STL: Perez is biding his time

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)