Cleveland Indians’ Emmanuel Clase emerging as closer with streak of 7 straight saves
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Indians started the season with two closers. Emmanuel Clase and his 100 mph cut fastball and James Karinchak and his 96 mph fastball and hard-breaking curveball indicated that the late innings would be in good hands.
Manager Terry Francona used them strategically through the first for months of the season so it was hard to tell if either would emerge as a closer or they’d share the job for the rest of the season.
Lately the sharing has stopped.
Clase has converted the Indians last seven save opportunities, including Sunday night’s 3-0 win over the Angels at the Little League Classic in Willamsport, Pa.
He’s faced 22 batters in those seven games, but only four reached base on three hits and a walk. None of them scored. Clase recorded only six of those outs on strikeouts, a low figure for one who throws so hard.
CHANGE IN STRATEGY
To the Indians that is not a reason for concern, but encouragement.
What Clase, still recognized as a rookie, has learned is that no matter how hard you throw, big league hitters are going to find a way to put the bat on the ball. The realization has led Clase to use more sliders.
“I was going over the videos of all the different at-bats,” said Clase through translator Agustin Rivero. “I was seeing that hitters were getting ready for the fastball regardless of the speed that it was. I realized that I had to make an adjustment and compliment the fastball with my other breaking pitch.”
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