Will Perez Force Mets To Get A Starter At Deadline?

I was just reading an interesting article by David Lennon of Newsday on his blog. Lennon seems all fired up about comments that were made by Jerry Manuel and Dan Warthen who both said they were encouraged by Ollie’s last start.

I was kind of surprised yesterday to hear both manager Jerry Manuel and pitching coach Dan Warthen say they were “encouraged” by Oliver Perez’s 4 1/3-inning stint in an 8-6 loss to the Reds.

Encouraged? What it is this — extending spring? If Perez wasn’t ready to start the season, maybe they should have left him down in Port St. Lucie and brought Dillon Gee or Nelson Figueroa north for the start of the season. This whole work-in-progress thing doesn’t fly for a pitcher the Mets just signed for $36 million.For that money, a pitcher is supposed to be an asset to a rotation, not its Achilles heel.

I can’t disagree with him, but at the same time it’s a little bit too early to begin passing judgment on Perez on the strength of one start. I do blame the Mets though for knowing Perez not ready and taking him north rather than letting him remain one more week in extended spring training. Livan Hernandez should have been making that Perez start, and Perez could have gotten the call for the Saturday start giving Ollie more time to work things out.

Lennon also believes that the Mets will be big players for a starter at the trade deadline and surmises that Ben Sheets, Jake Peavy and yes, Pedro Martinez, will all be options for the Mets.