Chris Perez emerges as one of the top positives from the 2010 season

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Chris Perez saved his 20th game of the season on Tuesday night. In doing so, he became the youngest pitcher in Indians history to do it.

"That's cool," said Perez, 25. "Anything you do where you're the youngest or the first to do something in an organization like this that's been around so long and has had so many great players ... it's pretty cool."

The Indians have been playing baseball in the American League since 1901. The save has been an official statistic since 1969.

"It's not what I'm thinking about when I'm out there, but it's nice to be the first to do anything because our careers are just a blip on the radar screen," said Perez. "Fifteen years from now, when I'm retired, I might still be able to say I was the youngest to do that.

"That would be pretty cool. I'd like to do a lot more before I'm done."

When Perez looks back at this season, it won't be because of the Indians' won-loss record. It will be because he claimed the closer's job.

Perez opened the year as closer because Kerry Wood was on the disabled list. When Wood returned in May, he went back to the set-up role.

Perez returned to closing in mid-July when Wood went back on the disabled list. The job finally became totally his when the Indians traded Wood to the Yankees on July 31.

Perez is 2-2 with a 1.84 ERA and 20 saves in 24 chances. He's converted 10 of 11 chances since Wood was traded, including registering a save on the day of the deal.

He is 9-for-10 in one-run save situations. Over his last 29 appearances, starting on June 28, Perez has allowed two runs in 29 2/3 innings for a 0.61 ERA.

"This year I knew the job was mine out of spring training, but I didn't know for how long," said Perez. "I was trying to show them through the season that when Kerry was gone, I was the guy ... that they didn't have to go through three guys.

"Next year I'll come in and there's no question that I am the guy. As long as I do my job early in the season, it will be mine. I think that will play a big part in starting the season on the kind of roll I'm on now."

Perez said the difference between now and the start of the season is confidence and having a good mental approach to the job.

"Instead of throwing harder to get the guy out, I've slowed things down in my mind and body," said Perez. "It's coming out just as hard. Early in my career, I'd just throw as hard as I could and hope it would go where I wanted to."

Manager Manny Acta has watched Perez grow in confidence.

"This guy has overmatching hitters over the last three months," said Acta. "You can tell by his mound presence that he's full of confidence."



(cleveland.com)