In theory, this photo could be a collectible. It could be a shot of the final game Oliver Perez ever throws for the Mets. As much as no Mets fan wants to see him pitch right now, they better hope that's not the case. (Photo by The Associated Press.)
So I was proven wrong on three fronts Saturday.
The first was obviously the Kentucky Derby. I spread around a ton of wagers, but not a single one went in the direction of 50-to-1 longshot Mine That Bird. Maybe it's because all I think of when I hear that name are those seagulls from "Finding Nemo" that just say "Mine, Mine, Mine" over and over again.
The second was clearly Oliver Perez. I was vocal that the Mets should sign Derek Lowe, but once they let him slip away to the Braves, I thought they had to sign Oliver Perez. It's only one month into that mind-boggling three-year, $36 million deal, but it sure looks like that was the wrong call.
What was the third thing I was wrong about on Saturday? I didn't think the car in front of me on the way to the newsroom could drive any worse. I was proven wrong.
But all we really care about here is the problem that Ollie has become.
Last week, I laid blame at the feet of Omar Minaya and I stand by that. He should be held responsible for every earned run Ollie gives up this season, while Lowe already has three wins for Atlanta. But the problem is Ollie probably won't give up too many more earned runs because he's now played his way right out of the rotation.
No one's confirmed anything, but it was clear that Ollie wasn't long for the rotation when Jerry Manuel pulled him one out into the third inning of the Mets' eventual 6-5 extra-inning loss Saturday to the Phillies. He had already give up four runs, five hits and six walks. Good thing there's nothing worse than walks because he would have given up seven of those.
But it was real clear the Mets have no more faith in Ollie than he appears to have in himself. The question is what do you do with him. I see no advantage to having him toil in the bullpen. And when are you ever going to want to bring in a wild, walk-prone reliever. That means a minor-league assignment, if he accepts it. Earlier this decade the Mets tried it with Steve Trachsel and it largely worked.
Unfortunately, just three years ago they tried it with Oliver Perez. Guess it didn't stick.