How Oliver Perez stole the Rocket's Thunder....

If you were to ask anyone outside of New York about this past Friday’s Subway Series opener, they all would have told you the same thing: Roger Clemens. The Rocket was pitching on Friday night and was looking to continue the Yankees roll.


No one would have thought that the Mets’ surprising lefty would out duel the legend and completely shutdown baseball’s hottest lineup.

That’s exactly what Oliver Perez did.

“When he’s in rhythm, he’s great,” said Mets manager Willie Randolph. “What can you say? He gave up a couple of hits early, but really settled down and kept them at bay.”

Perez’s breakout season continued on Friday as he pitched 7.1 shutout innings, while allowing only five hits and three walks. His ERA was lowered to 2.93, which is good enough to currently be ranked seventh in the league. He also ranks fourth in WHIP.

Where did this guy from?

Perez was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Padres in 1999. He would make his MLB debut at age 20 with the Padres in 2002, starting 15 games and going 4-5 with a 3.50 ERA. The lefty would start 2003 with the Padres but at the trade deadline would be shipped to the Pirates as a throw-in in the trade that sent Brian Giles to the Padres in exchange for then-little known outfielder Jason Bay.

Perez would finish the 2003 season with a mark of 4-10, with an ERA of 5.47. It seemed that he had become an enigma: a guy who had the stuff of an ace but battled inconsistency and periods of ineffectiveness.

As experts waited for Perez to breakout, The Pirates grew increasingly frustrated with him. He finally posted winning records of 12-10 in 2004, and 7-5 in 2005 and both the Pirates and analysts were sure that he had arrived.

However, he would regress in 2006 and was 2-10 and as the trade deadline approached he was sent down to Triple-A. After waiting for Perez for almost three years, Pittsburgh had seen enough. They shipped him and aging reliever Roberto Hernandez to the Mets for outfielder Xavier Nady. A man who was once imagined to be a dominant pitcher had been shipped out of town as a spare part.

Perez’s start with the Mets was not anymore promising. After pitching well in the minors, he started seven games and went 1-3. His ERA was over six. Perez was going to be left off of the teams’ post-season roster and many suggested that his time with team may have been done.

Much like many other players in sports, an injury to a veteran allowed an opportunity for Perez.

Orlando Hernandez strained his calf while running in the outfield before a game. The media monitored El Duque’s progress by day as fans hoped that the veterans would be ready for the playoffs. He wouldn’t. The open spot allowed Perez to be carried into the postseason.

Perez would not appear in the Mets sweep of the Dodgers in the NLDS. However, with the seven game NLCS looming, and Hernandez’s calf still in question it seemed destined that Perez would see the mound at least once in the championship series.

His chance would come in game four. Perez would go on to have a decent start, pitching 5.2 innings allowing five runs and nine hits. It would be enough to keep the Mets in the game and get them the win. Although he wasn’t dominating, he had gained some trust with Mets fans by getting the big postseason win.

Apparently, he had also gained the trust of Randolph because he was sent to the mound to pitch game seven. In what was undoubtedly the biggest start of his young career, Perez shined. He allowed only one run on four hits and struck out four. Although the team would eventually lose the game, he would leave to a standing ovation.

Despite his playoff heroics, many doubted Perez would even return to the team. After general manager Omar Minaya, failed to construct deals with several free agent pitchers, including Barry Zito, Perez was re-signed to a one year deal on January 12. It was clear, Perez had one more chance.

He has not disappointed under the tutelage of pitching coach Rick Peterson. His WHIP is at 1.10, nearly .3 points better than his career average.

“When we can keep him focused, keep him pounding the zone, he’s great,” said Randolph. “When he’s on, he’s tough to hit.”

Last Friday was a milestone game in the revival of Oliver Perez. Beating Clemens on one of the games’ biggest stages shows that last year’s game 7 was no fluke. It shows that despite being in the majors for five years, Perez is only 25 and could be a top level starting pitcher for many years.

Perez thinks that more than anything, his success can be attributed to enjoying the game.

I’m just trying to enjoy the game,” said Perez. “Before that was my problem, I was thinking too much and I wasn’t playing baseball. This year, I just play baseball and enjoy it.”

When you are pitching as well as Perez, what’s not to enjoy?

Forget Bonds; Lincecum and Perez are the Story!

The Barry Bonds media circus rolls into Shea tonight.

However, hidden beneath the story of the embattled slugger, is a match-up between two of the better young pitchers in the National League, and the story of how these two pitchers took two very different paths to find the success they are currently having.

Oliver Perez looks to continue his breakout season tonight against the San Francisco Giants. The starting pitcher has been a pleasant surprise for the Mets, as the wild inconsistency that plagued the starting pitcher last year seems to be a thing of the past and he has tied John Maine for most wins on the Mets staff thus far.

The 26-year-old starter completely shut down the Atlanta Braves in his last start allowing only four hits and no runs in seven innings.

The Pirates became increasingly frustrated with Perez’s inconsistency until he eventually was traded for Xavier Nady and Roberto Hernandez last year.

"I'm not sure I expected everything he's done so far," Mets manager Willie Randolph told the team's official Web site. "But it's exciting to see what he's become and exciting to think what he might become."

Perez is 4-0 in his last four home starts.

Countering Perez tonight will be San Francisco’s own pitching phenom Tim Lincecum.

Lincecum is 2-0 with a 3.08 ERA since coming up from the minors on May 6. The 22 year old righty is considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.

After struggling in his first start, Lincecum has been dominating, allowing only six runs in his last three starts while tallying 20 strikeouts. He has also been going very deep into games, allowing the Giants to rest their bullpen while giving them a chance to win.

"Each outing, he's done a better job of pitching," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told the team's official Web site. "He's not just throwing out there."

Lincecum development as a pitcher is important to the Giants as they are one of the oldest teams in the league. They believe that the former University of Washington star will remain in the rotation from here on out and will never see the minors again.

"In college, he could basically just throw it up there," said Dick Tidrow, the Giants' vice president of player personnel, said to reporters. "His equipment got him through the day. It won't work in the pros. You have to learn to command the baseball, and he bought into it."

Lincecum will best facing the team with the best record in the National League tonight. The Mets are fresh off a series sweep of the Florida Marlins and look to extend their lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.

“"We haven't been playing that well, and to come out here and sweep them on their home field ... it's tough to do," said Mets closer Billy Wagner, who got his 12th save of the season and extended his franchise-record streak to 30 consecutive converted save opportunities.

Bonds’ has traditionally struggled at Shea Stadium, having not homered in his last five games at Shea, after hitting two on Aug, 12 2003. Bonds will not play due to the lefty-lefty match up with Perez. Dan Ortmeier will likely start in his place.

The Giants are 24-25 and 4.5 games back in the NL West. They are currently on a three game losing streak and 5-5 in their last 10. They were swept by the Colorado Rockies in their last series.

The game also marks the return of former Met closer Armando Benitez to Shea. Benitez had a tenuous period in Shea, as he is remembered for blowing 22 saves while wearing a Mets uniform. He was traded in 2003 to the Yankees, and also pitched for Seattle and Florida before landing in San Francisco in 2005.