26/02/2018@MatGermain76

Expos Top 50 by ExR: No 47, Carlos Perez

The Montreal Expos have had some great players wear the uniform over the years, including Carlos Perez, and Expos Reloaded would like to highlight them to all in a new way.

In effort to bridge the gap between older Expos fans and younger generation, Expos Reloaded presents a Top 50 Expos of all time – according to WAR (as noted by Fangraphs) – series. (min 162 GP with Expos, not Nationals)

What will come out of this work should be interesting, giving us a view of how each player measures up according to today’s most popular statistics.

An update on what else these players were famous for, what they’re up to now, and where you can catch them on social media will also be included, as well as someof the better videos and interviews we can round up.

By all means, if you have fond memories and stories you’d like to share about these players, this is the perfect place to do so.

Hopefully you’ll enjoy ready through the series as much as it was fun compiling it!

Next up on our list is a guy who fell in love with broadcasting once his playing time ended…

No.47, LHP Carlos “Gross” Pérez

Birthdate: 4/14/1971 (46)           Size: 6’3″ 195 lbs           Bats/Throws: L/L
Signed: as an amateur free agent Jan 7th, 1988

Carlos Pérez Related Quote

“I liked watching him on TV better,” Dodger pitcher Tom Candiotti said. “When you watch him, you say, ‘What kind of act is this? What kind of drugs is this guy on?’ Maybe it’s not an act, but it looks like it to me. “Sometimes, it’s good when you see different characters in the game. It can make it interesting for a lot of fans.”

Montreal Expos Stats: 3 seasons

Standard

1995: 28 GP / 141.1 IP / 142 H / 28 BB / 106 SO / 18 HR /  3.69 ERA

1997: 33 GP / 206.2 IP / 206 H / 48 BB / 110 SO / 21 HR / 3.88 ERA

1998: 23 GP / 163.1 IP / 177 H / 33 BB / 82 SO / 12 HR /3.75 ERA

Advanced

1995: 4.7 % BB%, 17.9 % SO%, 1.20 whip, 76% LOB, 3.96 FIP

1997: 5.6% BB%, 12.8% SO%, 1.23 whip, 65.2% LOB, 4.12 FIP

1998: 6.2% BB%, 12.7% SO%, 1.27 whip, 71.6% LOB, 4.03 FIP

TOTAL WAR WITH EXPOS: 7.8

Carlos Pérez, ExR Thoughts

The talents inherited and developed by the Perez family through the years was incredible. It’s unfortunate that the news often concentrated itself on antics and off field issues vice on field talents.

Carlos was more flamboyant than his brothers on the mound, perhaps less antagonistic than his brother Pascual. He showed passion on the mound, making his talents really fun to watch.

With flair and personality, Perez dominated LHB in 1995 as a rookie, keeping them to a line of.182/.229/.283, something that helped him to an impressive 10-8 record. Pitching alongside Pedro Martinez and Jeff Fassero, he was able to settle in and try to help get a team that was frustrated from the strike of 1994 over the hump.

If they didn’t get there, it was the fault of Perez as he posted an impressive 2.1 WAR as a rookie.

After missing all of 1996, Perez only continued to exceed expectations and build on an impressive start to his career in 1997 and 1998. He managed a 2.7 WAR in his second full season (1997) and 3.7 WAR in 1998.

 When he was traded with Hiram Bocachica and Mark Grudzielanek to the Dodgers for Jonny Tucker, Peter Bergeron, Wilton Guerrero and Ted Lilly, it was an economic decision. It netted the Expos some important pieces going forward, but did little to improve the team’s fortunes that season. 

Although he made a good amount of money for himself in LA, he was never the same pitcher once he left Montreal and fell off the map – or a cliff – very suddenly for such a young man. Part of the equation was his temper, which at one point led him into legal issues “stemming from an airplane flight in which a flight attendant accused Pérez of choking, threatening, and causing injury to her, forced him to an early exit from baseball.”

Between the legal issues and declining performance, Perez decided to leave MLB but did represent the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, showing us that he still had passion and skill for the game through that point. 

Carlos Pérez: Information

Nickname: “Gross”

Wore Number: 33 while with Expos

Played for: Montreal, Los Angeles

Highest WAR season (with Expos): 3.7 WAR

MLB Debut – April 27, 1995 (Age 24) vs. PIT

Expos Departure: traded w/Hiram Bocachica and Mark Grudzielanek to Dodgers for Jonny Tucker, Peter Bergeron, Wilton Guerrero and Ted Lilly

Most similar: Martin Perez

Played for a total of: 5 seasons

Last game played: Sep 5, 2000 (Age 29) vs. PIT

Career Earnings – $17,483,999

Carlos Pérez: Extra Reading and Sources

Montreal Expos Top 50 by ExR List

 

– Mat Germain, baseball writer for Expos Reloaded and SB Nation’s DRaysBay, with more than 10 years covering the Toronto Blue Jays (Jays Journal) and Tampa Bay Rays. Still serving in the Canadian Armed Forces as a Reservist and Operations Officer for 413 Search and Rescue Squadron in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Follow Mat on Twitter @MatGermain76.

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