Read: Santana Talks to Perez
Following his rough start on Wednesday, after which pitching coach Dan Warthen called him out of shape, Oliver Perez was given a stern talking to by fellow LHP Johan Santana.
Santana, speaking to MLB.com‘s Marty Noble, said, “I talked to him. … He’s got to get into pitching again and get going. He knows that… He’s got to get his mechanics and his command.”
Perez acknowledged that he was behind schedule, blaming it on his having thrown less during the World Baseball Classic. According to Steve Popper at the Bergen Record, Perez said:
“I feel good. I feel healthy. Right now I’m just behind these guys. So I just have to on these days try to get back. I feel good. I feel stronger. So I just have to keep working in my bullpens and try to throw a lot more innings.”
…Perez was clearly defensive when asked about Warthen’s accusations, and you really don’t want a guy so dependant on his pitching coach to distrust him… hopefully he’s back to full strength soon and they put this whole thing behind them…
