Oliver Pérez
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| New York Mets — No. 46 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| June 16, 2002 for the San Diego Padres | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through 2006) |
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| Win-Loss | 29-40 |
| Earned Run Average | 4.56 |
| Strikeouts | 632 |
| Former teams | |
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Oliver Pérez Martinez (born August 15, 1981 in Culiacán, Mexico) is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher who plays with the New York Mets.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] San Diego Padres
Oliver Pérez was signed by the San Diego Padres as an amateur free agent in 1999. He made his debut with the Padres in 2002. Pérez did well for a rookie after being called up by the Padres in 2002, striking out over a batter per inning, but he suffered from control issues at times. He regressed somewhat in 2003, again exhibiting poor command, although his immense talent was apparent.
[edit] Pittsburgh Pirates
In August 2003, Pérez was sent by San Diego to Pittsburgh along with Jason Bay and Cory Stewart in the same trade that brought Brian Giles to the Padres. Pérez continued to struggle for his new team.
Before the 2004 season, the team overhauled his pitching mechanics, and it worked. His average of 10.97 strikeouts per nine innings was highest in the majors (239 SO/196 IP); his 2.98 ERA was fifth in the National League (tied with Roger Clemens); and his 12-10 record could have been ever better with reasonable run support early in the season. Pirates bats provided two or fewer runs in Pérez' 16 starts before All-Star break, causing him to post a 5-4 record with five no decisions despite a 3.24 ERA. In that season, Pérez pitched at least six innings and allowed three or fewer runs in 21 of his 30 starts (70%). Through this first 3 seasons, Pérez had compiled a 20-25 record with 474 strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA in 412.2 innings.
By contrast, Pérez's 2005 season was disappointing. He posted a 5.85 ERA in a season plagued by injuries. The Pirates were forced to place him on the disabled list on June 29 after he broke his toe kicking a cart following a loss to St. Louis. He missed two and a half months recovering, returning in September to post a respectable 4.58 ERA in 19.2 late season innings. Pérez has also lost significant speed off his former overwhelming fastball and is now accustomed to throwing high 80's or low 90's with it.
Pérez represented Mexico in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, where Mexico were eliminated in the 2nd group stage.
In 2006, Pérez opened the Pirates season as the number one starter. On June 27, Pérez was sent to the Pirates bullpen after struggling through the first half of the season with an ERA over 6. On June 29, he was sent to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, with Tom Gorzelanny being called up to replace him in the starting rotation.
[edit] New York Mets
On July 31, Pérez was sent to the New York Mets with teammate/former Met Roberto Hernández for Xavier Nady. He was sent to the Mets' AAA affiliate, the Norfolk Tides. In his fourth game for the Tides, Pérez took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and finished with a one-hitter and 11 strikeouts.[1] He was recalled to the Mets Major League roster on August 26, 2006. In his first start as a Met, Pérez pitched a no-hitter through four innings before Shane Victorino hit a sharp single to right field scoring Abraham Nunez in the fifth. Two batters later, Ryan Howard hit a grand slam ending Oliver Pérez's first start as a Met. Pérez would obtain a no decision after the Mets retook the lead in the bottom of the seventh. After two subpar starts, on September 6 Pérez threw a complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves in the second game of a doubleheader. Pérez allowed five hits, struck out six and only allowed one walk which came with two outs in the 9th inning.
After the Mets lost two starting pitchers to injury in the final week before the playoffs started, they were forced to use Pérez in the playoff rotation. His first playoff start came in Game 4 of the NLCS, in which he picked up his first career postseason win.
He started game 7 of a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals going six innings, striking out four and giving up one run, taking a no-decision.
[edit] Scouting report
Pérez has a potentially dominant arsenal of pitches. He throws a fastball up to 97 mph (43.4 m/s) and two different sliders; a sharper one against right-handers coming in at about 84 mph, and a slurve-type pitch against left-handed hitters. He also has a developing changeup. Lefties in particular find him difficult to hit; they struck out 59 times in 132 at-bats against him in 2004; right-handed batters were not much luckier. During his recent struggles, Oliver has had serious control problems, and his fastball velocity dropped to the high 80-mph range. As his 2006 season progressed, his performance improved late in the season with the New York Mets. His delivery slowed down and became more balanced, his fastball has retained its signature speed, while his slider has improved on its zip. Still, Pérez is regarded as a work-in-progress for the New York Mets, and, with the Mets' shortage of starting pitching, Pérez is considered a safe bet for a slot in the starting rotation for 2007.
