Friday, July 27, 2007By Mike Steffanos
Pirates 8 - Mets 4
Played Thursday, July 26, 2007
We've seen this before from Perez, where things go wrong and he loses his composure. After sailing along with a 1-0 lead into the sixth, a leadoff single and then an infield hit by the pitcher put him in a jam, and his own error on a bunt allowed the tying run to score. After coming back to get Sanchez and Bay, David Wright can't make a play on the hard grounder that could've gotten him out of it. Now down 3-1, Perez allows a 2-run homer to Josh Phelps that basically puts it out of reach.
Without completely taking Wright off the hook, Nady's ball was a smash. At times I forget how young Perez still is. He's 3 months younger than John Maine, despite having more major league time under his belt, and probably still has some growing to do before he is ready to fully take on the mantle of ace of the staff. On the other hand, those who would criticize Perez for his inconsistency would do well to remember how far he has come in a short period of time.
| Oliver Perez (Last 5 Starts) | |||||||||||
| Date | Opp. | IP | R | ER | H | K | BB | HR | ERA | WHIP | Team Result |
| 6/20 | MIN | 5.1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6.75 | 1.88 | L |
| 6/26 | STL | 6.1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2.84 | 1.26 | L |
| 7/15 | CIN | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3.00 | 1.50 | W |
| 7/20 | @LAD | 7.1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1.23 | 1.23 | W |
| 7/26 | PIT | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.00 | L |
| Season (18 Games) | 114 | 49 | 36 | 90 | 108 | 44 | 14 | 2.84 | 1.18 | 10-8 | |
View Oliver Perez' Full Season Stats
Scott Schoeneweis continues to not be able to pitch at Shea, and you have to suspect at this point that his tenure with the club will end very ugly. Meanwhile, Joe Smith could only benefit from a chance to take a deep breath and find himself again away from the spotlight.
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Comments (3)
I think I figured out something: Milledge's continued, if modified showboating act.
Lastings figures it's easier to get hit by a pitch than to learn to take a walk. That's it! He induces the pitchers to throw at him, and suddenly there's a forty point spread between his batting average and his OBP, and he is "showing progress" in pitch selection.
Silliness aside, Lastings' hot bat couldn't better timed to the Mets' needs.
Posted by dd | July 28, 2007 4:33 PM
There is something about Milledge that reminds me of Jackie Robinson, the way he stands at the plate or how he looks at 1st base taking a lead, I don't know but it's something in his body language. I had the honor of meeting, well, seeing Jackie in my High School, Chelsea Voc. H.S. in Manhattan by the Holland Tunnel area in 1957. I was a Brooklyn Dodger fan in those days and I was on cloud nine. He was very friendly and spent time with all the kids that day. Maybe Milledge can imatate that look.
Posted by REV AL | July 28, 2007 5:14 PM
dd - I just hope he keeps his insurance premiums up to date.
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Al - Interesting comparison. I never met any of my baseball heroes as a kid, but I did meet a couple of NY Giants at football camp when I was 14. It was pretty cool -- Jack Gregory taught me some pass rush moves.
Posted by Mike Steffanos | July 29, 2007 12:23 PM