National League East Team Report
Not off to the start they had hoped for, the New York Mets finally lost patience with starting pitcher Oliver Perez. The $36-million left arm will now be in the bullpen until further notice.
While upgrading the bullpen this past offseason, the Mets also took a look to see if they could improve their rotation as well. When no better options presented themselves, New York re-signed Perez for three years in the hopes he could develop some consistency.
Perez has been consistent in 2009. Consistently bad.
The 27-year-old went 1-2 with a 9.97 earned run average in five starts. New York itself was 1-4 when Perez started and the southpaw made it out of the fifth inning only once, a six-frame win over San Diego on April 15. The final straw came last Saturday, when Perez lasted only 2 1/3 innings in Philadelphia, allowing four runs on five hits and six walks.
Perez's control has been his biggest enemy. He walked 21 in 21 2/3 innings just one year removed from issuing 105 free passes in 2008. A 15-game winner for the Mets in 2007, Perez has never come close to matching the 2004 season he posted with Pittsburgh. That year he won 12 games, but also struck out 239 batters and posted a 2.98 ERA in 196 innings.
Now Perez will have to work out of his slump in a relief role. As a veteran of seven-plus seasons, he could have refused an assignment to the minors, something that helped Philadelphia's Brett Myers work out of his skid last year.
"He'll be down there until we can rebuild him, get him right," manager Jerry Manuel told New York's official site on Monday. "You have to have some success."
Ken Takahashi will take Perez's spot in the rotation for now.
NATIONALS: HOPING TO TURN THINGS AROUND
The Washington Nationals know they dug themselves a big hole early in the season and realize they have a lot of work to do if they want to avoid another 100-loss season. All the club can do is take it one game at a time.
For now that mentality looks as if it is working. Heading into play on Tuesday, the Nationals had won back-to-back games for just the second time this season, a campaign that began with an 0-7 start as well as losses in 10 of their first 11 games.
"We have that ability, we're a good team," said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman after Monday's 9-4 victory over Houston. "It's positive in this clubhouse, none of us are down on ourselves. We have a long ways to go. We're a young team, we're learning and positive things are happening. Hopefully we can roll with it."
Zimmerman is definitely rolling with it. He entered play on Tuesday riding a career-best 22-game hitting streak, the longest in the majors this year. He extended the run in a big way on Monday, going 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored in the Nationals' 9-4 victory over Houston. It is the longest hitting streak in club history since relocating to Washington.
Zimmerman has a lot of stake in turning the Nationals around. After all, he inked a five-year contract extension on April 20.
BRAVES: STARTING TO GET HEALTHY
The Atlanta Braves' 2008 season was doomed thanks to a rash of injuries that gutted the pitching staff and left the team wondering what could have been if it had managed to stay healthy.
This year is already starting to look like deja vu. Outfielder Garret Anderson and catcher Brian McCann have both missed a chunk of time, while pitcher Tom Glavine still has not been able to return from left shoulder rehab.
However, Anderson is set to return on Tuesday night after missing 13 straight games with a strained left quadriceps that also bothered him in spring training. In his first year with the Braves, Anderson is 5-for-25 at the plate over 10 games. Those numbers should increase as the 36-year-old career .296 batter gets healthy and regular playing time.
Also, McCann is hoping to return by week's end from a left eye infection that landed him on the disabled list back on April 25. The catcher has been battling eye problems since Opening Day and is expected to start wearing prescription glasses upon his return, according to Atlanta's official site.
Glavine, meanwhile, has yet to pitch this year after having a setback with his left shoulder back on April 12. His bullpen session on Monday left him feeling good about his progress, though, and he now hopes to pitch again this season.
"There's room to improve arm strength," Glavine told Atlanta's site. "But first and foremost, I had to be able to go out there and make my pitches without pain, and I did that."
PHILLIES: IBANEZ FITTING RIGHT IN
Raul Ibanez knew he was replacing a local favorite in Philadelphia when he took over left field for the departed Pat Burrell. He probably didn't know how quick Phillies fans would embrace him as one of their own.
Since 2000, left field had belonged to Burrell, owner of 252 career homers but also just a .257 career batting average. With Burrell capturing a championship with the Phillies last year, the club knew it was a good time to cut ties with its 32-year-old former first overall pick.
The Phils quickly pounced on Ibanez, signing the career .287 hitter early in free agency. The 36-year-old has been a defensive upgrade over Burrell, despite being older, and has put together a hot start that helped win over the Phillie faithful.
Ibanez is hitting .344 with eight homers and 21 RBI through 23 games, and made his mark with a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning of a win over Washington on April 27. Although Philadelphia fans are known for ability to rain down a chorus of boos on anyone at anytime, they are actually chanting "Rauuuuul" when their new left fielder pulls off a great play.
Not surprising, since Ibanez has already established himself as one of the Phillies' top offensive threats. Heading into action on Tuesday, he was tied with another fan favorite, Chase Utley, for the team lead in homers and RBI. His eight long balls are also tied for third-most in the National League.
MARLINS: COOLING DOWN AFTER HOT START
The Florida Marlins were a trendy sleeper pick to win the National League East this season because of their depth in starting pitching. That theory certainly held water when Florida got off to an 11-1 start, racing to the top of the division standings.
As of late, though, the Marlins' starters can't buy a win.
Since Anibal Sanchez posted a 6-2 win over Atlanta on April 16, Florida has gone a club-record 17 games in a row without getting a victory from its starters. The rotation has gone 0-6 with a 4.74 earned run average in that span, while the Marlins themselves are 7-10.
"It's weird because we've pitched pretty good some of those games," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez told the club's official site of the 17-game stretch.
Certainly Josh Johnson and Chris Volstad escape blame. Both starters are 2-0 and have earned run averages under 2.70. The duo have combined for 65 strikeouts over 72 1/3 innings as well.
However, the Marlins could use more out of ace Ricky Nolasco. A 15-game winner last season, Nolasco is just 1-3 with a 7.03 ERA through six starts this year. He has failed to win a decision since a victory over Washington on April 6.
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