The Mets should just release 28-year old lefty pitcher Oliver Perez and eat the rest of the money owed to him. Perez has pitched in 14 games (7 starts) for the Mets this year and he is 0-4 with a 6.70 ERA and a 2.02 WHIP. He has given up 50 hits (8 homers) and he has walked 37 batters in only 43 innings this season. Perez is refusing any attempt by the Mets to send him to the minors. He has now pitched in 98 games (91 starts) in his five years with the Mets and he is 29-28 with a 4.69 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Mets should bit the bullet and cut Perez as he is taking up a roster spot.

23-year old righty starting pitcher Brad Holt came into this season as the Mets’ #5 prospect according to Baseball America. It is very hard to imagine what the experts at Baseball America saw in this guy. He has pitched in 12 games (11 starts) in A+AA-ball so far this season and he is 2-6 with a 9.00 ERA and a 2.10 WHIP. He has given up 53 hits and he has walked 29 batters already in only 39 innings showing just how awful he has been. Holt has now pitched in 46 games (45 starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 14-16 with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Holt better get his head on straight if he ever wants to pitch in the show one day.

The Mets signed 31-year old righty reliever Ryota Igarashi with the idea of possibly using him as the set up man for Francisco Rodriguez. But he has been downright putrid so far this season for the Mets. Igarashi has pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Mets this season and he is 0-1 with a 10.97 ERA and a 2.16 WHIP. He has given up 14 hits and he has walked 9 batters in only 10 2/3 innings this season! Igarashi better get his act together soon or the Mets should send him to the minors.

The Mets were insane to give 28-year old lefty starting pitcher Oliver Perez a lot of cash over the winter. He has never had the control to take advantage of his stuff and his wildness has returned in a big way this season. Perez has started 14 games for the Mets this season and he is 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP. In 66 innings for the Mets this season, Perez has walked 58 batters and allowed 12 dingers. On the bright side, Perez has walked 62 batters but he needs to throw more strikes and quit trying to whiff everyone. Until he can do that he will not succeed in the majors ever again.

UPDATE: Oliver Perez will miss the rest of the 2009 season due to recent knee surgery.

Pedro Martinez has certainly lost his once dominant fastball and it’s hurting him big time as his secondary pitches are not good enough for him to succeed without the heater. Martinez has started 7 games this season for the Mets and he is 2-2 with a 7.39 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. The Mets don’t really have anyone ready to replace Martinez in the rotation so they will just have to cross their fingers and hope he gets better soon.