My story in today’s Journal News: Perez ripped again.
-
- May
- 6
Another Oliver Perez start; another bad night. Here’s how I wrote it:
LOS ANGELES _ On the bright side, Oliver Perez didn’t give up many of those excruciating painful pull-out-your hair walks.
Instead, he settled for giving up those annoying home runs.
Perez gave up three, making for a quicker, less agonizing defeat, 5-1, last night to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
At first, manager Willie Randolph, standing in a cramped hallway outside the Mets’ clubhouse, said, “I thought he pitched fairly well,’’ then modified that to, “he was better than last time,’’ and eventually, “it was a fair outing.’’
Before the clearly frustrated manager was done, Randolph said, “he’s in my rotation and will stay there until we deem that we have to make a change.’’
Inside, pitching coach Rick Peterson dressed quickly and left without comment, leaving Perez to explain the homers to Rafael Furcal, Blake DeWitt and Matt Kemp.
“I did everything I can,’’ Perez said. “It happens. Sometimes I make mistakes and they hit it.’’
“It’s all about focus with him,’’ Randolph said. “I don’t want to beat it to death.’’
Focus, no doubt, is getting ahead 0-and-2 to Furcal before throwing a lame slider that was crushed.
“In that case, no,’’ Randolph said, when asked if Perez focused.
Perez was coming off a 1 2/3-inning meltdown in which he walked five and gave up seven runs in a 13-1 loss to Pittsburgh that prompted closer Billy Wagner to rip the potentially talented, but frequently easily-hit left-hander who hopes to capitalize big in the free-agent market this winter.
Wagner said with the bullpen being overworked Perez needed to give the Mets innings and carry some of the load.
Randolph wasn’t happy Wagner took Perez to task through the papers, but when asked which was the greater issue, Wagner speaking up or Perez’s pitching, he didn’t hesitate to say the latter.
Prior to the game, Randolph said he hadn’t given up on Perez and his sub-two inning stint against the Pirates was an aberration.
Was it really?
Perez gave the Mets six innings last night, but also put them in a hole their sputtering offense couldn’t escape.
The Dodgers added another run in the first on Russell Martin’s RBI single, then blew the game open with three in the fifth on DeWitt’s homer and Kemp’s two-run drive.
When their offense is clicking, five runs is a doable deficit from which the Mets can rally.
However, with how they’ve played lately, they made Chad Billingsley _ he of the 1-4 record and 5.20 ERA going in _ appear invincible.
They had their chances to make a game of it long before Moises Alou’s cosmetic RBI in the sixth.
The Mets left five runners in the first four innings, including four in scoring position.
They had runners on second and third with one out in the second, but Brian Schneider struck out and Luis Castillo grounded to third. Jose Reyes was left on third in the third, and Carlos Delgado was stranded on second to end the fourth.
“It was one of those games where we had opportunities,’’ Alou said. “But, we didn’t come up with the key hit. If we could’ve come up with some clutch hits it could have been a different game.’’
Instead, it was the same old story.
Write me at jdelcos@lohud.com.
PHOTO: MLB
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on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 7:04 am by John Delcos.
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I’m glad you wrote that most important part about the great Schneider failing miserably when he had a big chance to help the metsies catch up. How come no mention of those outstanding throws to second by the great defensive not catcher?
PS: did anybody ask that most “despcable of mets Wags if he was happy today since his buddy pitched 6 lousy innings instead of 2. Must be fun in the metsie clubhouse with the players hating on each other as much as the fans hate on them…...
No mention of how bad the lineup is with that over rated but quickly returning to earth Churchy in the 2 spot. And that Luis guy in the 8 hole is so worthless they won’t even walk him to get to the pitcher in a big spot.
only 3 games ahead of us… what a waste of money the 2008 metsies the worst team money could buy part 2!
This says it all:
“Wagner said with the bullpen being overworked Perez needed to give the Mets innings and carry some of the load.”
HellofromDC. are you a Nats fan?
Church is still doing a fine job. better than first base. schneider is coming off a huge injury for a catcher. doesnt excuse that really bad throw but hey it happens. if by next week he’s still sucking then you may have something.
Delgado is not a first baseman. his bat appears to be alive because he’s finally just going for single/double but then when he makes contact gets full of himself and the next time goes for the fence and sucks all over again.
Other than that… the Mets are being the Mets.
If you arent a fan why are you on this blog?
Well I stated yesterday I was tired of Mets givin up walks but OP went a little too far and threw the ball right over the plate for some batting practice.
Heard John Feinstein on the Fan this morning pushing his book about Mussina and Glavine.
He made a couple of interesting comments. One-guess who called a players only meeting last yr? Not Delagdo, or LoDuca, or Glavine, or Beltran. It was Marlon Anderson. You should not have to have your PH make a meeting. That says to me that there is no leadership on this team (if you ever thought there was).
Two-Willie always says he knows his guys. But when he was asked about Glavine gettin his 299th win, he stated that it was no big deal. That really irked the whole pitching staff. So much for knowing his guys. Feinstein stated several other comments like this.
None of these things are a good thing.
scoopscoop: yeah saying 299 is no big deal is wrong. maybe back in the day it was no big deal. but with the 100 pitch game. there will be no 300 games anymore.
Delgado is no leader. reyes is too young and cocky. you probably have wright. You would think Alou would step up.
Maybe Church being a veteran can take the reigns.
In willie’s defense he did later state that he should have better related to the 300 win deal (he says at first he did not b/c he was not a pitcher). But being in BB all these yrs he should have be more retropsective as you stated Steve C about Glavine maybe being the last guy to 300.
But the lack of leadership is a big issue. I wonder if the players feel a little muted by willie and won’t take the bull by the horns since willie always comes across to me as being a little lacking in confidence (and therefore it seems always a little concerned that he does not get respect).
Case in point, when Wright was asked who the leader is he said willie. When wille is asked who the leader is he never states anyone person, he always says there are alot of leaders.
scoopscoop: Willie may be one of those guys that doesnt think any one guy on the team should be the go to guy but him/ case in point Peterson… :-\
Willie is the man. end of story.
He will be the first met manager to not have a team captain which i find odd. I like Willie’s old school small ball/stealing mentality.
But like everything else.. this attitude of his about the team seems to be too Torre for me.
Thats why Torre wasnt a very good player manager for the Mets but was the manager for the Yankees. difference in the game and the style. oh well.
After listening to Feinstein’s interview this morning, I wanted both Willie and Peterson fired. Did you hear him talk about Peterson looking at butterflies in the bullpen? What a weirdo! lol
Steve C: I think it’s been made clear the last few days that Willie did not put a muzzle on Peterson. It’s unfair to infer that he did. Why Peterson himself is so reluctant to speak to the media now is a mystery. Maybe he has residual bitterness over the way his “10 minute” comment was blown up in the media and how he continues to be the butt of jokes over it. I wish some reporter would get to the bottom of this and find out why Peterson won’t talk anymore.
hi little metsie steve c…. so many ask mne and every time I answer you little metsie forget, so let it be said very simply… i was once a little metsie just like you and all the other boys and girls here and then i found out that there are other fans who see baseball as fun and aren’t nasty to their own guys, and arrogant and think they are superior so now i am trying to get little metsies see the light. There are wonderful little metsies like clm and dave and of course TIFFANY, but there are so many metsies who aren’t like…. well you know who they are steve C. Do you knwosteve c that some little metsies here think that are soldiers sailors and marines aren’t good enough to go to a metsie game because they don’t wear a suit and tie to work and they may boo the metsies… that’s why the little metsies are the laughingsock if the baseball world. To have such an attitude you’d think the metsies went to the playoffs 14 years in a row instead of none, you would think the metsies for all the money they pay would have won a world series in this decade or the last decade instead of none…. but the little metsies don’t care they know they are superior even though they are the laughingstock of the baseball universe…...
PS: I think you are a good little metsie but you’d be better if you’d stop hating Carlos Delgado so much. Is it his fault he’s overpaid? NO Is it his fault he can’t get around on the high and tight fastball anytomore NO… Is ithis fault that the worst GM in the world traded for him with that lousy contract in tow? NO. So be nice to yoru metsies…. They can’t help the fact that they are too old to be any good…..
Personally, I never thought Willie was that great of a manager. He’s not even good at “managing egos” which is supposed to be a “Torre trait.” Torre got a bum rap at the end. He had no problem playing young kids: Jeter, Posada, Cano, Melky, Kennedy, etc. over a vet when it represented a significant upgrade. He’s doing it now in LA as well. Ethier and Kemp are playing most of the time with Juan Pierre’s ass on the bench.
Willie, the dude is so negative. He never gives any of his players any credit at all. He downplays EVERYTHING. Whether its a losing streak or Glavine getting his 300th win. Torre was very reserved, but he was very positive about his team and would throw out a compliment every now and again.
As I initially stated, I just don’t think he’s that good of a manager. ‘06 aside, when he had an immense amount of talent on the roster, his teams have underachieved. In ‘05 they faded down the stretch, in ‘07 there was the collapse, and in ‘06 he was outmanaged by LaRussa in the playoffs.
But that aside, the negativity is really what annoys me. From Gotay to Pagan to Glavine. No wonder Glavine went back to Atlanta.
Glavine would have gone back to Atlanta with or without Willie. That’s where his heart really was. And while I appreciate the solid pitching he did give the Mets for the most part, I’m glad he’s gone. He’s too old and this year it’s really going to show.
Glavine has a 4.50 ERA and 1.73 WHIP. I think he’s going to be pitching like this or worse all year. Last year at the very end I think he just ran out of gas. And he’ll be pitching most of this year with a low tank. If he were still on the Mets at this point in his career, he’d be more of a detriment than an asset.
Feinstein stated in the interview that Glavine wanted to stay w/Atl but his wife convinced him that he had made the coomitment to the Mets and had to go thru w/it (that plus more than a few MM in difference b/w the contracts I would bet as the other reason to go to NY). Jeff Wilpon got him on the jet and brought him to NY to sign.
So he truley never did want to be here. It was also inferred by Feinstein that this is why Glavine never felt comfortable being a team leader-he was not a Met. Plus he would defer to Delgado b/c of the many Latinos on the team.
All in all it was a very insightful interview and appeared to show a lack of unity and leadership w/in the team.
JK, way to take the entire point of my post and go completely off the rails.
My post was about Willie and how negative he is. I wasn’t looking for an argument on Glavine. I don’t think any Met fan wanted him back after the last game.
Keith, I know many Mets fans didn’t want Glavine back. And I know your post was about Willie. My first reply was short and was addressing your inferring that Glavine didn’t want to come back because of Willie. I think that was a cheap shot. So I addressed it.
My second post was not even addressed to you in particular. I was just noting that I think the reason Glavine was so awful the last game of the season is because he ran out of gas. He’s old. And that he’ll be pitching like an old man this year too so it’s good he’s gone.
Oh and yes I am a Natty fan! I’m one of the two people who goes to their games. I just love that Milledge too…your metsies did a bad job giving him away to us. He is a crowd favorite amongs us two in the crowd
Lets face it. The mets are a mess. There is no character on this team and willie is not a good manager, especially for this team. Therefore this team will win some and lose some which will not be good enough to beat the phils, end of story.
Th team has a lot of transitions. Injuries being a major one. Management, a new field. The issue is there’s no real leadership on the field. When your first baseman and your shortstop forget to cover their post you have an issue.
When a manager has to come out to talk instead of the catcher or the team captain you have an issue. The captain also needs to be an everyday player not a pitcher like John Franco. I never got that one at all.
Currently, the only viable captains in my eyes are Church or Wright. Church may not do it cause he’s the new kid on the field. Wright should take up the mantle. I wuld sayAlou if Wright doesnt do it. But the team needs a goto guy. other than Willie/Peterson/Omar.
Speculation time is coming up on who will replace Willie at the break.
I can’t see anyone on the horizon that will give the Mets the goose in the rear they need to wake up and play baseball.
As most of the previous posts have said, the team is a mess. Randolph CAN become a decent manager but he needed to cut his teeth in AAA before being given a major league post. He doesn’t have the feel for the game. It seems he’s managing the game as if he is still a bench coach.
I’m amazed that J/Wilp is allowing Peterson to get away with not talking to the media. “His” staff is in shambles, writers have many questions and don’t have the chance to grab any answers.
Things are crazy in queens.
Sam G. – I think Peterson is beinng told not to talk. He didnt seem shy on SNY when they spoke to him a few games ago.
“It seems he’s managing the game as if he is still a bench coach.”
Great observation, Sam.
Omar seems to have gotten the low-key guy he wanted so that he (Omar) can have a strong influence on the team. (Like Beane out in OAK.) I’m not saying the Mets need a loud, in-your-face manager, but we need a strong leader.
Re Peterson: Who’s lying? Jacket, Willie, Horwitz? We don’t know. Seems like Jacket might have one foot out the door, with Willie and/or Omar pushing him out. Mazzone is available, but would he want to come in knowing that management might be blown up at the end of the season.
RG: its always been my suspicion that Omar is like Steingrabber in that he wants to say who plays and how often.
Omar has made some really good trades unlike Steve Phillips who I am glad is gona and forgotten. But you have to let Willie do his thing, if indeed he’s puppeteering willie instead of sitting back and watching the magic.
For all the credit Peterson got for getting perez straighted out last year, now he will get the blame for Ollies regression. Just watching him last night, you could see his follow through is a mess. He almost fell down a couple of times. The lack of progress by a talent like Pelfry is a concern as well. Mazzone? hmmm…. That’s an interesting thought. I will throw out a replacement for the managers spot that I havent seen yet. How about Ray Knight? He has the upbeat personality, Major league managing experience, and He’s a folk hero to all us longtime metsies. Waddaya think?
Most of the Mets are still playing uninspired baseball and Willie and Peterson seem disinterested. Call Willie’s style what you will, but, the bottom line is results and he is not getting any. Whatever formula you use are subscribe to that says that a good manager gets you “X” number of wins a year, I have yet to honestly see a game this year where something Willie specifically did had a definite positive impact on the team. His stubborness is going to be his downfall with the Mets organization. A character like Bobby Valentine or a vocal type of Manager like Larry Bowa may very well be more beneficial for the club at this point. The talent on the team alone is what has kept them near 500 this year.
Ron Darling said it best. Ollie thinks too much at the mound about his mechanics. he just needs to do it..
Ray: Regarding Pelfrey, isn’t it possible that he is just another 1st round bust? Maybe he isn’t the super talent we all think he is and/or can be?
I think the jury is still out on Pelfrey.
I think we need to see if Schneider is healthy and gets to catch Pelfrey a few times and then see how things will look.
Casanova I don’t think is much help to Pelfrey.
My one Willie question is.
Do you think he has shown any improvement as A manager from
his first year.
I actually think he has regressed A bit.
John, Can we also look at why the Mets seem to get similar bench players in pairs? Easley and Anderson? Pagan and Chavez? It seems like they have not really looked for a bench that compliments the entire team. We are safe if we need a 2nd baseman or outfielder, but, maybe with the exception of Easley who has his power moments, we are without a power threat on the bench. With their primary pinch hitter Anderson getting off to a slow start already having nine strikeouts, the bench seems to be a weakness even in the tightest of games. I find myself hoping more for a wild pitch to get a run in from third than having faith that the bench will come through.
How about… Davey Johnson?
He managed Team USA a couple years back. He’s had success every place he’s managed. He would be a huge upgrade tactically and light a fire under these guys.
Scott: yeah i noticed that Casanova and Pelfrey dont jell very well.
Willie learned from Torre. very low-key personality.
Stillsane : we have a good bench. and by the whole team you mean someone willie will put in to cover offensive/defensive 1st base?
;-)
Scott,
I agree totally about Willie and his regression. I think that Pelfrey and Perez have a major problem in common. They both think too much rather than just pitching. The main difference is I think that Pelfrey still suffers from a confidence issue. I think OP’s does not have that problem, but, tries to out think the hitter each time. Schneider may be able to help Pelfrey. Only OP can help OP in my opinion.
You got it Steve. That would be great to have!
;-)
“I will throw out a replacement for the managers spot that I havent seen yet. How about Ray Knight?”
not only that, since the big metsies could care less about how they do on a baseball field, Ms Knight can teach them to play better golf…...which I’m sure they do care about…..
I would rather have “Otis Day and the Knights” – This way they could perform “Shout” and “Shama Lama Ding Dong” between innings!
Since I have not seen one Davey Johnson sighting at Shea in the almost 20 years since he was fired, I have a feeling He won’t be managing the Mets again. It would be nice to see a manager who was a part of Our past success. Willie will always be a yankee to me, just as Glavine will always be a brave.
hello from DCCould you please tell us what Nats board you post on, or do you only come here?Davey Johnson is managing team USA for the Olympics so I guess you could say no chance of him returning to the Mets.
My name is HellofromDC/PelhamPkwy, I am a nats fan. My little nats are a pathetic baseball team and because they are pathetic, I need to go on to a Mets blog and put that team down because I am a loser. My life is to sit in front of my little monitor and keyboard and annoy people. I live in down town DC with my homies. We collect welfare and smoke crack all day. I have no friends. Would you little metsies be my friend?
HfC – sorry to hear. we wont be your friend. but we will share your beer! ;-)
You can tease me all you want pathetic little metsies who don’t have the guts to use your real name. I knew Metsies were pathetic little metsies that hated on their own team, but I didn’t realize they were also gutless little chickens that couldn’t even use their identity on an Anon board to trash talk…. I’m here forever now…. Day game tomorrow. Should I read about your bitches live or wait until after the game??? now see what you’ve done you chicken little metsies….. buck buck buck buck…..
Should I become metsfan? how about JM how about Tiffany? .... buck buck buck I wouldn’t do that because I’m not a little NYchicken like you little metsies are…. poor delcos having to live in a chicken coop all the time…. Maybe that’s why Mr scoopy is here…. Scoop coop, he knew all along most little metsies were chickens…. buck buck buck buck….....
who teased ya? dude. i said we’d share your beer. i dont know you so how can i be your friend. gotta start with beer first.
relax a bit ok..
;-)
Come to DC Steve C We’ll meet at the metro statrion and buy you a beer…. When do the chickens come to DC? You’ll find out how to have fun at a ballgame….. something you probably never had in the parking lot and never will especially since that despicable elitist JK has mandated that only suits and ties are allowed…...
To Ray: what fun is it to post on your own team’s site. Look at you little metsies. You claim to be mets fans and all you do is bitch at each other and at your team…. more fun to fight with people who you are supposed to disagree with…....Plus, metsies have the biggest problem with anything and everything so this is the place to be. Even the Philthy fans are now becoming better fans than metsie fans. I left them for you all….. and just so the pathetic imitator knows there are more than one of us so we take turns picking on you metsies…... We are all you wish you could be unhappy little metsies…..
Oh, what’s the matter, did we hurt your little feelings. It sounds like your crying like the little girl you we all know you are, little chicken head.
I would love to meet you face to face. We all know your a tough guy behind a keyboard crack head. I live in NJ, lets meet face to face. Tell me when and where. I hope you got a good dental plan, little chicken girl!!!!
I think Delcos should be required to post only under his real name.
I am a little chicken. I hide behind my keyboard. I am a loser. I talk all big and bad because I can, nobody can hurt me behind my keyboard. I am the crack king, HellofromDC. My rooster where’s the pants in the family. Pleas little metsies, be my friend, please?
I am so poeth! I said “buck buck” to mock a chicken…how poeth is that?!
PS: I’m also from Pelham Parkway
and so? I’m from Brooklyn. whats the big deal? that and 2 bucks get ya on the train/bus.
Hellofromdc not sure why u have to act so adversarial. just relax and talk baseball. we arent yankee fans. we actually dont mind discussion. its the negativity we dont like..
Steve
Someone here posts with DC’s handle and won’t come out. It was kinda funny the first time, but he is right.
If you want to criticize someone just do it.
To the fake hello… I may be a girl but I have something you don’t have and that’s two ##lls…. chicken …...
To Steve C… You are right… I will be nice when the chicken littel metsie comes out of the coop.. And not Mr Scoopy…. deal….. but maybe not you Steve C, but its hard to belleive you read your fellow little metsie postys and say with a straight face that you aren’t adversarial… Most Little metsies hate on everything that wears orange and black and blue…. Go to LOHUD Yankee land. They aren’t nearly as hostile as little metsies.
Oh by the fake you posted your fake name when you made of Delcos for making amistake…. Aren;t you proud. You even make fun of your host… Maybe you are metsfan.
Hi Tiffany the most wonderful little metsie. I said a long time ago that I was Delcos but the Delcos in me vehemently denied it. Plus it would be a major conflict since he drives and I take the Metro. How could we be the same with such a major difference of lifestyle.?
Now look at the silly imposter saying he wants to meet who himself, and he has to preach violence. Yes, he epitimizes a little metsie. hides in a coop and espouses violence…. very nice example for a metsie…....
hey fake from new jersey. if you are so tough tgo to a met game in philly and see if you leave alive….. brave soul acting like he ain’t hidin behind the same kind of keyboard I’m hidin behind… whoooooo stevie C see what I mean?
By the way hidin chicken from Jersey. I’m from the Bronx so your jersey fumes don’t scare nobody…..
Hey hellofromDC,
You proved to all of us what a hypocrite you really are because you are calling the imposter hiding but all along you said you were from DC and a nat fan so you were doing the same thing. We now know your from the bronx. That explains your negative crap about the Mets because you are a yankee fan. What, the big bad yankees don’t have there own blog. The yankees are going just as far as the mets this year and they have well over a 200 million dollar payroll. Let’s go Red Sox, beat those skankees.
Sorry Tomg you must have missed my biography. I told you little mtsies I was living in Co-op City. Do you know where that is tomg. It is in the BRONX of New York City, and it is very near to Pelham Parkway which is in the BRONX of New York City, and I said I was a little metsie a long time ago until big bad bud selig gave my new city Washington of the district of Columbia, the # 1 city of the United States of America a baseball team and when I went to a game I found out fans can have fun not like fans who go to parking lot field. So now I am a Nat fan, not a lowly little metsie who has to hate his own team and his own fans…. So tomg sorry to make a metsie sad when he/she already has so much to be sad about but I siad the Bronx thing a long time ago. Poor little metsie you do know the yankees are superior to you metsies but not everyone even in the Bronx are yankee fans, but in the DC area, slowly but surely the Nats are coming on with more fans and more wins..
Yes, your correct in your assumption. I didn’t catch your biography. I now know the story behind HellofromDC’s madness.
There you go, Tom. Good job. Its a Yankee troll trying hide its identity as a nats fan. Thats why I asked what Nats board it posted on. JD, can we have a poll to ban yankee trolls who are no longer funny and are insulting our team and our posters?
You are a good little Metsie tomg. I am glad you have Ryan Church and love him, but remember the poem to an athlete dying young by AE Housman….? I will just recite one line which equates to the wonderful start of Mr Church:
“And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.”
Love you tomg!!!!
I never said I loved him HellofromDC, lets not get carried away. I will say that I would take him over Milledge any day of the week, month, year. If you are a Nats fan you will see that milledge will never be the player he once was projected to be.
I’ll say it… I love watching Church play. He’s exactly what this team needed in RF.
I’m so happy for you little metsie keith, its so nice when someone falls in love. Is the the first time for you keith?
tomg: I’m sorry you didn’t fall in love. Maybe you’ll fall in love someday soon though. We don’t really care what type of player Milledge becomes. We are very happy to get rid of any one of Minayas boys. When they are all gone we might become good.
Nope. Victor Diaz broke my heart.
Victor Diaz? May Dad loved him too…. He kept telling me that Diaz was going to be great. I think church just broke your heart too. That’s my Church. Sit and watch a guy run around the bases. Now he’e really a metsie…...
Its not right calling the mets the mrtsies
metsies sorry