Mar
1
2011

It Will Take More Than A Bad Spring Start For Mets To Cut Ollie

An article by John Delcos

OK, Oliver Perez was dreadful in his first spring training appearance, but don’t expect the Mets to cut him loose already, despite what most fans might want.

Nobody gets demoted or cut after one appearance, especially somebody who is scheduled to make $12 million this season. Nor should he be.

As much as Perez wants to make the team as a starter, his best chance – slim as it is – will be coming out of the bullpen. The Mets will run Perez out there several more times and won’t make a decision until they are absolutely sure he wont make the team.

That means they could keep him late until March. The Mets’ hope is, as far-fetched as it is, will be for Perez to turn it around to the point where he could attract interest. That’s not likely to happen because a team won’t give up something if it believes Perez will eventually be waived.

As tight as the Mets’ money situation is, they are obligated to pay Perez $12 million this season and are hoping the long shot comes through and he’ll be able to contribute something. I know you’ve heard that before, but nothing has changed, even with that putrid first outing.

About the Author: John Delcos

I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.

9 Comments + Add Comment

Dennis Ribant March 1, 2011 at 4:58 pm

It would be very very bad for you writers for Oliver to be cut. You’d all be down to Castillo on the easy to write about list and then you all would have to go to work!!
t agee March 1, 2011 at 5:49 pm

I don’t care if they keep Ollie until March 29th. I don’t even care if they put him on the DL to start the season but if they put him on the roster, that is a totally different matter. There are enough arms (and ones that require backups for) that we don’t need to use another roster spot on a totally useless player. He cannot do anything out of the pen and he hasn’t had any success as a starter since 2008. He’s not even capable of throwing BP. The only possible use for him is to train new catching prospects. After that they should be able to catch anyone.

Decisions have been made around here for a longtime with money as the major focus (Wagner), but if Ollie gets a roster spot over even a minimum wage pitcher like Beato, Gee, Parnell, Misch or really anyone, that will be the final straw. If he causes us to lose a player who could help us now AND on into the future then that’s it. It’s over.
- Harry C March 1, 2011 at 7:53 pm
  
  Bye Bye…….. I’m sure the Wilpons will be very sad to see nobody on the beer line. They were really counting on you to keep them in power…..
  - t agee March 1, 2011 at 9:04 pm
    
    Well maybe they’ll have enough left over to buy my local, then they could mortgage IT up to the hilt and put Oliver behind the stick, Murphy on the door and maybe he could get Frankie Cats and the deaftones on the stage.
tomterif March 1, 2011 at 10:05 pm

It’s obviously not spring training for you, John. You’re in mid-season form with your totally useless and “no s–t, Sherlock” posts on this site. Joe D, I’m begging you, please, be a blog GM or Manager and make your first cut of the spring. I don’t think I could stand another season of reading this stuff. Yeah I know, I can just ignore it. But there’s actually a perverse thrill in reading whether he can top himself in his complete lack or originality or insight. But why torture the rest of this site’s readers?
- any March 1, 2011 at 10:23 pm
  
  wow, someone that actually wants a different blogger than Pomes to be the first cut?
  - kevin March 1, 2011 at 10:33 pm
    
    Ay least Pomes is original in addition to outrageous. But seriously, what have we learned from this post that we already didnt know??? This post is useless and discredits the other posts which were good on the site today.
  - tomterif March 1, 2011 at 11:38 pm
    
    Pomes may be misguided and often over the top, but at least he can write a little bit.
    - JerryG15 March 2, 2011 at 7:52 am
      
      Sorry – but he cannot write at all. He never has any factual back up, in fact many arguments he poses are completely inaccurate.
      
      Writing is not easy, it’s not for everyone, he should not be wasting anymore time on it.

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