SB Nation Cleveland - Chris Perez eager to end silence, comment on Tribe's disastrous seasonhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48841/cleveland-fave.png2012-09-26T08:33:56-05:00http://cleveland.sbnation.com/rss/stream/27978822012-09-26T08:33:56-05:002012-09-26T08:33:56-05:00Chris Perez sounds eager to talk when season ends
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S1PZRfbbcqX-SubjcYEgfnVn28c=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828107/large_cleveland.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Indians</a> closer <span>Chris Perez</span> has had plenty of opinions this season as his team has remained near the bottom of the MLB standings, but the outspoken reliever has had to keep quiet as of late. The Indians' season is almost over, however, meaning his silence is likely to come to an end soon, as well.</p>
<p>Perez has kept his comments to himself <a target="_blank" href="http://cleveland.sbnation.com/2012/9/12/3324182/chris-perez-comments-indians-front-office-chris-antonetti/in/2797882">ever since meeting with Cleveland general manager Chris Antonetti</a>, but the reliever intimated on Tuesday night that the silence could soon be over.</p>
<p>Just a bit after getting his career-high 37th save on Tuesday night -- in his first save attempt since Sept. 13 -- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2012/09/chris_perez_keeps_firing_on_th.html">Perez spoke to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Perez:</strong> "No comment. I have opinions, but I'm not going to say them right now."</p>
<p>As Perez walked away from reporters, he said, "It will be a fun last couple of days of the season when I'm allowed to talk again."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There's really not telling what Perez meant by that final comment, but one has to expect fireworks considering the amount of things Perez was willing to say mid-season.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2012/9/26/3411038/chris-perez-comments-indians-larry-dolan-chris-antonettiScott Schroeder2012-09-12T20:18:09-05:002012-09-12T20:18:09-05:00Indians GM Chris Antonetti Talks With Chris Perez About Closer's Comments
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S1PZRfbbcqX-SubjcYEgfnVn28c=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828107/large_cleveland.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Indians</a> closer <span>Chris Perez</span> has never been afraid to speak his mind, and last week he <a href="http://cleveland.sbnation.com/Cleveland-Indians/2012/9/5/3295333/Chris-Perez-Comments-Larry-Dolan-Cleveland-Indians">turned his ire toward the team's ownership</a>, which Perez believes hasn't spent adequately enough to build a winner. This, quite predictably, hasn't sat well with the team's front office, and Indians general manager Chris Antonetti spoke privately with Perez on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>After the discussion, Antonetti beat back the notion that Perez is trying to force his way out of Cleveland, intimating that Perez remains committed to the club, according to <a href="http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120911&content_id=38242502&notebook_id=38242518&vkey=notebook_cle&c_id=cle" target="_blank">MLB.com's Jordan Bastian</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"If that's how people are perceiving it," Antonetti said, "or if that's how others are interpreting it, I really can't control that. Ultimately, I have to rely upon the conversations that Chris and I have had since that time. That's what I'll go on."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Antonetti declined to get specific about what exactly he and Perez discussed, though he did make it clear that Perez was remorseful:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I'm not going to get into the details of that," Antonetti said of his conversation with Perez. "Chris would probably tell you that he could've chosen his words differently -- the specifics of his words. But, again, I think it's coming from a bit of frustration that the team hasn't been as successful as we all had hoped, Chris included."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Perez has 35 saves so far in 2012, while posting a 3.62 ERA and a WHIP of 1.07. He has struck out 57 batters in 49.2 innings.</p>
<p><i>Head over to <a href="http://www.letsgotribe.com/">Let's Go Tribe</a> for more Indians coverage, and be sure to visit <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> for more news and analysis </i><i>from around the league.</i></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=sbnation" title="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com.s3.amazonaws.com/youtube/youtube-article-insert.png" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'SBN YouTube Integration', 'HTML Article Insert - Grey']);" alt="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube"></a></p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2012/9/12/3324182/chris-perez-comments-indians-front-office-chris-antonettiJordan Sargent2012-09-05T18:53:57-05:002012-09-05T18:53:57-05:00Chris Perez Takes Aim At Indians Owner Larry Dolan
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S1PZRfbbcqX-SubjcYEgfnVn28c=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828107/large_cleveland.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Unhappy with his team's inability to go after big name players, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Cleveland Indians</a> pitcher <span>Chris Perez</span> continues to speak his mind to the media at every turn, and <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/small-market-losing-no-more-excuses-oakland-as-tampa-bay-rays-win-kansas-city-royals-cleveland-indians-get-it-together-090412">expressed angst to FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi</a> about Cleveland owner Larry Dolan's decision-making in recent years.</p>
<p>"<span>Josh Willingham</span> would look great in this lineup," Perez said about his former teammate, who left to join the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> in the offseason. "They didn’t want to [pony] up for that last year. That’s the decision they make, and this is the bed we’re laying in."</p>
<p>When asked about how he compares Dolan with an owner like Mike Ilitch of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a>, Perez said it isn't even close.</p>
<p>"Different owners," Perez said. "It comes down to that. The Tigers are spending money. Ilitch wants to win. Even when the economy was down, he spent money. You get what you pay for in baseball."</p>
<p><i>Head over to <a href="http://www.letsgotribe.com">Let's Go Tribe</a> for more Indians coverage, and be sure to visit <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com">Baseball Nation</a> for more news and analysis from around the league.</i></p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2012/9/5/3295333/chris-perez-comments-larry-dolan-cleveland-indiansDave Ryan2012-06-26T09:43:24-05:002012-06-26T09:43:24-05:00Chris Perez Comments On Cleveland Fans Again, Questions Blind Loyalty Towards Browns
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S1PZRfbbcqX-SubjcYEgfnVn28c=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828107/large_cleveland.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><span>Chris Perez</span> is weighing in again on the Cleveland sports fan, and this time he takes aim at the blind loyalty the Browns receive and the persistent venom aimed at LeBron James. Regarding LeBron, the closer and Miami native thinks it's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/26/sports/baseball/raw-numbers-cant-explain-how-indians-win.html?_r=3&ref=sports">time for Cavaliers fans to move on</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Why cheer against a guy that's not even in your city anymore? Just to see him fail? Does that make you feel good? I could see if the Cavs were in the championship, but that's their mentality."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>He also called the full faith and credit in the Browns a double-standard, and doesn't understand the attendance discrepancy between a generally winning club at Progressive Field and the decade-long disaster that's taken place just north along the Lake. Quotes after the jump:</p>
<p>Via <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/26/sports/baseball/raw-numbers-cant-explain-how-indians-win.html?_r=3&ref=sports">Tyler Kepner of the New York Times</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"That's what I don't understand," Perez said. "Their whole thing is, ‘We want a winner.' Well, why do you support the Browns? They don't win. They've never won. They left. You guys blindly support them. I don't understand it. It's a double standard, and I don't know why.</p>
<p>"It's head-scratching. It's just - they don't come out. But around the city, there's great support. They watch it in the bars. They watch it at home. They just don't come."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Well, he's got a point there.</p>
<p>h/t/ <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/tjzuppe">TJ Zuppe</a></p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2012/6/26/3118350/chris-perez-lebron-james-comments-indians-browns-attendance-Brendan Porath2012-05-23T16:41:06-05:002012-05-23T16:41:06-05:00Indians Pitcher Chris Perez 'Humbled' By Fan Support On Tuesday
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S1PZRfbbcqX-SubjcYEgfnVn28c=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828107/large_cleveland.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Cleveland Indians</a> closer <span>Chris Perez</span> has been outspoken in how he feels about the Cleveland fan base. With the Indians sitting in first place in the American League's Central Division, yet sitting in last place in league attendance, Perez stated that he was upset with the fans for not showing up and booing him in an outing against the Seattle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> last week. </p>
<p>On Tuesday night, the fans had their first chance to respond to Perez's comments as the closer was making his first appearance since his save in the Tribe's 2-0 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Miami Marlins</a> on May 19 and they made sure they were heard loud and clear. </p>
<p>As Perez made his way to the mound from the bullpen, the Cleveland faithful showered the controversial closer with cheers as well as a standing ovation. The cheers only got louder as Perez put the finishing touches on the Tribe's 5-3 come-from-behind win against their Central Division rivals, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a>. Perez was moved by the gesture.</p>
<p>His comments via the Cleveland Plain Dealer:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I'm truly humbled," said Perez of the fans' response. "It didn't go unnoticed. Trust me. I'm humbled. It was really nice." </p>
</blockquote>
<p>When asked if he had any regret about his comments, the closer remained steadfast in his opinion, but acknowledged he wish it didn't become a distraction for the team.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"The only thing I would take back is try to keep it away from the team this much. The last thing you want to do is bring undo attention to the team. Especially in this kind of light.</p>
<p>"At the same time, I think it kind of picked us up. The guys kind of said, 'Yeah, we're feeling like that, too. I'm glad you said something. I'm glad you didn't back down.' "</p>
</blockquote>
<p><i>For more on the Indians, head over to <a href="http://www.letsgotribe.com/">Let's Go Tribe</a></i><i>. For more MLB news and analysis, be sure to check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2012/5/23/3039548/indians-pitcher-chris-perez-humbled-by-fan-support-on-tuesdayMatt Brigidi2012-05-22T17:04:12-05:002012-05-22T17:04:12-05:00Indians Pitcher Chris Perez Unhappy In Cleveland, But Does Not Want Trade
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S1PZRfbbcqX-SubjcYEgfnVn28c=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828107/large_cleveland.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Even after watching his own words get blown up by the media, outspoken <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Cleveland Indians</a> reliever <span>Chris Perez</span> continues to speak his mind and dig himself into a nice, deep hole with local fans. <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ZackMeisel">MLB.com's Zach Meisell</a> spoke with Perez on Tuesday, and though he clarified that he isn't specifically seeking a trade, the 26-year-old closer certainly didn't help his situation by speaking up yet again.</p>
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Chris Perez: "I don't want out. I'm unhappy. That doesn't mean I want out. You're allowed to be unhappy in your work situation."</p>
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZackMeisel/status/205038535152107521" data-datetime="2012-05-22T20:52:50+00:00">May 22, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Perez: "If I get booed as soon as they introduce me, I'll feel like it's a road game and I'll probably shove it up the other team's butt."</p>
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZackMeisel/status/205040126093561856" data-datetime="2012-05-22T20:59:10+00:00">May 22, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>Perez also told Meisel that he has received a unanimously positive reaction from local fans after his original comments became public, which is extremely hard to believe. The fact that Perez continues to voice his opinion about everything from the attendance to the football team, and yet is still adamant about not wanting a trade out of the city, remains the oddest part about this entire situation.</p>
<p>Right now the first-place Indians need to focus on winning baseball games, and not about whether one of their many players is overwhelmingly-happy, merely content, or outwardly frustrated with his current situation. Perez remains free to speak his mind while reporters everywhere try to coerce him into saying something even worse than he already has, but the longer this goes on, the further Perez threatens to distance himself from the same organization that he supposedly does not want to leave.</p>
<p><i>For more on the ongoing Chris Perez situation, stay with <a href="http://cleveland.sbnation.com/2012/5/21/3033841/cleveland-indians-closer-chris-perez-rips-fans-for-lack-of-support">SB Nation Cleveland's StoryStream</a></i><i>. For more on the Indians, be sure to visit <a href="http://www.letsgotribe.com">Let's Go Tribe</a></i><i>. And for the best MLB coverage on the web make sure to check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com">Baseball Nation</a></i><i>.</i></p>
<center><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PL6969C40420638137&hl=en_US" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></center>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2012/5/22/3037295/chris-perez-trade-comments-indians-attendance-cleveland-fansDave Ryan2012-05-21T15:18:33-05:002012-05-21T15:18:33-05:00Kenny Lofton Responds To Chris Perez Comments
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S1PZRfbbcqX-SubjcYEgfnVn28c=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828107/large_cleveland.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>On Monday, former <a href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Indians</a> outfielder <span>Kenny Lofton</span> responded to the team's current closer <span>Chris Perez's</span> comments from this weekend about the lack of fan support from the city of Cleveland for the Indians. His comments came courtesy of an interview with Andy Baskin and Ken Carman on <a href="http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2012/05/21/kenny-lofton-says-chris-perez-doesnt-get-it/#.T7qMXr9r4d8.twitter">CBS' WKRK-FM The Fan</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"He doesn't get it," Lofton said of Perez. "He hasn't been in the league long enough to have an understanding of what you have to do as a player first."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Lofton went onto discuss how he had never been booed during his time in Cleveland because he felt as though the fans understood that he gave them his all and always worked his hardest. The former Indian expressed that the most inaccurate part of Lopez's statement was his opinion on free agents not coming to Cleveland due to the fans.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"If you pay a guy some money, he's going to come to Cleveland," Lofton said. "I don't care where you go. If you go to Chicago, New York, if you put some money in front of a free agent he will be in Cleveland."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Lofton went on to explain that just because the team is doing well now, doesn't mean the fans are immediately going to start coming out. He even shared a story from his time in Philadelphia in 2005 when the fans were engaging in an Eagles chant for the town's football team and weren't paying attention to the game.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"The grass is not going to be greener on the other side," Lofton said. "It's not. As much as you think it will be. Cleveland fans are loyal and other fans (in other cities) are not always loyal."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For more on the Indians, head over to <a href="http://www.letsgotribe.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #912b21; font-weight: bold;">Let's Go Tribe</a></i><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">. For more MLB news and analysis, be sure to check out<a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #912b21; font-weight: bold;">Baseball Nation</a></i><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">.</i></p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2012/5/21/3034757/kenny-lofton-responds-to-chris-perez-commentsMatt Brigidi2012-05-21T09:39:03-05:002012-05-21T09:39:03-05:00Indians President Mark Shapiro Responds To Chris Perez's Comments Ripping Cleveland Fans, Attendance
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S1PZRfbbcqX-SubjcYEgfnVn28c=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828107/large_cleveland.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Cleveland Indians</a> closer <span>Chris Perez</span> made a stir when he ripped the fans of the team for not caring and booing despite good performances from the squad this year. He mentioned free agents avoiding Cleveland because of lack of fan support, booing from the fans after bad performances and plenty of other vitriol, which ignited some heat from the fans directed at Perez.</p>
<p>The Indians are currently in first place in the AL Central and have had great performances to hold off the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a>, yet are last place in the league in attendance with a paltry 15,872 per game; that's almost 4000 behind the second to last place Oakland A's.</p>
<p>Still, his comments came off as caustic to the fans of the team, especially the insinuation that other players weren't enjoying themselves as well. He wasn't punished by the team for the comments, but <a href="http://throwinheat.mlblogs.com/2012/05/20/chris-perez-expands-on-his-comments-mark-shapiro-responds/">Indians president Mark Shapiro made some statements in response to Perez's comments</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Are you worried about the comments alienating the fans even more?</b><br> I don’t. I really feel like it’s a moment in time. It’s a story for right now. If you polled our players by and large, if you talked to our fans by and large, and if you talked to every single person in this organization, what you’d see is a largely universal respect for our fans.</p>
<p><strong>What was your initial reaction to Perez’s comments?</strong><br> I tend not to react too quickly until I have all the information. My initial reaction was just, ‘What happened? What was said?’</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Could this ignite fans to come out?</strong><br> Talking to [Perez], I think some of his hope is that’s what he’s saying. He’s saying, ‘Hey, pay attention. Good things are happening here. Look at this ballpark, look at what you’ve got here. Come on out.’ I don’t know whether that will happen, but I would conjecture that part of his desire is for that to happen.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Shapiro didn't say anything too bad about the incident, instead showing more sympathy than anything. Classy move by the president, though the problem of terrible attendance, Perez or not, is still ongoing in Cleveland.</p>
<p>At the very least, the comments got a lot of hype going about the Indians, and perhaps it could actually drive the fans to the ballpark since nothing else has been able to so far this season.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Indians, head over to <a href="http://www.letsgotribe.com">Let's Go Tribe</a></i><i>. For more MLB news and analysis, be sure to check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com">Baseball Nation</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2012/5/21/3033964/chris-perez-comments-indians-attendanceChris White