Chris Perez still keeps tabs on Cards' bullpen

PHOENIX • If it's not the heat or humidity, the main topic of conversation on any summer day in St. Louis is the makeup and utilization of the Cardinals' erratic bullpen. In Cleveland, there is at least one other person interested in the issue.

Former Cardinals reliever Chris Perez, traded to Cleveland in 2009 in what became an unfortunate trade for utilityman Mark DeRosa, has gone from being a member of the bullpen chorus in St. Louis to the lead act with the Indians. Perez, a first-time American League All-Star with 21 saves, still pays rapt attention to what's happening in St. Louis, watching as many games as he can.

"(Ryan) Franklin obviously got off to a bad start. It just seemed like he couldn't get that last out or ran into some bad streak. But they've still got some good young arms," Perez said.

"(Eduardo) Sanchez, I like. And (Jason) Motte is still there. I think (Kyle) McClellan leaving (the bullpen) and going into the rotation had a little something to do with it. He was a pretty solid setup guy for his first two or three years. But I think they've got enough pieces. Good enough arms."

Perez, who had eight saves for the Cardinals in 2008-09 before he earned 23 last year with the Indians, said he was a little surprised that Fernando Salas ended up as the Cardinals' closer, although a successful one.

"I really didn't play with him that much in the minors," Perez said. "But from what I've seen on TV, he's got good control, he's got the right demeanor and he's got good stuff. He's been in some sticky situations and he gets out of them.

"And if Sanchez comes back from (a shoulder injury), I think they'll have enough to go. Sanchez has better stuff (than Salas)"
But Perez said, "My pick (for closer) coming into this year would have been (Mitchell) Boggs, with his mentality and the stuff he has. I guess it's just not sticking."

Boggs has been used in several roles, from middle to setup to closer, a capacity in which he had three saves before yielding to Sanchez, who then was replaced as closer by Salas.

"Sounds like my rookie year (2008)," Perez said. "It's your turn for a week. It's your turn for a month. If you ask anybody in the bullpen, they don't care who it is, just so you mentally fall in line. It's hard to stay mentally sharp for five innings. Every time that phone rings, you're like, 'Is it me?'
"In my situation, I never knew when I was going to throw. Fifth inning. Seventh inning, except for a couple of stretches in 2008, when I was closing.

"Especially for a young bullpen, it's wearing."


(stltoday.com)