As I wrote on Monday, Mets pitcher Oliver Perez has repeatedly refused an assignment to Buffalo, the team's Triple-A affiliate, despite the fact that it's exactly what he needs to save his career----and his sanity.
Even Perez's agent, Scott Boras, realizes his client's plight. Boras reportedly suggested that Perez be placed on the disabled list and given psychiatric counseling. The Mets actually have advocated the latter for some time, but Perez doesn't want that, either. The problem is that Perez is just too inconsistent to be kept in the starting rotation, and recent outings against Milwaukee & San Diego have convinced manager Jerry Manuel that Perez can't be trusted with the game on the line coming out of the bullpen, and would only be used in a blowout.
Unlike umpire Jim Joyce, who admitted he made a mistake on a blown call that prevented Detroit's Armando Galarraga from pitching a perfect game on Wednesday, Perez is unwilling to admit there's anything wrong with him. If an umpire can man up and own up to a mistake, then so should Perez. The Mets don't want to flush $20 million dollars by releasing Perez, but what other choice do they have if Perez continues to be stubborn & defiant?
Boras got weasel ears for his rep of fleecing teams such as the Mets a few months back, but this time, it's Perez who gets the ears, and he certainly deserves them.
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