LOS ANGELES --The questions
isn't if, just when. On the day the Cardinals
selected Chris Perez with a supplemental pick in
the 2006 draft, vice president of player
procurement Jeff Luhnow called him a "ready-made
closer."
Perez threw 96 miles per hour and for most of two
seasons he had held the role at Miami.
Less than two years later, Perez, a month shy of
turning 23, is at the threshold of what those who
scouted and signed him believe to be his career
birthright. Promoted to St. Louis on the day the club
put veteran closer Jason Isringhausen on the disabled
list with a hand laceration, Perez has underscored the
belief in five appearances containing 14 efficient
outs.
It has taken five games for Perez to advance from
major-league curiosity to late-innings factor, earning
a win in his second outing, striking out the side in
his fifth. He has allowed two baserunners and no runs.
"In his mind, Chris is where he was supposed to be,"
says Perez's father, Tim. "He may be surprising some
people. But I don't think it's a surprise to him."
"I just want to keep doing what I've been doing to get
here," Perez says. "I haven't changed anything. I'm the
same as I was in (Class AAA) Memphis. If I do what I've
been doing, I'll have success. It's about making
pitches. There's no reason to make it more complicated
than that."
To get here, Perez modified his delivery, improved his
slider and began working on a change-up. He is staking
no claim to the closer role, only offering evidence
that he is prepared if the job comes his way.
Perez recently received the endorsement of Dodgers
hard-thrower Brad Penny as well as positive reviews
from manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave
Duncan.
"He throws hard, he throws strikes with more than one
pitch and he keeps the ball down," said Duncan, more
often given to understatement than hyperbole.
With Perez entering only his fourth series as a
major-league pitcher tonight against the Houston
Astros, the buzz surrounding him is at such a level
that La Russa suggests a sizable dose of restraint for
any runaway bandwagon.
"Chris Perez is not ready to close on a daily basis,"
La Russa said Sunday before his team's series finale
against Los Angeles. "That would not be good for him
and it would not be good for us. He needs to grow into
his responsibilities here. I don't even worry about how
that sounds, because clearly from the way he's being
used there's a confidence factor there."
With Ryan Franklin unavailable because of an extended
appearance Friday, La Russa summoned Perez to get the
final three outs in Saturday's 4-0 win. Perez did not
qualify for a save because of the margin but his
consecutive strikeouts of James Loney, Matt Kemp and
Blake DeWitt screamed closer material.
Franklin, meanwhile, is unblemished as keeper of a role
that La Russa insists awaits Isringhausen when he heals
his hand and the inconsistencies that dogged him for
three weeks.
"Just to be in the big leagues is huge," Perez says.
"I'd be happy to be a long guy or whatever they need
from me. I'm here to pitch."
The only thing more exciting to the Cardinals than the
way Perez throws is what he represents. Perez, the
seventh player overall from the 2006 amateur draft
class to reach the major leagues, is believed to be
only first in a line of power arms to move through the
system onto the parent club's roster. Talents such as
Jason Motte, Clayton Mortensen, Mark McCormick, Jaime
Garcia and Jess Todd are among the fast-risers within
what long was regarded as a dysfunctional pipeline.
Perez expected to begin 2007 at Class A Palm Beach but
instead started at Double-A Springfield when their
projected closer, Mike Sillman, was bumped up to
Memphis. Perez saved 27 games for Springfield with 62
strikeouts against 17 hits allowed in 40 2/3 innings
and advanced to Triple-A July 31. He converted 35 of 37
save chances between the two stops and was named to
Team USA in last fall's World Cup.
Perez became the third rookie in the Cardinals bullpen
when Luhnow personally escorted him into the Busch
Stadium clubhouse. Kyle McClellan and Mike Parisi were
already there.
"I see a dramatic change," says Cardinals minor-league
pitching coordinator Dyar Miller, in his 14th
consecutive season within the system. "It used to be
you would check the daily report and there might be two
or three guys touching 90 on the (radar) gun. They were
the exceptions. Now you see the arms all over. That
doesn't say everything. But it says a lot about what
we're working with."
Perez is an unfinished product but is markedly more
refined than a year ago, when spotty command allowed
him only marginal success in 15 appearances at Memphis.
There, he allowed six hits but walked 13.
"Chris knew that's what was holding him back," said Tim
Perez. "He understood to take the next step he would
have to improve that aspect."
Embracing Duncan's suggestion in February to throw only
from the stretch has simplified what was an
inconsistent delivery.
Miller said, "His arm was lower than it should have
been, which flattened his breaking ball. He had a hard
time repeating his delivery and maintaining command. He
made big strides with that, and it shows in his
performance up there."
Miller is among those less restrained about Perez's
readiness to work the ninth inning. "He's pretty
close," Miller says. "He just doesn't have the
experience. But I don't think he's scared."
La Russa admittedly is more reluctant to expose younger
players to certain roles: the Nos. 3-4 spots in the
batting order, shortstop, catcher -- and closer.
Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina represent exceptions,
but La Russa admits that Perez's age and inexperience
are factors in the manager's slower approach.
In 30 seasons as major-league manager, La Russa has
only twice entrusted the closer role to pitchers
younger than 27. Salome Barojas (25) served as the 1982
Chicago White Sox's primary closer. The next season Bob
James (26) replaced Barojas. La Russa successfully rode
Dennis Eckersley with the Oakland A's and in his early
seasons in St. Louis. Isringhausen has held the
responsibility since 2002.
Perez entered the season with only 79 professional
appearances covering 84 innings. A catcher in high
school until his junior year, he possesses what scouts
term a "young arm." It is a compliment.
Originally a starter, Perez approached Miami coach Jim
Morris about moving to the ninth inning midway through
his sophomore year. The role suited him perfectly.
"Chris has always liked the gun. He likes to throw as
hard as he can. He wants to go in and blow you away,"
said Tim Perez. "But he also learned at Miami he can't
do that all the time. As he matures and gets better
coaching, he's started to become a pitcher."
The Cardinals eagerly anticipate the finished product.
(lakeexpo.com)