Bad Ollie demoted from rotation

MIAMI - The Mets' efforts to fix Oliver Perez now will be shifted to the bullpen after manager Jerry Manuel announced before yesterday's game that the $36-million lefthander no longer is a member of the rotation.

By then, the move was hardly a surprise. Manuel clearly was annoyed with Perez after he allowed four home runs, including three in the fourth inning, in Friday's 7-2 loss to the Marlins. When Perez arrived Saturday, pitching coach Dan Warthen summoned him to the manager's office, where he was told of the decision. "We have to do what's fair to the team," Manuel said. "We have to do what's best for the team."

It became painfully obvious that keeping Perez as the No. 5 starter would be contrary to that goal. Perez is winless in his last eight starts dating to Aug. 18, 2009, and is 0-4 with a 7.41 ERA in that stretch. In that same period, he has allowed 40 hits and 30 walks in 34 innings. This season, he is 0-3 with a 5.94 ERA.

When asked about the demotion, Perez basically echoed his manager's statement. "I don't like going to the bullpen, but I think that's the best thing for the team," Perez said before adding, "[Hisanori] Takahashi is pitching better than me."

Manuel did not announce a replacement for Perez, who was scheduled to start Wednesday against the Nationals in Washington, so it was interesting that Perez chose to mention Takahashi. When pressed on it, however, Perez said he had no idea who will take over for him and was not told of the candidates.

Takahashi is a front-runner for the job, but the Mets likely held off on any formal decisions until they see how much he has to be used in relief in the coming days. Takahashi was mostly a starter during his 10-year career for the Yomiuri Giants and has said he would welcome the opportunity. Still, he has been valuable in the bullpen and might be called on before then.

"I'm going to try to win games," Manuel said. "If it's a situation where we feel we can win the game with Takahashi, we're going to do that. You have to throw a lot of things in there to come up with what you think best fits for winning and going forward."

Another candidate is knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who pitched Friday and is 4-2 with a 2.23 ERA in eight starts for Triple-A Buffalo. Lefthander Pat Misch is 3-0 with a 3.30 ERA in seven starts and threw a complete-game four-hitter Saturday for the Bisons, but it seems unlikely that the Mets would force him to start on short rest after throwing 91 pitches.

As for Perez, he has no intention of joining the Buffalo staff to work out his problems. With no minor-league options remaining, he would have to approve a demotion, and he didn't hesitate to answer when asked about that Saturday.

"No," Perez said. "I have to do it here. I don't want to go there because I'll find out what I have to do here."