Chris Perez eager to tackle closing role for Cleveland Indians

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Kerry Wood's body has given Chris Perez the chance he's always wanted. He's going to be the full-time closer on a big-league club.

The Indians announced Saturday that Wood will miss six to eight weeks with a strained muscle below his right shoulder. Perez was going to be Wood's set-up man. Now he's going to be slamming the door.

Wood injured his right latissiums dorsi muscle earlier in spring training. An MRI revealed a tear in the muscle Thursday. Wood, who removed himself from a scheduled appearance against Texas on March 13, hasn't pitched in a game since March 10.

"I'm excited, but at the same time it stinks that it had to come with Kerry getting hurt," said Perez. "I think, hopefully, they're being cautious right now and that he comes back a lot quicker than the doctors said."

Perez, 24, has been a closer throughout his minor-league career. He recorded 60 saves working his way through St. Louis' farm system. He has eight in the big leagues, including seven with the Cardinals in 2008.

"It's a good audition," said Perez, acquired from the Cardinals last year along with Jess Todd for Mark DeRosa. "It's a good way for the new coaching staff to get a look at me. I hope I take the ball and run with it and get off to a good start and help this team get off to a good start. I think that's one of the easiest ways to ruin a season right off the bat is to have the bullpen blow games."

Perez was going to open the season as Wood's eighth inning set-up man. Manager Manny doesn't have a specific pitcher to take Perez's spot.

"It's unfortunate," said Acta, after the 12-4 victory over Oakland on Saturday. "No team is better without Kerry Wood. We have a lot of confidence in Chris Perez. This is what he's done all his life.

"The rest of the guys are going to have to move up. For us it's going to be more mixing and matching trying to get the ball to Perez. That's the challenge."

Wood, Perez, Rafael Perez, Tony Sipp and Joe Smith were all but guaranteed jobs in the pen since the start of spring training. That left two jobs to fill. Now there are three vacancies.

The candidates include Jamey Wright, Saul Rivera, Mike Gosling, Jensen Lewis, Todd, Frank Herrmann, Josh Judy, Jeremy Sowers, Mitch Talbot and Aaron Laffey. Wright, Rivera and Gosling are in camp on non-guaranteed minor-league deals. Lewis and Todd were in the Tribe pen last year. Herrmann and Judy are prospects in their first big-league camp. Sowers, Talbot and Laffey are starters.

Sowers is coming off a strained left shoulder and will probably open the season on the disabled list. Laffey, Talbot and David Huff are competing for the last two spots in the rotation. Laffey had success in the pen last year and has options remaining. Talbot is out of options, but has little, if any, experience in the pen.

"One door closes and another one opens," said Acta. "It's an opportunity for somebody else to make the club that probably wouldn't have made it."

It did not sound as if the Indians were in a rush to make a trade for a set-up man.

"There aren't that many guys out there that you can just go knock on their doors and they can come in and set up for you," said Acta. "We're going to have to deal with this."

Initially, Wood and the Indians didn't think the injury was serious. Trainer Lonnie Soloff said they grew concerned when the pain lingered. That's when Wood underwent the MRI.

Wood, the third-highest paid player on the team with a $10.5 million salary, has been on the disabled list 12 times in his career. This will make No.13. The two-year, $20.5 million deal between Wood and the Indians has a vesting $11 million option for 2011 should he finish 55 games this year. This injury could make that bonus hard to reach.

Wood converted 20 of 26 save situations last year for a bullpen that registered the fewest saves in the AL.

Perez said he's learned a lot from the three big-league closers he's been around -- Wood, Ryan Franklin and Jason Isringhausen.

"I picked up stuff from all of them," said Perez. "The biggest thing they say is that it's about your mentality. You've got the stuff, you've got the tools. It's just believing in yourself and doing it."



(cleveland.com)