Oliver Perez to the Bullpen Is the Wrong Move

Oliver Perez is not a good pitcher. While Perez has shown flashes of brilliance, he has not been able to reach his potential. As a 22 year old he posted a 2.98 ERA in 30 starts with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ollie averaged 11 K/9 and only 3.7 BB/9. He had all the makings of an ace.

Then, his next season, he posted a 5.85 ERA. His walk rate almost doubled and was 6.1 BB/9. He also saw his strikeout rate decline to 8.5 K/9. His struggles continued until his 1st full season with the Mets.

At age 25, it had appeared that Ollie had regained his form. He posted a 3.56 ERA and his walk rate went back down to 4.0 BB/9. Control has always been the biggest issue with Perez’s pitching. In 2009, his walk rate approached his strikeout rate (7.9 BB/9 to 8.5 K/9). Perez posted a 6.82 ERA

Then, in this season, the wheels completely fell off (albeit the metaphorical car barely ran in the first place). In 7 starts this year, Perez posted a walk rate that was higher than his strikeout rate. Ollie walked 7.6 batters per 9 innings.

Clearly, Ollie’s control has disappeared. This is exactly why moving him to the bullpen was the wrong decision. Certainly, this move hurt Oliver’s confidence and ego. In his already fragile state, this will only negatively impact his pitching.

Oliver’s lack of control limits the situations when he will be used. You cannot have a relief pitcher that will walk numerous batters an inning. Letting men get on base late in games is a great way to lose baseball games.

Will Jerry really use Oliver late in a close game? With Oliver’s control issues a 3-2 lead could easily turn in to a 5-3 deficit. Walks are killers out of the bullpen. Oliver will now just create his messes later in the game. The offense will have less time to try to take back a lead if Ollie is used in late innings.

Logically, the only time that Ollie should be used is as a mop-up man in blowouts. This is the only way to minimize the damage that will be done by having Oliver Perez pitch. Oliver is due to make $12 both this year and next. This is absolutely absurd for a long reliever.

Being that Ollie is only 28, there is still a chance that he can once again become the dominant pitcher he was at age 22. However, Oliver will not reach his potential pitching out of the bullpen. Short outings will only exacerbate his control problems. Two walks in an inning will spell then end of his night and another reliever will have to be used to clean up his mess. 

Oliver needs to accept a minor league assignment. He can correct his mechanical issues in the minors and then get another shot at pitching in the big leagues.

If the Mets are not going to cut their losses and trade or release Ollie, they should attempt to make the most out of his pitching abilities. It costs them nothing to have him go the minors and work on his pitching. It is worth sending Ollie to the minors for 4 or 5 starts. If he improves then the Mets once again have a solid #3 starter. 

The sole reason Ollie is still in the majors is because of his contract. If Ollie was only making $2 million a year, there is not a doubt in my mind that the Mets would have already sent him to their minors. The Mets need to recognize their mistake and try to fix it. Right now, the Mets are only magnifying the mistake they made by signing Oliver Perez and making it worse.