Obviously, the Mets’ signing of Oliver Perez has not worked out. But it should be kept in mind that the other pitcher the Mets were weighing at the time was Derek Lowe. The Mets refused to give more than a three-year offer for Lowe, who instead signed with Atlanta for four years at $60 million. The Mets heard familiar refrains about being cheap and ending up with at three years at $36 million because of that.
But since becoming a Brave, Lowe has shown signs of decline with his 37th birthday approaching in June. He has a good record with Atlanta at 18-11. But his ERA in his 38 Braves starts is 4.73, and opponents have hit .298 with a .356 on-base percentage and a .444 slugging percentage.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Joel Sherman takes on SHK
Well, SHK, the gauntlet has been laid down:
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7 comments:
I'd still say they should have dumped Perez and saved the cash to sign someone else. Didn't have to be Lowe.
That doesn't fly. You probably have no fewer than 5 comments or threads on this board saying the Mets should have signed Lowe. Not just "someone else."
At least tell me Sherman has a wide stance. Give me something entertaining here.
BTW, Pelf's run has to be acknowledged. You knew he was the one starter with a high ceiling, but didn't know if his nervous mentality would continue to deep six it.
Well, I'm glad to see he's getting it done.
True, but I also had this to say about Lowe when we first heard about the possibility:
D. Lowe is interesting. Very steady guy year to year, solid #s, and good experience with '04 sox. If he were to stay on course he'd be a tremendous #3.
However, at 35 I can't help but think Omar's at it again, pursuing players who were great in their peak but are on the verge of declining. It's like the guy hasn't learned from Delgado, Alou, Pedro, Duque, etc. I like picking up D. Lowe if it's PART of the solution, but not if that's what Omar has in mind as the TOTAL solution for our starters.
I'd still take Lowe's '09 #s (15-10, 4.67 ERA, 194 IP) over Perez (3-4, 6.82 ERA, 66 IP). Is the $3 M we saved on Ollie worth it?
And Sherman has a wide stance.
Oh no you di'int.
Revisionist history demands a reply:
"Adding Lowe would be awesome" 12/17/08
"Well, this is exactly what I feared. By blowing the bank on two closers we shopped ourselves out of picking up another legit starter (lowe)." 1/23/09
"Well, with Santana's injury looking more serious by the day, it's certainly proving to be a good decision by Omar not to get another starting pitcher this offseason. Who needs Lowe really?" 3/3/09
"Good thing we re-signed Ollie in the offseason instead of gambling on Lowe. Really dodged that bullet!" 03/12/09
"...not pursuing Lowe in the offseason was a tremendous disappointment." 4/28/09
"If they hadn't signed Perez and Castillo to such ridiculous contracts we easily could have afforded D. Lowe... I just don't get not making a real run at Lowe. Solid innings eater with excellent ERA." 4/29/09
Prolly more, but I gave up looking.
I will balance that with this prescient quote, issued at the news the Mets had re-upped Ollie for 3:
"I look forward to 3 years of missing the playoffs" 2/3/09
1 of 3 down. Chance of prediction coming true over the next 2? (computerized beeping noise)
100%.
Well, I'd still have taken Lowe over Ollie, even given their respective contracts.
That said, I would have taken Lowe in the context I quoted above: as a PART of our pitching solution, not THE solution. So if it would have turned out that given Lowe's contract we could not have added any more pitching support, then I would have passed on Lowe. But assuming we could have added Lowe and another legit starter, I'd still have taken Lowe over Ollie.
I certainly went into the Lowe thing with eyes wide open, noting that he was aging and on the back 9 of his career. Given the enormous injuries the Mets pitchers have suffered over the past several years, having a horse in the rotation that could reliably give us 180-200 IP would be a real benefit, especially to reduce strain on the incredibly overworked bullpen.
That said, Lowe's performance so far has been a big drop from his previous 4 year years with Sox, but his '09 numbers weren't too bad.
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