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Cleveland Heights native and Baseball for All founder Justine Siegal to take the hill

Published: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 12:29 PM Updated: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 4:44 PM
By Chuck Yarborough, The Plain Dealer

Justine Siegal, who spent part of 2009 coaching under Bill Buckner in the Independent League Brockton Rox, will pitch BP to Tribe farmhands -- and maybe the big leaguers -- next week.

Time to wax a little philosophical on you:

Baseball is the most romantic of sports. Yeah, there are football dreams, where a kid can fantasize about taking the hand-off and running 100 yards for a Super Bowl-winning touchdown, and basketball ones where a poor kid from Akron can parlay his talents into a home in South Beach.

But baseball is all about what COULD be.

That's why Starting Blocks is so hyped for Cleveland Heights native Justine Siegal. On Monday, she will fulfill a lifelong dream and become a member of the Cleveland Indians.

Sort of, anyway.

Siegal, the first woman to coach at the professional level -- she coached first base for the Independent League Brockton Rox, managed by former Red Sox great Bill Buckner in 2009 -- is the founder of Baseball For All.

She is scheduled to pitch batting practice to the Indians minor leaguers Monday morning, and if all goes well, to some of the big league players later. She's also going to pitch to the Oakland A's.

Bart Swain, one of the Tribe's media relations specialists, told Starting Blocks Siegal approached GM Chris Antonetti at the winter meetings to set all this up.

Siegal has been playing baseball since she was 5, and played in men's leagues till she was 22. The mom of an 13-year-old daughter is chronicling her journey through the majors -- and her dream to become a college coach -- in a blog you can follow by clicking here.

Here's how Siegal, who also founded the Girls International Baseball Academy, is preparing for the gig, according to a press release from Baseball For All attached to the blog:

To prepare to throw to the A's and the Indians, Siegal has been throwing to various colleges, including Northeastern University, UMASS Amherst, American International College, and Springfield College. Siegal has also been strengthening her arm with personal trainer Mike Zolkiewicz, former Braves intern and current Highland Games world record holder. Siegal would like to continue throwing BP to other MLB teams. Off the field, Siegal is a Ph.D. Candidate in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Springfield College (MA) and the mother of Jasmine, her 13-year old daughter.

We traded Facebook messages with Siegal, who said her best pitch is her curve. but, seein' as how this is BP, and the goal is letting 'em hit, she's gonna throw mainly four-seam fastballs. You know what would be funny, and sad at the same time: If she does indeed get to pitch the big leaguers ... and Travis Hafner puts up an O-fer.

Inbox: Will Cabrera start all season?
Beat reporter Jordan Bastian answers questions from fans
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 02/21/11 2:00 PM EST

Ah, Spring Training. It is a time for hope and optimism. A six-week retreat spent by the beach and in the desert. Sun-soaked diamonds and the smell of freshly-cut grass to go along with the sound of baseballs popping in gloves.

This week, it was also a time for heavy winds, rare Arizona rain and a dust storm that had Indians pitchers picking dirt from their mouths, and catchers saying a prayer with squinted eyes as fastballs came flying in. Tumbleweeds as big as ballplayers rolled through Cleveland's complex.

Anyone looking for a good omen for the season ahead had only to peer at the wide rainbow that later appeared, cutting through the sky and ending over Goodyear Ballpark. Spring is no time for bad omens. So we won't mention the moment that the Indians pitchers ran to the wrong field to start off the first official workout.

Here's this week's Inbox ...

How long do you see Orlando Cabrera starting at second base this season? This move seems to make sense in terms of bringing in a veteran presence for the younger guys, but if the Indians have no chance of contending once we reach the All-Star break, I would rather see the prospects get a chance to compete instead.
-- Thomas C., Powell, Ohio

That is the beauty of a one-year, inexpensive contract. Signing Cabrera to a one-year, $1 million (plus incentives) deal is obviously not a long-term move. As far as I know, he has not been promised the starting second base job for the whole year, let alone for Opening Day.

Now, don't get me wrong, second base is Cabrera's spot to lose this spring. That is where he will likely be when the season opens, but that does not mean he can't shift into another role later this year. Shoot, there's even a chance he winds up in another uniform in the second half of the season.

Cabrera was brought in to provide veteran leadership, yes, but also to serve as a kind of stopgap at a position filled with uncertainty prior to his arrival. Later this season, if the Indians feel it is best for the team, you might see a prospect like Cord Phelps or Jason Kipnis handed the big league job.

In that scenario, Cabrera could easily move into a utility role off the bench. Another scenario could have Cabrera shifted to third base if the other options are not working out (don't expect third-base prospect Lonnie Chisenhall to be rushed to the Majors). Or, if heaven forbid something happens to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, Orlando could move to short.

It is a move that provides Cleveland with some flexibility for the entire season, and also some stability in the short-term picture. Cabrera has two Gold Glove Awards in his trophy case, and it's no secret that infield defense hasn't exactly been a strength for the Tribe in recent years. If he adjusts well to second, Cabrera should make the defense better for the time being.

What are the chances of prospect Jared Goedert opening the season at third base instead of Jayson Nix or Jason Donald?
-- John Y., Los Angeles

Right now, I think Donald is the favorite to land the everyday job at third base. Will Nix and Goedert get a look this spring? No doubt about it. So will Luis Valbuena and Jack Hannahan. Chisenhall will probably see some reps -- Phelps might, too -- but they aren't really in the mix for the Opening Day third base job.

As for Goedert specifically, Indians manager Manny Acta continues to make sure his name is mentioned when discussing the situation at the hot corner. Goedert's bat alone makes him an intriguing prospect. Last year, he hit .283 with 27 homers, 37 doubles and 83 RBIs between Double-A and Triple-A.

One criticism of Goedert has been his defense. Acta has read all the reports, and has made it known that strong defense down the line is important this season. That said, Acta said he wants to take a good look at Goedert this spring to see for himself how the prospect looks at third base. If Acta deems that Goedert needs more development, he'll get it.

Jordan, welcome to Cleveland. If Matt LaPorta slumps in the first third of the season, what is the Tribe's backup plan for first base?
-- Steven, Brecksville, Ohio

I think it would take more than one-third of the season for the Indians to pull the plug on LaPorta. He is going to be given every chance to prove that he can be the right-handed power bat the Tribe needs in its lineup, and the strong defender it wants at first base.

If things go completely awry and Cleveland needs to look at internal alternatives, you might be looking at players such as Shelley Duncan, Travis Buck or Chad Huffman. All three will see reps at first this spring. If Goedert winds up at Triple-A to start this season, he could see some time at first base as well.

How much does money (or the lack thereof) influence how teams like Cleveland approach the First-Year Player Draft?
-- Kevin C., Half Moon Bay, Calif.

It appears to have little influence at the moment. While the Indians aren't pouring funds into the Major League payroll, the club has shown a willingness to open up its wallet in areas like the international market and the Draft.

Looking only at 2010, Cleveland actually went over the slot values for its top 10 Draft picks by 168 percent -- a percentage topped only by six teams. And only five clubs (Blue Jays, Nationals, Orioles, Pirates and Red Sox) spent more than the Indians in order to sign their top 10 picks in last June's Draft.

I just wanted to say welcome to the Inbox. I've enjoyed reading your articles so far. Also, good luck in the Cleveland Marathon in May. I ran C-town last year, and it was a great and rewarding experience. As for the Indians, what are they planning on doing with Aaron Laffey? It seems like he gets lost in the shuffle sometimes.
-- Ryan B., Harrisville, Pa.

Laffey is currently among a group of five pitchers in the running for the fifth spot in the Indians' starting rotation. The others include Jeanmar Gomez, David Huff, Anthony Reyes and Josh Tomlin. The first four spots are occupied by Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson, Mitch Talbot and Carlos Carrasco.

Acta noted recently that one thing the Indians will not do is bounce Laffey back and forth between the rotation and bullpen this year. Once his role is determined, it will remain that way all season. Right now, he will compete as a starter. If he falls out of the mix for a rotation job, he'll likely shift into a long-relief role.

Bringing up the rear...

Welcome to the Tribe beat, Jordan! Give a Tribe fan some hope on a snowy morning and give me your highest possible win total you could say is realistic for this season. Thanks!
-- Marty B., Buffalo, N.Y.

Well, Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA projections have the Indians finishing fourth in the American League Central with a 72-90 record. That'd be a three-win improvement over last year's showing. I'll put on my optimistic cap and say that Cleveland will go 75-87. Acta will probably say I'm still being very pessimistic with that guess, though.

Cleveland Indians don't need a marketing strategy to win back their fans; they need wins: Terry Pluto
Published: Monday, February 21, 2011, 6:29 PM Updated: Monday, February 21, 2011, 6:31 PM
By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
The best way for the Indians and manager Manny Acta (right) to win over skeptical fans would be a competitive performance at or above .500 in April, says Terry Pluto.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is a miserable time for Cleveland sports fans, and not just because February winter is miserable.
It's miserable because the month is February and all Cavalier fans can do is wait for the NBA draft. And yes, the Cavs still have 26 games left -- with no playoffs for the first time since 2005 and perhaps the worst record in franchise history.
It's miserable because the month is February and the Browns have changed coaches. Again. That's after they were 5-11. Again. And all Browns fans can do is wait for the draft.
Of course, there may be a labor/management war that delays or even wipes out a season.
In basketball.
In football.
For sports fans, the only thing worse than yet another losing season is no season -- and no local teams to complain about.
So it's still February, when the thought of any team having even a .500 record would send much of the fan base into a state of shock. You mean a Cleveland pro team actually isn't a loser?
Which brings us to the Indians, the one local pro team that can make one promise that the others can't -- they will play every scheduled game this season. Weather permitting, of course.
A year ago, Tribe manager Manny Acta set up the goal of having "a fast start." It was never quite defined, but a winning record in April would have at least nudged Tribe fans awake, at least for a few weeks.
Instead, the Tribe was 9-13. That came after the Indians were 8-14 in April, 2010. That came after the Indians had losing records in five of seven Aprils under Eric Wedge.
That came to be very annoying, as Wedge seemed to give off the vibe that he wasn't especially concerned with how the team started -- because the season is a marathon, how you finish is what matters, blah, blah, blah.
Let's just say that Wedge's best season was 96-66 in 2007. The April record was 14-8, his best ever. His only other winning April was 13-12 in 2006, the season the Indians ended up 78-84.
Yes, the 2005 Indians were 9-14 in April, finished with 93 victories and just missed the playoffs. But suppose they were 11-12 in April. They would have been playing post-season baseball in October.
This is not to make any claim that the key to a winning season is a strong start. But has a strong start ever been the reason for a losing season? Did Wedge's 72-95 April record help his cause? Was it good for the Indians, a team trying to sell tickets to a jaded fan base?
You know what a rotten April and mediocre May have often produced? A summer sell off of veteran players. That leads to more fan discontent, more empty seats, more gloom hanging over the franchise.
These are not the Indians of the Mike Hargrove Era in the 1990s, the former Tribe manager having three winning records and one .500 mark for Aprils in his eight seasons. Once they moved to Jacobs Field in 1994, the Indians were buyers of veteran talent during the season, not looking to celebrate the Fourth of July by cutting payroll.
So April is important to this team at this stage.
In training camp, Acta has not talked much about a quick start. He should, just as he did a year ago. He should play his regular lineup for much of the final week in Arizona, as he also did last year.
If ever a team and a city need a decent start, it's the Cleveland Indians in 2011.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Second baseman Jason Kipnis helped lead Class AAA manager Mike Sarbaugh's team to a 4-2 intrasquad victory Friday over third base coach Steve Smith's team in the Indians' final dry run before their Cactus League schedule begins Sunday against Cincinnati at Goodyear Ballpark.

Kipnis hit an RBI double in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie. But it wasn't so much the double that stood out, it was Kipnis' batting stance. Before he comes to a set position at the plate, he holds the bat horizontally behind him. Mickey Tettleton and Cal Ripken Jr. used similar stances.

"I started doing it last year," Kipnis said. "When I went into a slump, I'd start changing my stance and the way I held my hands. This helps me keep my hands in the same spot.

"I lay the bat flat behind me and when I pick it up, my hands are in the same place every time."

It certainly worked for Kipnis last season. He hit .300 (61-for-203) at Class A Kinston, .311 (98-for-315) at Class AA Akron, .455 (10-for-22) in the postseason for Class AAA Columbus and .295 (23-for-78) in the Arizona Fall League. All the 2010 season did was put him on the fast track to the big leagues with the Indians.

"It looks weird and stupid," Kipnis said. "But I'm not changing it as long as I keep hitting."

Intrasquad highs and lows:

• Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall combined to produce runs in the first and third innings for Sarbaugh. Brantley tripled in the first off Mitch Talbot and scored on Chisenhall's ground out.

In the third Brantley and Chisenhall hit consecutive doubles off Jess Todd for a 2-0 lead. Brantley tripled in both of the intrasquad games.

• Tony Sipp and Yohan Pino pitched a scoreless inning each for Smith. Vinnie Pestano took the loss, allowing one run on two hits in the fifth. Prospect Bryce Stowell walked four straight in the sixth and final inning to force home a run.

• Left fielder Austin Kearns made the catch of the game. He robbed Chad Huffman of extra bases in the second with a running catch.

"I've watched him play for years," manager Manny Acta said. "He's a very good defensive player."

• Josh Judy retired the side in order on three grounders to short to earn the save in the sixth.

• Carlos Carrasco started for Sarbaugh and threw first-pitch strikes to all four hitters he faced.

"I've been trying to establish my fastball this spring and I did it today," Carrasco said.

Smith's team won Thursday's game, 3-2. Josh Tomlin will start Sunday against the Reds.

Who plays where? Trevor Crowe, competing for an extra outfield spot, has been shut down with a sore right rotator cuff. It could prevent him from making the Opening Day roster.

Crowe had right elbow surgery during the off-season. He said the elbow is fine, but he's had trouble throwing.

If Grady Sizemore (left knee) isn't ready for Opening Day, and Crowe opens on the disabled list, the Indians' depth in center will be tested. Brantley can certainly play center, but who plays behind him becomes a concern.

Kearns can play center. Travis Buck and Huffman, in camp as a spring-training invitee, might get tested as well. Ezequiel Carrera, who was almost called up last season, is a pure center fielder. The Indians acquired him from Seattle last year in the Russell Branyan trade.

Carlos Carrasco started for Sarbaugh and threw first-pitch strikes to all four hitters he faced

That's exactly what he needs to do.

Crowe hobbled

With Sizemore very likely to open the season on the disabled list it means Austin Kearns will get the lion’s share of playing time in left field and that Michael Brantley will be the everyday centerfielder. It also opens the door for one of Trevor Crowe or Ezequiel Carrera to make the team as the fourth outfielder.

Crowe, 27, looked to be the favorite there, but a rotator cuff strain may shelve him for the start of the season. To make matters worse, the injury setback hurts him as he is running out of time in the organization in that this season is his last option year.

Crowe has underwhelmed since being selected by the organization in the first round of the 2005 Draft out of the University of Arizona. He never really had a consistent season in the minors, and in 190 games the last two seasons in the big leagues with the Indians he has been a poor performer hitting just .246 with three homers, 53 RBI and a .627 OPS during that span.

There is no doubt that Crowe brings the pedigree as a former first round pick, and his speed, versatility, and switch-hitting ability are seen as assets. But his inconsistent performance and lack of any real value as a major league hitter will likely force the organization to make a decision on him at some point this year, be it during the season or early in the off-season.

With Crowe probably now out of the fourth outfielder mix, it means that Carrera and Travis Buck look like the frontrunners to win the spot. Shelley Duncan, Jared Goedert, Chad Huffman, and Jordan Brown are expected to battle for the fifth outfielder and backup first base role this spring.

And, so it starts!


Goodyear, Ariz. -- This is a daily briefing on the Cleveland Indians in spring training as they prepare for the 2011 season.

Feb. 27, Day 13: Shin-Soo Choo said his sore left elbow resulted from him throwing oo far and too fast with his offseason/spring training throwing program.

Choo said Indians trainers think he probably hyperextended his elbow.

"Lonnie Soloff (Indians head athletic trainer) said I probably got too much extension on the elbow," said Choo. "Then I got some inflamation. The good news is it's not inside the joint."

Choo added that the injury is not related to the Tommy John surgery he had in 2007.

"I was concerned at first," said Choo. "We had an MRI. The Tommy John surgery is on the side of the elbow and that looked fine. This is in the back of the elbow."

Choo isn't playing in today's Cactus League opener, but is scheduled to DH Monday against the Reds.

"Everything else is good," said Choo. "The hitting is OK. There's no problem when I stretch. The movement in the elbow is normal. The only time I feel it, and it's not every time, is when I throw.

"But I was still worred about it because I had surgery on it before. But the MRI showed there were no big issues. I feel much better now."

Choo, who led the AL in outfield assists last year, started his throwing program Jan. 20.

If everything goes according to plan, Choo said he could be back in right field in four or five days.

"I'm going to DH on Monday, have an off day, and then try to throw at 150 feet on Wednesday," said Choo. "If I feel better after throwing at 150, the next day I'll be back in the field.

Choo has had two straight 20-20 seasons (20 homers, 20 steals). Last year he led the Indians in every major offensive category as he hit .300 (165-for-550) with 81 runs, 31 doubles, 22 homers, 90 RBI, 22 steals and a .401 on base percentage.

Today's lineups: Reds: CF Drew Stubbs, 2B Brandon Phillips, 1B Joey Votto, 3B Scott Rolen, RF Jay Bruce, LF Jonny Gomes, SS Edgar Renteria, C Ramon Hernandez, DH Fred Lewis, LHP Matt Maloney.

Indians: CF Michael Brantley; SS Asdrubal Cabrera; C Carlos Santana; DH Travis Hafner; RF Austin Kearns; 2B Orlando Cabrera; 1B Matt LaPorta; LF Travis Buck; 3B Jason Donald; RHP Josh Tomlin.

Today's schedule: Hall of Famer Bob Feller, who died on Dec. 15 at 92, will be honored before today's gamed. Feller's No.19 will be displayed in front of the Indians dugout and on the mound. A video tribute will be played on the scoreboard.

A banner recalling Feller's service on the USS Alabama during World War II will be unfurled on the outfield fence.

Mike Hargrove, former Tribe manager, will throw out the first pitch. Hargrove is in camp as a special advisor.

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Outfielder Jody Gerut is retiring after six seasons in the majors.

Gerut played for five teams before being invited to the Seattle Mariners' spring training as a non-roster player this year. He announced his retirement Sunday.

The 33-year-old Gerut appeared in 574 games in stints with Cleveland (2003-2005), the Chicago Cubs (2005), Pittsburgh (2005), San Diego (2008-2009) and Milwaukee (2009-2010). He finished with a career batting average of .262 and had 472 hits.

"Physically I'm fine," Gerut said in a statement from the Mariners. "But mentally my reasons for wanting to be in uniform have become so thin and narrow that I refuse to disrespect the game that has provided so generously for my family by playing it in a halfhearted way."

from some blogger at ESPN

If I were to tell the story of the Cleveland Indians' 2010 season, I would probably start with the three-run error.

[+] EnlargeJhonny Peralta
Dennis Wierzbicki/US PresswireCleveland won't miss the defensive mishaps of former third baseman Jhonny Peralta.
Every team makes errors. It's unreasonable to expect any team to make it through a season defensively unscathed. The very best Gold Glove-winning infielders make errors.

This was not one of those errors.

Tribe fans were excited to start the season with perceived defensive whiz Asdrubal Cabrera at short: He had played well at both middle infield positions in 2009, and was considered a sizable defensive upgrade to the rather plodding, spherically-headed Jhonny Peralta. Peralta slid over to third, a position that could potentially hide his below-average range while still taking advantage of his strong arm. His slow first step was not seen as an asset of comparable size.

When you think about a three-run error, you think about a diving outfielder and a ball rolling to the wall. You might think of Jose Canseco's innovative cranial fielding technique, or perhaps a marauding band of highly agitated Pennsylvania Outfield Badgers. But the outfield is involved in some way, no?

No.

With the bases loaded, the Tigers' hitter bounced a ball to Peralta's left, which he managed to knock down with a grace normally accompanied by an eyeless Muppet singing, "Bork, bork, bork!"

Thousands of Cleveland fans momentarily lost consciousness as they forgot to breathe while giving Peralta the telepathic signal not to rush the throw.

In my experience as a Cleveland fan, the Cleveland Fan Long-Distance Telepathic Network needs work.

Peralta's throw to ersatz first baseman Andy Marte was … look, it was not a good throw. Not many first basemen would have caught that throw. My point is, not many first basemen would have approached the play as Marte did, either, which is to say, to stand like a grandfather clock and … again, I cannot tell you what Marte's thought process was here, but it appeared to combine equal parts Zen, terror, and petit mal seizure. The ball rolled away. Detroit's baserunners continued to run. Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, roughly 19 times the distance from the ball, ran toward the ball. The sun changed position perceptibly in the sky. Detroit baserunners continued to run.

Did I mention that Cleveland lost by three runs?

After Peralta was traded, which was after he broke Cabrera's arm in a collision, Cleveland fans were "treated" to the sight of Jason Donald playing short and waiver pickup Jayson Nix sliding from his natural position of second to third. As a shortstop, Donald is a perfectly adequate second baseman. As a third baseman, Nix is a perfectly adequate second baseman.

If the Indians face a lineup of Adam Dunn, Jim Thome, Ryan Howard and Travis Hafner, their innovative three-second-basemen defense will serve them well. Until this team is constructed, they will still require someone to stand closer to third base than any other player. Right now, this is likely Nix. Or Donald. Possibly Luis Valbuena, a man who is not quite as good as Donald, or Nix, or a sack of iguanas.

Compounding this is the fact that the two best Cleveland starting pitchers are groundball pitchers Fausto Carmona and Justin Masterson.

Other amusing anecdotes from the 2010 infield include the walk-off bunt, the four-wild-pitch opener (as least partly due to rookie catcher Tofu Lou Marson's inexperience with Jake Westbrook's sinker), the walk-off wild pitch, and the game with six infield hits.

Is there room for hope here? Of course. For one thing, the Indians are placing an increased emphasis on infield defense this season. They recognize the issue. But plenty of potential improvement can come from simple experience: Marson became much more accomplished behind the plate over the season and has a terrific arm. Nix and Donald will likely play better just by virtue of repetition. A healthy Matt LaPorta, if such a thing actually exists in non-theoretical space, should be fine at first. And the future of the Cleveland infield is probably Jason Kipnis, Lonnie Chisenhall, and possibly Cord Phelps, although none of them is ready to open 2011 with the Tribe.

The offensive contributions of these players (besides LaPorta) are almost irrelevant: The Indians did a decent job of scoring runs in 2010 and will likely do so again. A full season of Carlos Santana, any contribution better than what Grady Sizemore was able to struggle through, and a fully-recovered Cabrera will go a long way toward boosting the offense.

In Cleveland, the watchword is "infield defense." It will be better in 2011 … axiomatically.

Steve Buffum writes The B-List, a blog about the Cleveland Indians.

That pretty lousy article was apparently written before we picked by the 2nd Cabrera.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Anthony Reyes, who missed the 2010 season rehabbing from reconstructive surgery, will rest his arm for a few days after experiencing soreness in his elbow.

"We just want to be on the safe side," the 29-year-old Reyes said Monday before the Indians played the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark. "They said flareups are going to happen."

Reyes was examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Arizona.

"The ligament is still good," Reyes said.

Reyes, who opened camp as a candidate for the No. 5 spot, had reconstructive elbow surgery in June of 2009. He rehabbed in Goodyear all last spring and part of the summer before making two starts for the Arizona Rookie Leaue Indians in July.

He then had two rough starts for AA Akron before being shut down for 10 days with soreness in his back. After a final poor start on Aug. 11, Reyes' season was over.

Chris Perez isn't planning on letting up on the heat in second season as Cleveland Indians closer

Published: Monday, February 28, 2011, 7:46 PM Updated: Monday, February 28, 2011, 7:48 PM
By Bud Shaw, The Plain Dealer

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- If not for the small matter of the title being copyrighted, and perhaps for the larger issue of clean-cut Robert Redford playing the leading man, "The Natural" might be the appropriate name for the making of Chris Perez as a major-league closer.

He always had the arm and a love for the high wire. Now he has an inaugural season of success behind him and a looks-the-part beard to go with long locks and the attitude best captured in his Twitter bio:

"Chris Perez, relief pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, former UM Hurricane. Just a normal guy with an arm like a ******* cannon."

A year ago in spring training, when Perez was the closer in waiting behind Kerry Wood, pitching coach Tim Belcher shared a scouting report about a young aggressive Reds' player Perez would face the next inning. Belcher said the kid was a dead fastball hitter. Came word from Perez, "He ain't seen mine yet."

Perez, 25, backed up the bravado in 2010. His 1.71 ERA was the second-lowest among AL relievers. Opponents hit .182 of him, the fifth-lowest. With runners in scoring position, hitters batted .133. His 23 saves in 27 chances made him the youngest reliever in Indians history to record 20 saves.

"It was a tremendous year for me personally," Perez said. "Obviously I was able to finally achieve what I always wanted to do in this game, which is to be a closer. I had a really good second half and that kind of validates all the hard work and years that it took to get to this point."

Wood's injury last spring cleared the path. But whatever angst the Indians felt about Perez moving into the closer role was mitigated somewhat by the second half of 2009 -- which was particularly impressive considering how his Indians career began after the June 27 trade from St. Louis for Mark DeRosa.

Perez lasted two-thirds of an inning in his debut against the White Sox, allowing two hits and four runs. He hit two batters, walked one, threw a wild pitch, allowed a stolen base and failed to cover first. A week later, Chicago's Paul Konerko hit a grand slam off him.

Not the best way to make friends and influence a new fan base. Soon after, though, Perez put together a consecutive scoreless streak of 20.2 innings. Perez and the Indians gained confidence. Both knew coming into 2010 that if the Indians fell flat, Wood would likely be traded to a contender.
"It was a perfect season all the way around," Perez said of his development. "Even -- you don't want anybody getting hurt -- but even Woody going down in spring training made it so much easier knowing that I was the guy out of spring training."

Indians' manager Manny Acta called Perez becoming the closer "a matter of time." Perez's success means one less concern for Acta coming into 2011. For Perez, the concern is doing it all over again.

"The history of baseball is that there are a whole bunch of guys that had one of two good years," Perez said. "I don't want to be that. I want to be here for the long haul and have a great career."
Some big-league closers come to the job out of failure. They flop as a starting pitcher first. Or injuries dictate it. Perez never got attached to that idea of starting pitcher celebrity. Not in high school -- where he dedicated himself to catching and found the mound almost by accident.

His junior year at Pendleton (Fla.) high school, his team played seven tournament games in three days and exhausted its supply of pitchers. Perez volunteered. He had no idea about mechanics or direction but was clocked at 93.

"From that time on, my dad's like, 'You are not catching anymore,'" Perez said.

Except for a brief experiment as a starter at Miami, he moved directly to the bullpen and told to forget his change-up. Getting on the reliever track early and staying there speeded his development when St. Louis drafted him.

"He definitely had the stuff," said pitcher Anthony Reyes, who was with the Cardinals at the same time. "He's refined his pitches. That's allowed him to take the next step."

Perez thrives on the action. In college, he fell in love with the idea of pitching with the game on the line. He also watched relievers like Houston Street get drafted and make a quick impact. Now he's done the same.

In 2011, the idea is to make it a lasting one.

Major League Bastian

Manny Acta's new favorite blog

Waiting to exhale

There were a few gasps here in the Goodyear Ballpark pressbox during today's first inning, when Indians catcher Carlos Santana tried to score on a close play at the plate.

Santana singled with two outs off Dodgers righty Chad Billingsley and then was off and running on an opposite-field single by Travis Hafner. In left field, L.A.'s Tony Gwynn Jr. booted the ball, opening the door for Santana to go to third.

Santana took things up a noth and bolted around third and headed toward the plate. The throw from left beat him and catcher Rod Barajas was planted as Santana came barreling in.

Indians manager Manny Acta held his breath.

"That's the first reaction," Acta said.

Not to mention, it was Santana who had his left knee seriously injured in a collision at the plate last August. Boston's Ryan Kalish slid into Santana, who went on to have knee surgery as a result. Fortunately for the Indians, Santana is back at 100 percent with no restrictions.

The play in the first also showed he is back without any hesitation, too.

"He was more than willing to go," Acta said, "and show that he had no fear. That's good."

The part that wasn't good? The headfirst slide into the plate. Santana dove forward, trying to get a hand on the plate -- close to wear Barajas' left foot was firmly planted. It was a dangerous decision so early in Spring Training. Ezequiel Carrera slid headfirst into home in the seventh, too. It is a technique that the Tribe does not encourage.

"It's something that we preach against," Acta said. "I think that 30 Major League clubs preach against that, but it's such an instinctive play. Even when we covered that the other day in our baserunning lecture, guys will still go and do it. Both guys got an earful."

Santana was ruled out. But he got up, brushed himself off and recovered fine. For a moment, it was a scary play for the Indians. Santana will be a critical part of any success the club hopes to have during the coming campaign.

There were lots of notable things in camp today, so let's get to it.

Notes from Tuesday...

The Indians learned late Monday that outfielder Austin Kearns was arrested near Lexington, Ky., on charges of driving under the influence back on Feb. 12. Kearns arrived in camp around Feb. 16 or so and did not alert the team of the situation. Kearns spoke about the matter on Tuesday and indicated that he was advised not to inform the team. A source told me Kearns originally wanted to tell the club what happened at the time of his arrest, but he acted on the advice of his attorney. No matter how you slice it, this was an unfortunate situation. Kearns met with GM Chris Antonetti and Acta on Tuesday morning to talk things over.

I've reported all spring that it was unlikely that center fielder Grady Sizemore (microfracture surgery on his left knee in June) would be ready in time for Opening Day with the Indians. Antonetti had not said as much until Tuesday, when he admitted that Sizemore was unlikely to be recovered by April 1. Sizemore is still working through sprint and agility tests and taking batting practice. He has yet to run the bases or really test his legs by changing direction while running. No outfield drills yet. Needless to say, there are still a number of tests he needs to pass before being cleared for any type of game action.

Guess who arrived at the Indians' complex this morning? Hint: he had a Phillies equipment bag in his locker. Yes, the reported deal for Chad Durbin finally came to fruition on Tuesday. Durbin is officially a member of the bullpen on a one-year deal worth $800,000. Who is getting the boot from the 40-man roster? We don't know just yet. I'd expect that announcement to come on Wednesday.

There could be another new face in camp soon, too. As of Tuesday evening, the Indians were close to signing free-agent Nick Johnson to a Minor League deal with a spring invite. He would likely act as insurance behind Matt LaPorta at first base. He also has experience as a DH. This looks mostly like a depth move on the surface. I wouldn't expect this to become official right away. Johnson underwent two surgeries on his right wrist last year and has a long history of injury. That means an extensive physical process before the Tribe would comfirm a possible signing.

The list of Indians players who are banged up keeps growing. Acta noted on Tuesday that utility man Shelley Duncan was "dinged up" after pulling a muscle in his back while swinging a bat in batting practice last week. Duncan has been held out of games and will likely remain out for the next few days.

More updates on the walking wounded. Antonetti noted that outfielder Trevor Crowe (rotator cuff soreness) would likely be cleared to resume throwing "shortly." It's still a no-go for righty Anthony Reyes, though. Reyes is out with right elbow soreness and Antonetti said there is still no timetable for his return to a throwing program.

An interesting item worth noting is that, until Tuesday, Acta has maintained all spring that the outfield would be Kearns in left, Michael Brantley in center and Shin-Soo Choo in right in the event that Sizemore was not ready for Opening Day. Acta has changed his tune some. The manager even suggested that the Indians might consider a platoon situation in left field.

Choo had the day off from the starting lineup on Tuesday, but he replaced Hafner as the DH midway through the game. The plan was for Choo (sore left elbow) to throw from 120 feet on Tuesday. He'll take Wednesday off from playing and there is a chance he'll make his spring debut in right field as early as Thursday.

Oh, hey, a game took place on Tuesday. The Indians beat the Dodgers, 2-1, but we don't care about the final score, remember? What does matter is that righty Carlos Carrasco logged two shutout innings, as did lefty David Huff. Carrasco's is in the rotation and Huff is trying to harness the magic of his Samurai-warrior-slaying-the-three-headed-dragon tattoo to win the fifth spot. Huff retired all six hitters he faced and struck out the side in the fifth. Closer Chris Perez logged one scoreless inning of work.

Carrasco said he did not throw any curves because he never fell into a count where he would use that pitch. He stuck with fastballs, changeups and sliders. Carrasco said he has been working hard on his slider this spring. Last year, it acted more like a cutter. Now, he says there is a harder late break with the pitch.

Up next: Indians head to Phoenix to take on the A's. Justin Masterson is slated to start and Doug Mathis, Vinnie Pestano, Drew Pomeranz, Zach Putnam, Joe Smith and Jess Todd are also down to appear. Names circled on the travel sheet: Carlin, Chen, Phillips, Brown, Chisenhall, Everett, Hafner, LaPorta, Nix, Hannahan, Kipnis, Phelps, Valbuena, Brantley, Buck, Huffman and Carrera.
I have postponed the weekly Inbox until tomorrow. A lot has happened in the past few days, so I'm sure you all have questions. If you want to have a shot at being included, send any Indians inquiries to IndiansInbox@gmail.com with your name and hometown.

That's all for today...

...but that was plenty, right?

Be sure to keep checking the blog and Indians.com for updates from camp. Also, make sure you're following along on Twitter (@MLBastian) and check out the "Jordan Bastian" fan page on Facebook for links to stories, blogs, photos and more. You can view more spring photos by checking out the stream on yfrog.com as well.

--JB