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Attitude is important after he's tapped to be closer. So far, so good
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Aug 22, 2008
CLEVELAND: Jensen Lewis has no idea if the Indians' deep thinkers will make him their closer next year, but he already has developed a routine and a mental approach that fits the job.
For example, there's the question of putting on a game face.
''I wouldn't say I do that,'' he said. ''But I keep my routine the same, and having that adrenaline rush when you come into the game in the ninth does the same thing for me. They say getting three outs in the ninth is different, and I'm starting to experience that.''
Then there's adopting the appropriate attitude.
''I don't know if you ever get in a comfort zone doing this,'' Lewis said. ''And you do have to have a short memory.''
Lewis has been the Tribe's closer for two entire weeks, though when he got his first save, Aug. 8, there was no title attached to his name. Manager Eric Wedge was groping for someone to save games after Joe Borowski was released.
Rafael Betancourt and Masa Kobayashi failed to deliver, and Wedge much preferred Rafael Perez to stay where he was, as a lockdown setup man. So, more or less, it eventually came to be Lewis' turn.
Since then, he has protected ninth-inning leads all four times he has been assigned to do so. He has a string of nine appearances in which he has given up no earned runs, five hits and three walks in 102/3 innings.
Earlier in the season, like most Tribe relievers this year, Lewis went through a disappointing stretch that landed him in the minors.
''In the end, that was a mental thing,'' he said. ''I think I started to give the hitters too much credit. If you don't have confidence in your stuff, it's tough to succeed.
''It definitely ate at me, but you're going to go through highs and lows. In this [closer] situation, you have to have no fear.''
Lewis said that watching and talking to Borowski helped with the no-fear part.
''He was a complete bulldog,'' Lewis said, ''and he would get right after it.''
Both Wedge and General Manager Mark Shapiro believe that the true test of a closer is how he reacts after blowing a save, something Lewis has yet to do.
''I've already dealt with walk-offs,'' he said. ''I think I've been through trial by fire already.''
Lewis knows one thing: He wants to keep the job long enough to find out for sure.
Rehab stats
Victor Martinez is 3-for-8 with a home run in rehab starts at Akron and Buffalo. Travis Hafner is 3-for-5 with two doubles at Buffalo, and Josh Barfield is a combined 1-for-7 at Akron and Buffalo.
Royal roster move
Kansas City called up outfielder Joey Gathright from Triple-A Omaha to take the place of Mitch Maier, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list after being hit in the face with a pitch Wednesday night and fracturing three bones in his face.
Social note
Media-relations manager Jeff Sibel and his wife, Tiffany, became the parents of a son, Thomas John, at 1:04 a.m. Thursday at Fairview Hospital. Thomas weighed in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces.
Other stuff
The Indians have won four in a row and seven out of 10. . . . During the 10-game-homestand, the Tribe outhomered opponents 16-3. . . . Turning five double plays Thursday is a season high for the team. The last time it was accomplished was Sept. 13, 2005, against the Oakland Athletics. . . . Cliff Lee has thrown 22 double-play balls, tying him for third in the American League.
Farm facts
Aaron Laffey (6-1, 2.82 ERA) gave up four runs in five innings, as Buffalo defeated Lehigh Valley 10-5. . . . Juan Valdes homered and drove in three runs, but Lake County fell to Lakewood 8-5.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: Jensen Lewis has no idea if the Indians' deep thinkers will make him their closer next year, but he already has developed a routine and a mental approach that fits the job.
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