CLEVELAND INDIANS PITCHER CHRIS PEREZ AND HIS WIFE MELANIE SHOW LIFE BEYOND THE DIAMOND

Behind the

BY JAKE COLEMAN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY EVAN SIGMUND

s a baseball player, your first fights for distinguishment begin in the community where friends, foes and families are bound together in an endless array of uniform color patterns and stylish ticks: players are recognized by socks worn high or low, flat or bent brimmed hats, shades or no shades, the bat they use or the flavor sunflower seeds they prefer. In that circuit, which bustles with local boys until college, Chris Perez isnt far removed from summer competitive teams, Manatee High School or IMGs Baseball Academy. Hes the kid that grew up on all the diamonds of the city. Five years in the majors, hes come into his own, a repeat All-Star pitcher lighting up radar guns, stat sheets and tempers. The rock at the end of the Indians bullpen has grown a full beard, ditched the boyish profile and found his voice as the purveyor of baseball truths in Cleveland, questioning his teams spotty fan support as droves attend the floundering Browns games and anteing up public accountability for errant boos at their firstplace team. At 27 years old, hes hit his early prime in the sport and, though not old, he references his early career as when he was young. Hes been married four years now to his wife Melanie, who is expecting their second child. Melanie is a petite girl from Oceanside, New York, with a clear-eyed sweetness shining through her frequent laugh and warm personality. She is nurturing, but maintains enough big-city directness as to be no pushover. She has a natural aptitude for ladylike familiarity, the girl who can hang with the guys but still be set apart from them. Chris and Melanie team up to continually work for a familial equilibrium that coincides with the hefty demands of their third suitor, baseball. Baseball has its own timeline and barometer of development, exacting a rigorous standard upon young families in time, distance, absence, loneliness and professional uncertainty, the oft-overwhelming concerns of human relationships collectively concentrat-

Its definitely a business, and you never know whats going to happen. I could go in there today, and somebody gets traded or weve traded for somebody and you just kind of start all over trying to get to know them. Chris Perez
ed upon two individuals. Its a grueling life where the assets of the player compared to the value of his career hourglass can constantly redirect his familys future. Contracts, trades, promotion and demotion to the minors are vibrant concerns. Especially early in a players career, restlessness and uncertainty are inherent variables attached to his relationship. Melanie says: The beginning of Chris career it was the unstableness of where we are and where were going and always wondering alright, can I buy a full week of groceries this week or will we be somewhere else? There is no designated time-table for how long a player may spend with any of the teams minor league affiliates, and the average trip to the major leagues for any given ball player first runs through Class A, Double-A and Triple-A, all located in different cities. For couples, it can be hectic dealing with the domestic logistics of the players mobility within the teams organization. Baseball is ultimately a business, and even players whove made the majors remain products, assets or liabilities for a company that is a team. Neither past performance nor contract details guarantee you will be around next season. The Cardinals drafted Chris in 2006, and he worked his way up through the minors with what is still much of their core unit. Despite the team being World Series contenders, Chris being young, pitching well and showing a lot of promise, the team traded him away to the last place Indians in 09. I was so young, and I never really thought the Cardinals would trade me. I knew I was good, and I just thought why would they trade me? It happened, and I left behind a lot of friends. Also, I knew nobody on Cleveland, he recalls. Its like a first day of school at a new school. Everybodys already got their routine, their friends and their clicks. You are just kind of that new guy and feel out of place. Melanie compares it to a break up of a relationship. I think the toughest part, and someone said to me last week, is when you get traded, or someone you become friendly with gets traded, or you have a break up, or they get promoted, or demoted within the system, they may be in your life every single day, and then all of a sudden, they arent in your life at all, except maybe on the phone once in awhile. She says that for a little while after Chris was traded, she didnt want to meet anybody because her heart was hurting. I had just left all these great friends that I made. Why would I want to do it again? Chris explains: Its definitely a business, and you never know whats going to happen. I could go in there today, and somebody gets traded or weve traded for somebody and you just kind of start all over trying to get to know them. He says once you do have a friend and they stay in the game, you are friends forever. Its funny how you may not talk during the off season but pick right back up at spring training the next year. Melanies been able to gradually open up to new friendships as well and points out that it has a silver lining. I get to meet new women and learn how to deal with other peoples personalities. Its definitely helped me become a more well-rounded person. For Melanie, being a ball players wife and a mother is her full-time profession, one of managerial versatility. She performs a range of roles requiring various skill sets that are necessary to facilitate their life, and although mothering their 2-year-old son Maxwell is her

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Sometimes I think of myself as a single mom. Im the main part in our childrens lives. When Chris isnt here, its just me, and we dont have family here during season so really everything relies heavily on me to keep the family together. Melanie Perez
the road depends on what city hes in. For this interview, hes in Baltimore where hes seen all the sights. So hes playing his PlayStation in the room and relaxing. Its kind of lonely sometimes, says Chris. Some trips, we go to three different cities and Melanie cant come to any of them. Its just a lot of talking on the phone, Skype-ing and stuff, but I cant really see my son or anything. Other cities like Chicago or New York, I go out and just walk around and look at stuff. The baseball season is eight months long, and half of that is spent away from home. Chris says the life takes maturity on and off the field. If he were drafted out of high school, he doesnt think he would have made it. Being on the road the first time can be difficult, he says, and for young players in the minors, its easy for guys to hit the pitfalls of poor off-field decisions, women and not taking care of their bodies. Chris admits its tough on relationships, and that Melanie and he have addressed him going out with the guys. Weve had to go through those conversations, and she has to trust me a lot. Luckily she does, and she has no reason not to. Its hard. Its not easy. Thats whyI dont know the exact numbersthe divorce rate for athletes is terrible. Chris and Melanie have become travel professionals. He credits Melanie for knowing her way around an airport. Melanie cites last minute plane trips, cross-country moves, site unseen apartment accommodations and running both their permanent residence and season housing simultaneously. Being a mommy and baseball wife requires a ton of organization, patience, quick thinking actions, energy and flexibility, being mommy and daddy, entertaining the kids, keeping spirits up and making a home for the family in any environment, she says. She runs, if you will, our company, says Chris. It frees me up to do my job. Obviously, I bring the money home, but I obviously couldnt do my job if I had all these different things to worry about. She really clears it up and lets me focus on baseball during the season. Shes really good at that.

principal priority, its still just one of the domestic identities she assumes within the household. She does most of it, Chris says. I wear one hat. Im the ball player. She wears all the different hats: shes mom; shes the travel agent; shes the housing agent; shes everything. She really takes care of a lot of stuff. She pays the bills because Im always traveling. Shes more than just a homemaker and stay-at-home Mom. Its hard, Melanie relates, and doubtless, it must be a challenge to have so much of life revolving around one family member. Sometimes, she says, I think of myself as a single mom. Im the main part in our childrens lives. When Chris isnt here, its just me, and we dont have family here during the season so really everything relies heavily on me to keep the family together. So, its pretty difficult. Thats how it is for all the baseball families. I think that you get used to it. Im pretty used to it. Packing is one of her biggest challenges, and she says it takes her forever. The most personal touch that they

have in their house right now is a digital picture frame she hardly turns on. Its not that I dont want to take the time to do it. I dont want to pack it up. So, I just try to keep it as simple as possible, which maybe doesnt help it feel so homey, but I feel like that, as long as were here, its home enough. During season, Chris work schedule determines the script based off whether the team is home or away. When hes home, Melanie gets up with Max. Chris wakes up late morning in time for lunch together before he reports to the field between 1:30 and 2:30pm for the standard night game start of 7:05pm EST. Once hes gone to the field, Melanie has an afternoon activity with Max, then puts him down for a nap. When its time, they go to the game, where childcare is provided at the field. When the Indians are on the road, Melanies mornings are more hectic since she doesnt have Chris there to assist and she doesnt have a babysitter at the field to take care of Max during a game. For Chris, life on

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