Perez impresses so far in big leagues

St. Louis -- Chris Perez was the closer at Triple-A Memphis before getting his first taste of the big leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals, and his early reviews suggest taking over Jason Isringhausen's role might not be a huge leap.

But the team is in no hurry to elevate the hard-throwing 22-year-old right-hander, no matter how impressive and unflappable he's been.

"As soon as I think he's better than some of the other guys out there, specifically Ryan Franklin, then he would do it," manager Tony La Russa said. "He's not better than Ryan Franklin, so why would he close?"

Perez certainly hasn't been politicking for the big stage.

"I'm just happy being up here right now," he said. "Frankie's our closer and he's the closer for a reason, he's been pitching great and he's got the experience.

"Hopefully, the day will come, and when it does I'm going to try to do my best."

Perez had piled up seven scoreless outings, often pitching in key situations, finishing four games and with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 inning. Just not the key situation.

"I think the last three outs when you shake hands, I don't care what the score is, they're different," La Russa said.

For that, until Isringhausen is ready to reclaim his job, La Russa is leaning on a veteran. Franklin has done well as the stand-in, too, with five saves in seven chances on the year, although his outings lately have been just as eventful as Isringhausen's often have been with fans on the edge of their seats before the third out. Franklin gave up a leadoff ninth-inning homer on Thursday before recording three straight outs to save a one-run victory over the Pirates, and surrendered a bases-clearing double on Friday before nailing down a save.

"The last inning is no different to me than when I was starting," Franklin said. "I know you have to get one out at a time and you can't walk people.

"You can't let anything negative creep in there, just trust your stuff and stay positive."

Just because Perez has had no such stumbles doesn't mean, in La Russa's eyes, that he's ready to step in.

"Sometimes it's better to go slowly than rush a guy in, then all of a sudden something goes wrong and he takes a big step back," La Russa said. "He's actually pitching a lot of important roles.

"He's earned more than his experience would suggest. He's doing really well."

Perez has been a closer since the Cardinals drafted him in the second round in 2006 out of Miami, although during an extended look in spring training he was used in middle relief. His fastball was clocked at 99 mph last August in the minors and there appears to be no fear on the mound that is a prerequisite for closing.

"I couldn't ask for more," he said. "I couldn't ask to be pitching any better, and the coaching staff has shown confidence in me, putting me out there in close games."

Perez said getting a lot of action in spring training was just as big for his confidence as it was for the team's confidence in him.

"I trust my stuff, and so far I know if I locate it good, not too many people are going to hit it," he said. "I'm trying to get ahead of the hitters and put them away."

(news-leader.com)