Mar
23
2011

Ollie Reunited With Spin Williams On Nats

An article by Hojo's Mojo

Oliver Perez Signs ML Deal With Nationals

The Washington Nationals have signed former New York Mets left-hander Oliver Perez to a minor-league contract. Perez will report to Nationals minor-league camp, where he’ll work with pitching coordinator Spin Williams. Williams was the Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitching coach in 2004 when Perez went 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA and 239 strikeouts.

The team hasn’t mapped out a full plan yet, but if all goes well Perez could open the season at Class AAA Syracuse, with the possibility of a promotion to Washington only if he performs well and the Nationals are in need of another starter.

Turner Opioned, Coleman Says Murphy Could Be Next

Some interesting story lines are developing at Mets camp today, so lets get started.

Earlier today on WFAN, Joe and Evans discussed the Mets decision to option Justin Turner to the minors, and they also reported that he was agitated at the decision and made a snide remark about Brad Emaus before leaving the complex.

Luis Hernandez who is also reaching the end of the line in the second base battle, may be on the outs according to Adam Rubin who says that Hernandez is out of options, but is drawing interest from other teams in trade talks. The Padres would likely have interest, according to Rubin based on a source from San Diego.

Eddie Coleman of WFAN said a short time ago, that Daniel Murphy is looking like the odd man out and may not even secure a role on the bench because he hears the Mets are deciding to go with 13 pitchers.

Coleman said the Mets do not want to lose Manny Acosta, Pedro Beato or Jason Isringhausen, and may keep all three and play with a four man bench. Those players would be Ronny Paulino/Mike Nickeas, Chin-leng Hu, Scott Hairston and Willie Harris.

That would be pretty radical and mean no rest for the weary in April, as well as forcing a conservative approach to pinch hitting on Terry Collins who will be operating with a smaller bench than the opposition.

Of course nothing is written in stone right now, so we’ll see how this one plays out.

About the Author: Rob Johnson

17 Comments + Add Comment

t agee March 23, 2011 at 2:19 pm

2B has been a friggin’ headache since Relaford’s one good year in 2003.
MetsMan86 March 23, 2011 at 2:23 pm

HATE the idea of a four man bench. Are we expecting the pitching to be the pitching to be that bad that we need the extra arm in the pen?
Bayonne Mets Fan March 23, 2011 at 2:28 pm

I would be stunned if Murphy is sent down. All spring i’ve been making light of the decision to try him at 2B but in no way would I send him down! This kid has a nice little bat and I think would make a great addition off the bench. He’s capable of getting big hits in big spots.
- martin March 23, 2011 at 6:11 pm
  
  yeah he has grit and is good in the clubhouse
Nester March 23, 2011 at 2:33 pm

I find myself agreeing with you Bayonne. I also don’t understand what in Hu’s career made him an automatic for inclusion on the 25 man roster.
- Metstheory22 March 23, 2011 at 4:30 pm
  
  Hu can play SS and 2nd and is suppossed to have the best glove of the bunch. So if that is the case Hu is Reyes back up, Hairston is Pagans backup and Harris covers LF, RF and 2nd and 3b.
  Not sure who is backing up Davis at this time. You would think that early in the year with off dates, they would carry only 11 or 12 pitchers.
  - stick March 23, 2011 at 4:44 pm
    
    hu only really makes sense if they want to use him as a defensive “closer” for whichever weak glove is starting at 2B.
Donal March 23, 2011 at 3:01 pm

Alderson said the 13 man staff wasn’t happening.

Besides, Harris has a minor league deal. He’s just as easily be the odd man out.
- t agee March 23, 2011 at 3:13 pm
  
  Not with Beltran hurting.
- Shamsky March 23, 2011 at 4:56 pm
  
  Harris has zero chance of not making this team. He’s looked great and earned the spot this spring. The guy who should be ousted is Emaus not Harris and certainly not Murphy. Why the heck did they get rid of Tejada? It’s not like he’s the second baseman of the future or some phenom. he would have been great for one season until Havens. Superior defense and a .250 hitter is better than whatever Emaus will give us.
oldtimer March 23, 2011 at 4:10 pm

Maybe if Murphy plays every day at second he gets good enough to play in the bigs? One start a week and 2-3 PHing opportunities vs 5-6 games starting at second. Might be the way to go.
Metstheory22 March 23, 2011 at 4:35 pm

Hojo,
Regarding the below comment:
“The team hasn’t mapped out a full plan yet, but if all goes well Perez could open the season at Class AAA Syracuse, with the possibility of a promotion to Washington only if he performs well and the Nationals are in need of another starter.”

If all was going well, he would be pitching for us. Does anyone think 12Million arm and $10.00 head will ever get it?
- srt March 23, 2011 at 6:02 pm
  
  According to a couple of analysts on MLB network the other night, they’re blaming the Mets coaches for Perez’s problems.
  
  Yeah, O.K……
  - Metsie March 23, 2011 at 10:03 pm
    
    It’s not as rediculous of a notion as you might think it is.
    
    I’m not sold that Warthen is all that great of a pitching coach.
    
    Not saying he should have made Ollie a good pitcher but lets face facts he sure took his sweet time in identifying Santana’s Pitch tipping and a couple of week to get Pelfrey back on track last season.
    - 86mets March 23, 2011 at 11:51 pm
      
      He’s also the same one who apparently didn’t know that Santana had altered his between starts routine in 2009 when his elbow started hurting. How does a MLB pitching coach NOT know what’s going on with ALL of his pitchers? Secondly, he’s the one who has advocated making Isringhausen the set up man for K-Rod based on a few good spring innings after not pitching at all due to TJ surgery over the past year and a half. He may be a great communicator, as Mike Pelfrey has said, but he’s not all that great IMO. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t fire him and I don’t really question his return after the coaching purge this winter. I just think he has more flaws than most good pitching coaches.
tlagee March 23, 2011 at 10:56 pm

Funny that Perez is willing to go to the minors for the Nats and work out his problems but wasn’t will to do that last year with the Mets. Hell, we’re just paying him 12 million so he can play minor league ball on the Nat’s farm. Good riddance.
- Satish Ram March 24, 2011 at 12:11 am
  
  I was thinking the exact same thing.

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