Scott Who? How About Oliver Perez?
As Oliver Perez keeps getting better as the season goes along, the dreaded deadline trade that sent Scott Kazmir to Tampa Bay for Victor Zambrano in 2004 has become more and more of a forgotten issue. Like many Met fans did for the next two and a half season's, I constantly called the radio station WFAN to condemn the trade. Although Omar Minaya was not at the helm as the GM of the Mets at the time, he certainly has done his best to clean up the mess created by his predecessor, Jim Duquette.
Last season, Minaya made one of his most boldest deals yet sending the popular and productive, Xavier Nady to the Pirates for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez. Perez was considered a throw-in to the deal. Two years to the day after the dreaded Kazmir deal, Met fans were once again scratching their heads on this unusual trade. I was definitely one of those fans. I remember thinking why? I know Duaner Sanchez was lost for the season and he needed to be replaced, but I felt (and still do) that trading Nady was the wrong move. What none of us fans realized was that throw-in player in the deal was a fallen star waiting to be reborn some 2 months later.
Oliver Perez had a breakthrough year with the Pirates in 2004. In 2005 and early 2006, Perez struggled with his control. He was sent to the minors by the Pirates in June of 2006. The demotion signaled that the Pirates had given up all hope on the talented lefty. When Perez was acquired by the Mets, he was immediately optioned to the minors. After progressing, he showed some promise by pitching in some games in September. Perez was put on the post-season roster after the Mets developed a shortage of starters. Perez' first test came in game 4 of the NLCS in St. Louis. With the Mets trailing in the series 2-1, Perez came out firing and so did the Mets' bats. Perez had some key strikeouts in preventing the Cardinals from rallying. Perez took the biggest stage of his career in game 7. I remember thinking if Perez can pull out a victory here, there might be a lot of people willing to forget about Scott Kazmir. Perez did all he could giving up one run in 6 innings, but the Mets could not pull out a victory for their new hero. Perez instantly became a fan favorite. His mechanics have improved. His overall control has improved tremendously. Although he has looked very wild in his losses this season, Perez has rebounded nicely in his following starts. If Perez keeps pitching like it's game 7 of the NLCS, Cardinals' manager Tony LaRussa would be a total idiot for leaving him off the NL all-star pitching staff.
Like Kazmir in the Mets' organization, Perez was a highly regarded prospect in the Padres organization. Both pitchers throw hard and have high strikeout potential. Both broke into the Majors at age 20 and both arrived to their current teams via a July 31st trade. No one will ever know how far the Mets may have gone with Kazmir on their staff, but as long as Perez keeps pitching the way he has in the first two months of this season, who cares about Scott Kazmir and the Devil Rays.
Comments
If Kazmir had not been traded, we would not have the terrific team we have now! Why? Because Duquette would have still been here! Do you think he would have signed Pedro? And Beltran? And Wagner? Never. He may even have traded Reyes or Wright!
Posted by: Barry | May 31, 2007 12:19 PM
Kazmir is 5'9" and never throws over a 100 pitches....whooo cares about Kazmir there's nothing we can do about it now and all we can focus on is being the best we can be as a team and well thats being the best haha LETS GO METS
Posted by: Rich | May 31, 2007 05:20 PM
Correction: Oliver was a highly touted prospect in the Pirates organization, not Padres. But both those teams suck so who cares! HA!
Kazmir needs a great pitching coach in order to learn and to be the star everyone thought he was going to be. He is lost down in Tampa Bay, so until he goes to a team with a great coaching staff you will never hear anything much about him. Which is why Oliver Perez came from rags to riches.
Posted by: Jonathan | May 31, 2007 05:25 PM
I love Perez, always have. I saw alot of potential in this kid when he was playing in the minors. I saw him pitch a few times and I always hoped the Mets could get this kid somehow. His Delivery makes his ball look alot faster then it is and that controled wildness is a distraction to pitchers.
All that being said I still do miss Kazmir. I feel that was THE worst trade the Mets ever made in my life time. The only trade that hurt me almost as bad was when Lenny was traded to the Phillies for friggen Juan Samual. Kazmir has had a prety good career in Tampa Bay, but if he was still a Met I believe he would be better.
Posted by: Chris | May 31, 2007 05:28 PM
correction to your correction: oliver perez was a highly touted prospect in the padres system until he got traded to the pirates and had one pretty good year and it was all down hill from there.
but i think if the duquette wouldnt have made that trade and minaya wouldve stepped in... ooh
Glavine, El Duque, Kazmir, Maine, Perez.
sosa in long relief. same team we have now. only problem there is what happens when pedro comes back.
Posted by: craig | May 31, 2007 05:34 PM
Craig, that is a problem I wouldn't mind having. I agree that the Kazmir trade was one of the worst in recent memory. I was shaking my head at that one for a long time. I wish we still had Kazmir, but I can't complain too much because the team is pretty Amazing even without him. I think that the trade for Perez was a great one especially with all the solid young outfield prospects we have. You can always use another pitcher and Oliver has exceeded probably everyone's expectations except his own.
Posted by: Charlie | June 1, 2007 03:12 AM
Ha! Keep telling yourselves everything is okay and that Kazmir would be better if he were a Met. A little research wouldn't hurt either. Kaz has thrown at least 100 pitches in every start this year except 1.
I am taking nothing away from Perez as he is having an outstanding season thus far, but to say Kazmir would be "better" if he were a Met is crazy as there's no way of backing that up.
Posted by: Sean | June 1, 2007 10:51 AM
When is the next time Kazmir will be pitching in the post-season? I'll take Perez cause he has that one under his belt!
Posted by: Derek C. | June 1, 2007 06:25 PM
I agree with Barry. Thank you Scott Kazmir for ridding us of Duquette! Good blog Derek!
Posted by: METSgal | June 2, 2007 08:47 PM