IP) he had given up only 145 hits, 65 ER, 22 HR, 81 BB....while striking out 239 batters, his career best. He was #1 that year in strikeouts per 9 (10.9) while also being #3 in Hits per 9 (6.7). He was paid just over $300,000 for that season.
I'm not sure what happened next in Pittsburgh. Either he lost confidence right away or they tried altering his mechanics and then he lost confidence. In 2005, he went 7-5 with a 5.85 ERA (a 1.67 WHIP) and in 93 less innings, he still managed to walk 70 batters, allow 102 hits and he only struck out 97 batters.
2006 would prove to be his worst year in Pittsburgh as he went 3-13 with a 6.55 ERA (1.74 WHIP) and in 112.2 IP, he gave up 129 hits, 82 ER, 68 BB while striking out 102 batters.
Pittsburgh was sick of him by then and decided to get whatever they could for the kid. At the deadline in 2006, they traded him and reliever Roberto Hernandez to New York for OF Xavier Nady (who had become a fan favorite in his 75 games in NY). As it turned out, the deal went pretty well for the Mets. Hernandez became a key hand in the pen while Perez worked with Rick Peterson, his new pitching coach and paid off in the post-season. In his 7 starts as a Met that season, he wasn't real good. He had a 6.38 ERA (a 1.58 WHIP), giving up more hits than IP although he struck out 41 in 36.2 IP.
THE 2006 NLCS
'Trust in Oliver' - Bing Videos
The Mets and the Cardinals. Perez didn't pitch in the 3-game sweep of the Dodgers in the NLDS. The Mets took game 1 on the back of Tom Glavine as they shut out the Cardinals. Game two (I went to this debacle) included a fine performance from John Maine but the Mets bullpen gave up five runs in the final three innings to blow the game. Fuck you Scott Spiezio and So Taguchi, Fuck YOU!
Game 3 saw Jeff motherfucking Suppan foreshadow the entire series with an amazing performance. He pitched 8 innings of shut out ball and only gave up 3 hits. He was untouchable for reasons I'm still not sure of. The fucker also hit a solo home run.
The bombs came off in game four with the Mets putting a 12 spot on Anthony Reyes (who?) and company. Oliver Perez started this game, went 5.2 innings, giving up 9 hits, 5 ER, 3 HR but only 1 walk
He struck out 3. Despite that bad line, the bats saved them and the series was tied.In game 5, Jeff Weaver bested Tom Glavine as the Cards won 4-2.
In game 6, John Maine pitched the game of his life opposite Chris Carpenter. Maine pitched 5.1 innings of shut out ball only allowing 2 hits...although he walked 4. Carpenter and Braden Looper (who gave it up in the 9th) each allowed 2 runs and the series was tied for game 7.
Game 7 was Jeff Suppan vs. Oliver Perez. PITCHERS DUEL!!!!
Surprisingly, the Mets scored first in the bottom of the first....but the Cardinals tied it in the second. It remained tied until the ninth motherfucking god damn piece of shit bastard inning.
Fuck you Yadier Molina. FUCK YOU!
Oliver Perez pitched 6 innings in GAME 7, allowing just 1 ER and 2 BB. He struck out 4 men. The BIGGEST play of the game before the end was the 6th inning....with Edmonds on first and one out....Scott Rolen nails a pitch out to left field. It's gone. BUT WAIT! ENDY CHAVEZ LEAPS UP AND CATCHES THE BALL OVER THE FENCE AND BRINGS IT BACK!! Chavez then relayed the throw to first and the inning was over as Shea was rocking...literally the old fucker.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUicBDFYbfo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUicBDFYbfo[/ame]
Then Willie Randolph had Aaron Heilman pitch a second inning in relief and gave up the two run dinger to Molina. Series over.
---------
Perez got over $2 million to avoid arbitration and had his best year as a Met in 2007. 15-10, 3.56 ERA, 174 Ks in 177 IP, only 79 BB and a 1.31 WHIP.
In 2008, he got over $6 million in arbitration and he had an average year. 10-7, 4.22 ERA, 180 Ks in 194 IP, 105 BB an a 1.40 WHIP.
The potential for greatness fucked the Mets over. Perez became a free agent after the season and the Mets wanted Derek Lowe. He signed a 4-year $60 million deal with Atlanta.
The Mets didn't like any of the other available pitchers so they brought Perez back with a 3 year $36 million deal. Scott Boras. The shits.
2009, he only pitched in 14 (all starts) games going 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA. In 66 IP, he gave up 50 ER, 58 BB and struck out 62 (1.92 WHIP).
2010, he pitched in 17 games, only starting 7. He went 0-5 with a 6.80 ERA. In 46.1 IP, he gave up 35 ER, 42 BB and struck out 37 (2.07 WHIP).
He refused to go to the minors to refine his mechanics and so the Mets essentially stashed him on their bench.
They gave him every opportunity to earn a roster spot this year but he has been dreadful this spring. In the pen or starting, he had no future in New York.
It's over.
:applause:
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