In 2002, rookie Oliver Perez struck out more than a batter per inning as 20-year-old. Needless to say, a debut season of such quality ramped up the expectations in hurry. Perez, though, never reached the heights that were expected of him. He's been brilliant at times, but there's still the whiff of disappointment about him. That's where the St. Louis pitching coach comes in. When it comes to getting the most out of midcareer castoffs, Dave Duncan has been something of an alchemist. Perez needs a bit of alchemy these days.
Perez is not, as his agent Scott Boras attests, one of the five best lefties in the game. In fact, he's not particularly close to meriting that designation. But he does have tremendous stuff and is still just 27 years old. Perhaps Duncan and the less pressurized, more supportive environment in St. Louis can help turn Perez into something greater. The Cardinals could certainly use a reconstructed Perez in the rotation.
Fox Sports
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