Indians hope bullpen continues 2010 success

By Paul Hoynes

The Cleveland Plain Dealer

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

The Indians bullpen was scary good in the second half of last season. The fear it generated had nothing to do with last season and everything to do with this one.

In Cleveland, one does not find consistency in bullpens. They soar one year, crash the next. They are a seven-man pack of volatility. Indians relievers last year had a 2.95 ERA after the All-Star break. It was the second-lowest in the AL and fourth-lowest in the big leagues. Can they take that into this season?

“You can’t carry momentum from one season to the next,” said manager Manny Acta. “The offseason is four months of inactivity. It stops momentum.”

Don’t interpret that as Acta not believing in his relievers. He does, emphatically.

“They were dominant in the second half,” he said. “These guys are confident. They feel good about themselves. I just don’t see them backing down right now.”

The history of Indians’ bullpens is the thing of nightmares. In 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009 they ranked among the six worst in the majors. In 2003, 2005, 2007 and last season they were among the top 10.

New GM Chris Antonetti has been through all those ups and downs. He has learned to bite his tongue when asked to forecast a bullpen’s performance. The thing that impresses him this year is not just the pitchers who performed in the second half last season, but the relievers behind them. Vinnie Pestano, Bryce Stowell, Josh Judy, Frank Putnam and Bryce Stowell are not that far away. Then there are the losers in the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Acta said Josh Tomlin, Aaron Laffey and Anthony Reyes could be candidates for the ’pen if they don’t win a spot in the rotation.

“I’ve got about 10 guys I can count on,” said Acta.

Closer Chris Perez, Rafael Perez, Tony Sipp, Joe Smith and Jensen Lewis should open the regular season in the bullpen. Then there’s Frank Herrmann and Justin Germano, who pitched well last year, to consider for the two open spots.

“It’s going to be an interesting competition,” said Acta.

All roads in the bullpen lead to the closer. Chris Perez earned the job last year even before Kerry Wood was traded to the Yankees on July 31. Now it’s his and his alone. Perez went 2-2 with a 1.71 ERA in 63 games last year. He saved 23 games in 27 chances, striking out 61 in 63 innings and holding the opposition to a .182 batting average.

“When you have a closer who you can say, ‘Hey, you’ve got the ninth inning,’’’ said Smith, “that makes things a lot easier. If your starters go six, then we’ve got six guys to get through the seventh and eighth innings.”

Perez loves the ninth inning. He feels he was made for it.

“There’s no other feeling like it,” said Perez, his long hair and beard in midseason form. “The save where you come in with a three-run lead to face the seventh, eighth and ninth hitters, and you go 1-2-3, that’s just another day at the yard.

“But maybe the leadoff guy hits a double, then the next guy walks. Then it’s, ‘All right, here we go.’ No one else is coming in. You might be facing their three best hitters. It’s the ultimate man vs. man. Here I come with my fastball. You might beat me. If not, I come out on top. It’s awesome.”

When the Indians acquired Perez for Mark DeRosa on June 27, 2009, he had a great arm, but had trouble throwing strikes. That ended last year. He converted 18 of his final 19 save opportunities. Starting on May 9 through the end of the season, he had a 1.51 ERA and struck out 56 batters in 53 2/3 innings.

“Coaches always talk about players finding it, about something clicking in,” said Perez. “That happened for me last year. My mechanics from May through the end of the year were the same. I didn’t have to change anything. And I feel the same way this spring.”

Perez has been working with a change-up this spring to go along with his fastball and slider. Is a change a good pitch for a hard-throwing closer?

“Outside of a first-strike fastball, it’s the best pitch in the game,” said Acta. “Just ask Trevor Hoffman.”

A change of pace might be just the thing for Perez. For the Indians bullpen, it’s a must.