Watch out Mets fans, there may be an Oliver Perez sighting on Saturday.
The Mets haven’t named a starter for Saturday’s game, but manager Jerry Manuel said yesterday that the lefty was an “outside” possibility to pitch against the Phillies.
Neither Manuel nor pitching coach Dan Warthen had talked to Perez about it.
“Every day I get ready for anything,” Perez said. “I work every day to get back to where I was before.”
He’s got a long way to go, but Warthen said he believed Perez was capable of giving the Mets a decent start, though the left-hander has not pitched since Aug. 1 or started for the Mets since May 14.”I think he can give us 70 pitches, 80 max,” Warthen said. “We’ve gotta figure out his true arm strength. His delivery is not an issue. We just have to see what he has.”
The Mets also could call up Pat Misch, who was pulled from his start after five innings for Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.
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Johan Santana didn’t comment on the civil suit a Florida woman filed in New York against him, and the Mets said in a statement: “We are aware of the matter. We have not reviewed the complaint yet.”
The woman, who accused Santana of sexual assault, opted to sue Santana after prosecutors in Florida declined to press charges.
Manuel said he would not address the team about the matter.
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In the wake of reports that he is interested in being traded, Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur said he never asked the team to deal him, and says his agent never made such a request either.
“I never requested a trade. We’ve never requested a trade,” Francoeur said. “Would I like to play more? Sure. Who wouldn’t? But at the end of the day, I’m here, I’ve got a job to do.”
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Manuel said Jason Bay was “still inactive,” so there remains no timeline for his return from the concussion he suffered last month in Los Angeles. Rod Barajas, however, is making some progress with his oblique injury.
“I think Rod is ready to start catching and playing in some games,” Manuel said. “His program has been accelerated.”