Ollie

I understand the arguments against giving Oliver Perez a large contract to be with the Mets for three years. I've seen him blow games against inferior teams, which is just sloppy and somewhat unprofessional play.

At the same time, I've seen Ollie dominate the Braves and other foes at exactly the time they needed to be shut down. If only Ollie can grow up enough to treat every game as though it were as important as a Mets-Braves or Mets-Yanks game, we'd have a true phenom in our starting rotation. It's for this reason that I agree with Omar Minaya in his desire to sign Perez rather than some of the other free agents this year (Ben Sheets at the top of the list these days). Minaya believes, as I do, that Oliver has yet to reach his full potential, and he no doubt noticed how Perez blossomed under the tutelage of Dan Wherthen once the latter became pitching coach.

The problem, as it so often is in baseball these days, is Scott Boras, who seems to believe that if he behaves as though everyone has as much money as they did last year, teams will throw around money like they have for the last couple of years. I'm hoping that the reality of the economy, combined with Minaya's desire to sign him and the unmistakable pleasure Ollie seems to feel in the spotlight of New York, will have this all end in a fair contract for Oliver Perez to continue pitching for the Mets.

And I'll be especially pleased if he rocks a goatee or beard this season.