Comments on: Read: Who Is Oliver Perez?

By: MudvilleNine

MudvilleNine — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:51:55 +0000

Maybe Bostick has options and can be sent back down where as Lugo might have to go through waivers to return to NO.

By: MetLifer

MetLifer — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:02:50 +0000

I think what all the people that complain about OP’s inconsistencies means is that… One start he’ll get a shutout. The next start he’ll give up 6 runs and 5 walks. Repeat. Whereas JM would give you a consistent 3 runs per start. They both average out to the same and that’s the difference. Although OP might have better stuff and better potential, I would definately opt for JMs consistency (Don’t get me wrong, JM has been inconsistent too.. but in stretches.. A couple of bad starts then a couple of good starts)… At this point in OPs career I mean. Earlier in spring training, I thought OP would finally put it together and he’d fetch 15mill plus on the open marketing, but his inconsistencies has dropped his stock to the 10 mill level. I wouldn’t sign OP long term to anything more than that. In fact I would prefer to sign him to 12 for 1 year and see if he can finally put it all together. I doubt this will happen and we might have to see him walk.

By: jamie

jamie — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:22:47 +0000

Yeah, they really had very similar seasons over all, but I don’t see how one could say ollie was more consistent. I do buy that too often an image is defined and then perpetuated through repetition, rather than examination of performance (and that there’s merit to JM being unfairly exempt)…but I think “inconsistent”, in this case, has been a euphamism for “depends where his head’s at on the day he pitches”

just for fun: runs allowed per start last year

OP 132438120335042*21556430352526
JM 02210133522241222*742066336161830

By: Another Matt

Another Matt — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:30:31 +0000

Agreed, he’s a great pitcher and we’re lucky to have him, especially since he wasn’t the focus of the deal that brought him here.

Nevertheless, while his stuff’s as good as anyone’s, it’s hard to feel complete confidence when he takes the mound. It’s not like Santana where you feel like every start is going to at least meet the criteria for the Quality Start stat (and indeed 6/8 have been so far, and one of the two that missed was a 2R, 5 2/3 IP near-miss)

By: Another Matt

Another Matt — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:26:03 +0000

Ruddy Lugo’s got a better ERA and better WHIP in NO than Adam Bostick, and is on the 40-man, which makes one wonder why he’s being overlooked.

Also, couldn’t they make room for Armas on the 40-man by shifting either Burgos or J.Vargas to the 60-day DL?

Unless there’s a limit on the number of players on the 60-day or you can’t make it retroactive or something…

By: Another Matt

Another Matt — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:23:11 +0000

Actually, I have to concede… I just looked at there game logs from last year, and there is a case to be made that Ollie was no less consistent in his actual performance.

In their starts last year, Maine failed to complete the 5th inning 5 times, Ollie only 4 times. Maine gave up more than 5 runs 4 times, Ollie only 4 times (that’s including unearned runs, which is when Ollie sometimes seems to lose the plot).

So it comes down to perception: Maine’s struggles seem to be more physical, whereas Ollie’s seem to be more mental. That leads to the impression that Maine’s making the most out of his talents but that Ollie could be better “if only he just straightened his head out”.

By: Another Matt

Another Matt — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:31:03 +0000

Nah, it’s because if Maine struggles it’s not occurring at the exact same time he starts messing around with pausing during his windup as if he was trying to be a lefty Dan Haren or dropping down side-arm.

Yes Maine is inconsistent but it seems like it’s more physical with Maine but more mental with Ollie, and OP’s definitely more likely to let it snowball into a sure loss for the team whereas Maine has shown the ability to fight through it and give the team a chance more often.

By: jamie

jamie — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:07:12 +0000

I’m curious as to how you can say OP was more consistent than JM last year. What are the criteria? consecutive quality starts? IP per consecutive start? Big innings allowed? High leverage situations?

Another Matt’s observation seems valid to me. Players have said it, his catcher’s said it: he’s prone to lose focus and melt down. Not the same thing as being gassed.

By: gowrightgo

gowrightgo — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:01:34 +0000

I would rather have Perez back as a pinch runner after yesterdays stolen base exhibition. He can fly……

Seriously though..Perez is what he is right now. Which is slightly better than league average. He shows flashes of brilliance and flashes of horrendous sometimes batter to batter. If that is the type of pitcher you want, then sign him up. He can be the best #4 pitcher in the league. But we can aspire to get better than him.

I did the math already. With Alou, Delgado, Perez, Pedro, Duque all coming off the books plus some small raises to others…we are about to lop off $40M from this years payroll.

In doing so, we can choose to load up in the rotation or load up 1 top pitcher (CC Sabathia type) and 1 top 1b (Texiera) all while trusing that LF goes to a Carp, Murphy, Evans, Fmart type.

I’d prefer to take the option of landing a solid A pitcher and solid A hitter/fielder for 1b and leave Pelfrey to round out the rotation.

Next year I’d like to see…Santana, Maine, Sabathia, Pelfrey and say one of the Vargas, Niese, Figueroa, types plus an offense that goes…Reyes, Church, Wright, Beltran, Texiera, Fmart, Castillo, Schneider

By: therealsince86

therealsince86 — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:59:33 +0000

Oh, smart. I did not know that neither were on the 40 man. I actually thought we still had room.