5/5/09

Creating Olliestein - Jaap Stijl








"A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin."H. L. Mencken


It comes as little surprise to some, the Unravelling of Oliver Perez.



For some the ingredients were always there; the frustrating lack of consistency, the fluctuating focus and more importantly, the delicacy of his mechanics which inevitably led to variations in his velocity and thus, his effectiveness.



As long ago as 2002 back when he struck out alot of batters but struggled with control issues for the Padres before being traded to the Pirates, they were gushing about his potential. And as recently as 2007, winning 15 games for the Mets, it appeared Oliver Perez was tantalisingly near the promise that had eluded him for so long.



But for others, more importantly those who make the personnel decisions for the Mets and who sign, set and serve the pay checks for those players, based upon that potential, that left arm, that record against the Phillies and Braves when pitching for the Mets the last few seasons, a recent marriage as a sign of "maturity"(?!) and more importantly, because the Braves outbid the Mets for the services of the prime lefty on the market, Derek Lowe, Omar Minaya re-signed Ollie, warts and all on the flimsy wet cardboard hope that magically and mysteriously, Ollie would, with a secure 3 year deal, suddenly rescue his potential.



No one truly knows what's wrong with Ollie these days.


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