WFNY Stats & Info: Minnesota Twins series preview
September 26, 2013While We’re Waiting… Jordan Cameron making believers
September 27, 2013Indians closer Chris Perez told manager Terry Francona “I don’t want to cost us games” after nearly blowing a 6-1 lead for Cleveland on Thursday night, the manager shared during his post-game press conference.
With the help of Joe Smith, the Indians barely held on for a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. But for the second straight appearance, the former All-Star Perez coughed up several runs in the ninth inning.
Francona was far more non-committal and stoic about Perez’s performance and future as the team’s closer after the game. He applauded the 28-year-old Perez for walking into his office to share that comment. He said “we’ll figure it out” in reference to the closer position.
It was a rare sign of non-confidence in his players. Francona said it’s best not to make snap judgments with these decisions five minutes after a tough outing. But he reiterated several times that he was happy the club found a way to pull off the victory, which was what they obviously set out to do.
The Texas Rangers also had a walk-off win on Thursday and the Tampa Bay Rays won, keeping the same order in the American League Wild Card standings. Cleveland has three more games against the Twins this weekend, but perhaps without a clear closer.
[Related: Justin Masterson: Ace to Closer?]
65 Comments
Is it possible for Chris Perez to get a couple of weeks of jail time — real soon — for impersonating a canine? Respect for our four-legged friends has reached an all-time low.
Tonight’s performance really befuddled me. After having some pretty good stuff and no location last time, he had no stuff tonight, but the location was a bit better. No swings and misses, his fastball was down just a tick, and a lot straighter.
I’d give him another chance this weekend, pretty much a last chance to keep his job. I’m not excited about the alternatives though. Joe Smith, at 89 mph and possibly susceptible to lefties, or pulling Masterson or Salazar out of the rotation? You need those guys where they are, whether as a fireman against RHH or in the rotation. I guess Shaw would my choice.
GREAT! Give up his salary and allow the tribe to use that money to buy a better closer!
If he does that, I’ll believe he’s sincere, as at this point with his snubbing of the media this year, I still think he’s a self centered, self absorbed whiny boy.
If anyone is self-centered, its the media guy who are whining that he doesn’t make their job of getting click-worthy quotes easy anymore.
Interesting comment, absolutely has no bearing, nor does it actually address the point of my comment.
Actually I’m not hearing any “media guy” whine about Perez not talking to them…
The mere fact that Perez used the Media to lambast the fans a year ago, and now chooses to no longer talk with that same media when he’s got his own problems shows just how “self-centered” he truly is.
Feel free to use any of my comments as a “click-worthy” quote.
Maybe Shaw or Albers gets the closer job? I’d think one of our starters would be a long man in the playoffs, since we need only 4 starters, and Shaw did well Tuesday.
I’m not getting into a knock-down drag-out, but what was the point of your comment if not to simply throw another log into the “whine about Perez” fire? And the media guys have been whining about Perez not talking since he cut them off, and honestly, they should be. Whether it was the fans or the owners, or whoever, he always had a good quote on any topic. He was a writer’s gold mine.
Fans spent the better part of last year telling him that he should shut his mouth, and now when he does? He’s self-centered. No matter what he does, he’s always got some character flaw.
send him to souvenir city
Anyone remember this?
🙂 Oh, Zeus, deliver us from this verbal scourge! Give Thee nor credence nor mercy to Thy subjects’ ears?
p.s. Matt: English speakers wishing to create drama in their voice properly emphasis “outta” and not “here” when shouting, “It’s outta here.” Emphasizing “here,” as you do, suggests a contrast with another place the baseball might be “out of.” If that is what you truly mean to say, do tell what that other abandoned place is. I do not by any means embrace the paranormal, but I do find that to be a curious suggestion. Such intonation comes natural to so-called “native speakers,” which is to say, people in the habit of using a given language to good effect.
emphasize*
All three “wild-card” teams are on such streaks right now, I almost feel bad for Boston to have to face one of these super hot teams. Nah, I never feel bad for Boston.
I wish we could give him one more chance to figure it out. But every game is a must-win. Texas isn’t going to lose for the rest of the season. So even if we lost 1 game it will put us in a bad place. Can’t take any chances.
This. If a 5-run lead against a AAA Minnesota squad isn’t safe, then I sure as heck don’t want him in there in an actual save situation in any of these last three games.
Yeah that was me the last 2 nights
If he does not even believe in himself, he is lost. Is he now pitching afraid? Something is different with not much time to correct it.
If Perez said that, Tito HAS to make a switch. 99% of being an effective closer is the mentality and confidence necessary for it. If he “doesn’t want to cost the team games,” that means (to me) that doubt has crept into Perez’s mind. If that’s the case, then he can’t be an effective closer.
yes, I firmly believe that Perez has pitched his last pitch for the Tribe. He just has lost it mentally and we cannot afford him such. If it was me, then I wouldn’t have him on the postseason roster if we hold off Texas (but Terry might reserve a spot as he was a big part of the reason we got this far).
sadly though, no thoughts of getting anything back this offseason. no way we offer arbitration.
Here’s the thing about Perez lambasting the fans last year(and this year) – he was right.
Cleveland, despite having the 5th best record in the AL(10th in MLB) and battling for a playoff spot, has the 28th best attendance. The Tribe averaged only 400 people more per game than Miami.
The last time the Indians were in the top 2/3rds of attendance was 2002, and frankly, that’s on the fanbase.
I hope that’s his last game with the Indians…he needs to go…he’s become one of the worst closers in mlb..its sad that no matter how much of a lead the tribe has we have to hold our breath any time Perez steps onto the mound
Why would u want to give him another chance that’s just plain stupid..he’s blown saves before and now he almost lost 2 extremely important games and you want to give another chance
Hahaha you and the rest of us in cleveland
Perez has never been as good in non-save situations…hahaha
Okay, I’m calling it: Time to panic.
Dont worry guys, I got this!
Reading comprehension.
That made it easy on us… 25 man playoff roster: …. Line Up (9): Bourne, Swish, Kip, Santana, Raburn, ACab, Brantley, Gomes and Aviles. …. Rotation (4): Ubaldo, Salazar, Kaz and Kluber. …. Bullpen (8): Masterson, Shaw, Allen, Smitty, ZMac, Albers, Zip and Carrasco. …. Bench (4): Stubbs, Chiz, Kubel/Carson/Ramirez and Giambi
BIG TIME victim of Karma. Shoo this guy outta here after the season.
Unfortunately, going to the game costs lots of money. If I could just walk down there for free and root for the team, I would. I’ll support the team every night if someone’s buying!
I’ll help too!
I wouldn’t put it past Tito to give him a pity roster spot for the playoffs, but will he be used… at all? You have to think right now that answer is no.
It would be different if we had no other options, but I trust Carlos Carrasco throwing with a blindfold on late in a playoff game more than that guy. ZMac would be useful if Ubaldo or Salazar worked into a high pitch count early. Even Albers has proven to be effective in spots.
Can’t risk this once-a-decade shot on such a loose cannon.
you are right. If a guy isn’t a closer up here(I’m pointing at my brain), then he can’t be a closer on the mound. It’s why finding one can be difficult, even though they may “grow on trees”. It’s also why I am not a big believer in Carrasco being able to become the Closer. Unless he’s very head strong, which would then prove me wrong.
Oh Chris. *Sigh*.
“Farewell and adieu, to ye fair Spanish Ladies…”
I hear Mariano Rivera will be free sometime soon.
You’re insane if you think Perez deserves another shot. Even he doesn’t think that he does.
Can I play?
Hahahahahahahahahahahhahahahah! Attendance! You have got to be kidding me.
Edit: & “frankly” that’s on the on field product.
“It’s a rare sign of non-confidence in his players…” listening to Tito’s post-game presser, it’s clear to me that we should expect something dramatic if we have a save situation tonight. Sorry JoBo and Wicky, I met Doug Jones in the Rally Alley this summer. He looks ready to roll.
Why won’t Texas lose the rest of the way Merlin?
Count me in!
Texas and Tampa are both on a roll. I just don’t see either of them losing, especially since they are playing the Angels and Blue Jays.
still counting on him blowing one of these games for TB down the stretch. cmon, get in the game!
I would think that he might get used in the playoffs if we are down 9-2 in a game or so (and even in our best years, we tended to lose a game or two in blowout fashion).
Sometimes its not what you say, but how you say it.
For the record, I agreed with everything Chris said when he called out the fans. However, Michael Bourn called out the fans too, but he wasnt dicky about it. Hence there was no backlash.
Texas had 4 errors last night and managed to win. That stinks for us.
Here are the matchups for the weekend (best chance for losses of TB/Texas are tonight):
Angels v. Texas
Wilson v. Ogando
Richards v. Holland
Vargas v. Darvish
Rays v. Blue Jays
Hellickson v. Dickey
Archer v. Happ
Moore v. Redmond
Indians v. Twins
Kluber v. Hernandez
Kazmir v. De Vries
Jiminez v. Diamond
After another viewing, I wouldn’t say “straighter”, but the Twins had no trouble putting the bat on the ball, even for pitches off the plate. He still did not have the stuff to get major league hitters out.
And yeah TSR, I’m giving him another shot. I know the natural reaction of the fanbase is to want to bench the guy for eternity, but your pen is a lot better when Perez is right, you have to give yourself a chance at that.
Confidence or not, he’s lacked both the control and the stuff to get major league hitters out this week. With as much as the Twins have rolled over recently, I feel confident you’ll get another shot to use him when up 5+ runs. Don’t let him give up four again, but give him another shot.
Since 2002, the Indians have had 2(soon to be 3) 90+ win seasons and two more 80+ win seasons.
Compare that to the Browns, who have been terrible for all but two years, yet still sell out every week.
As I said, Perez was right.
I think you’re switching the order there- people were mad about Perez before he commented, then he commented, so there was backlash.
Meanwhile, people liked how Bourn was playing, then he commented, but because they liked him, no backlash.
How many Browns tickets did you buy? For each Browns ticket, you could buy 4-5 Indians tickets.
“But I like the Browns more” – that was his point.