Oliver Perez sat in the Mets clubhouse after lasting just two-thirds of an inning in the team's final exhibition game with a blank look on his face. He walked four Red Sox before giving up a grand slam to Jed Lowrie and getting a quick hook from manager Jerry Manuel.
Perez said the weather, which was cold and windy, made it tough to get loose and said he felt confident that he'd be ready when the games start counting, but he admitted even he wasn't sure what to expect from start to start.
"I know that I'm up and down," Perez said.
The Mets need more than up and down from Perez this season. Johan Santana is as good as they come, but there's a dearth of certainty behind him in the rotation. To achieve the things that they want to achieve this season, Perez has to be something more than the enigma that he's been throughout his Mets career.
Jerry Manuel admitted as much when he was asked if Perez would still be starting on Thursday in Cincinnati. It's expected to be cold, and with Perez's struggling on Saturday it made sense to wonder if a Friday start in Miami was a wiser spot for the lefty. Manuel said Perez would still be starting, because it will be cold in November too.
That's when the World Series will be contested, and implicit in Manuel's response is that Perez will be vital to getting the Mets that far. That's tough to get behind when you aren't even sure he's getting you out of the first inning.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.
