Lewis, Perez Key To Indians Relief Corps

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jensen Lewis and Rafael Perez often go unnoticed by Cleveland Indians fans - until failing.

Both relief pitchers received plenty of unwanted attention in 2009, as Cleveland's bullpen went bust. The Indians converted only 25 of 43 save chances, a 58 percent success rate that tied Baltimore for worst in the American League. It was a key reason for a 65-97 record, Cleveland's worst since losing 105 games in 1992.

"I really believe we're a strong unit this year," Lewis said Wednesday before the Indians played the San Diego Padres. "I've learned a lot. I'm so much better prepared."

General manager Mark Shapiro hopes so.

"I feel as good as you can feel about the bullpen in light of the progress our guys made in the second half," he said.

That was after Lewis and Perez had refresher courses at Triple-A Columbus with pitching coach Scott Radinsky, now the new bullpen coach in Cleveland.

"Scott has a way of getting me into a comfort zone," Lewis said. "It's just another reason for me to be excited."

Lewis and Perez have blazed a trail of success thus far this spring, pleasing new manager Manny Acta. He wants the duo to preserve leads for Kerry Wood, the $10 million-a-year closer who often went unused a year ago as Cleveland regularly fell behind.

Perez has pitched two perfect innings, striking out three. That's how the left-hander worked in 2007 and 2008 as one of the AL's most reliable setup men. In 2009, he had a 7.31 ERA and opponents hit .336 off him, including .412 by lefties.

"He became predictable in some of those left-on-left matchups because he relied too much on his slider," Acta said. "He tried to adjust and couldn't put any of his pitches in the zone."

Perez walked 25 hitters in 48 innings last year. He had walked only 44 in his first 149 career innings.

"Raffy doesn't throw anything straight," Radinsky said. "Everybody talks about his slider, but his fastball moves, too. There's nothing wrong with his stuff. He's just got to maintain his delivery. I think that was a little tougher for him because of being used so much the previous year."

Perez worked in 73 games in 2008, when Lewis emerged as the closer in the second half and went 13 for 13 in save chances.

"Jensen came off 2008 with a lot of steam and I think he had a letdown," Radinsky said. "He tried to do too much."

Lewis didn't admit at the time to being upset when Wood was signed to a two-year, $20.5 million free agent deal in December 2008, but the right-hander's outlook changed.

"I tried to be somebody I'm not," Lewis said. "I got a taste of what I want to be. I tried too hard to get back to that."

Aggressive by nature, Lewis attempted to strike out every hitter by pumping his fastball into the zone. Batters connected for six home runs in his first 11 outings.

"Jensen just needs to relax and maintain focus," Radinsky said. "You want that aggressiveness, a guy with guts, coming into tight situations. He's blessed with it. It's a great attribute.

"But he must understand that when he's got a batter 0-and-2, put him away. It's OK to challenge the guy, but don't go overboard. What he did to get the first two strikes worked, so why change radically?"

Acta loved Lewis' results when he came on with the bases loaded and none out Tuesday against Seattle. He gave up a run, but got a double-play grounder, then retired the next batter.

"We told him it was damage-control time and that with a 6-3 lead not to worry about giving up a run," Acta said. "He did his job well."

Lewis admits he did play it smarter.

"I've learned to give up a run for two outs," he said. "I'll take outs any way I can. It's part of becoming a pitcher instead of a thrower."