Aroldis Chapman (1 Viewer)

[eoMMan]

Aroldis Chapman-S- Reds Mar. 8 - 6:33 pm et In his spring debut, Aroldis Chapman pitched two scoreless innings and struck out three against the Royals in the Reds' 14-5 victory on Monday.Chapman was clocked as high as 102 mph in the game, and though he was a bit wild, he walked just the one batter. There's good reason to think Chapman could be a force out of the bullpen right away this year. The Reds, though, are correct to keep him in the rotation. He has a chance to be their fifth starter right away.

 

[Wrigley]

pass

 

[eoMMan]

Lots of hype for a few K's and for blowing up your WHIP and probably ERA.

He's a later round gamble.....of course he has his risk, but you can't teach what he does. You don't find a 6'4 lefty throwing 102 MPH gas everyday, you know.

 

[Wrigley]

Lots of hype for a few K's and for blowing up your WHIP and probably ERA.

He's a later round gamble.....of course he has his risk, but you can't teach what he does. You don't find a 6'4 lefty throwing 102 MPH gas everyday, you know.

Of course there is risk....BIG RISKThe hype you speak of, will make him undraftable. He'll go way too early to be worth the risk

 

[Captain Hook]

Lots of hype for a few K's and for blowing up your WHIP and probably ERA.

Really? what did you say about Hanson last year?

 

[fasteddie_21]

Lots of hype for a few K's and for blowing up your WHIP and probably ERA.

He's a later round gamble.....of course he has his risk, but you can't teach what he does. You don't find a 6'4 lefty throwing 102 MPH gas everyday, you know.

Sure. But 102 MPH fastballs is not a scoring category in my league. He's also really wild; he nearly beaned one of his own teammates in an interteam scrimmage. He might learn control in the next year or two. Until then, I'll look at him the same way I look at rookie WRs who run a 4.3 or whatever at the combine but have no hands. That's great and all and if I was running a real team I might invest but for this year players are just numbers to me and I don't think this guy's numbers are going to be that good.

That was what everyone was saying about him before he signed. Bryan Price, the Reds pitching coach, as well as a couple of the other coaches found some flaws in his delivery and corrected them.

You do realize that he has been around the plate with all his pitches, since pitchers and catchers reported, right? He got thru his 2nd inning of work yesterday in 11 pitches. That included 2 strikeouts.

Enjoy fellas.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — With apologies to Jon Landau and perhaps Stephen Strasburg, I have seen the future of pitching and his name is Aroldis Chapman.

He's lean and tall, as wide-eyed as a kid at his first carnival, and he throws a baseball with the speed and handling of a Porsche on the open road. The Reds somehow stole him away from the serial talent collectors with a guarantee of $30 million that they will one day consider the down payment on their re-emergence as one of the major leagues' relevant teams.

A lot of teams shied away from Chapman last winter because they didn't know if the 22-year-old Cuban could command his pitches and make the difficult cultural transition to the United States. Their scouts headed out of Goodyear Ballpark on Monday shaking their heads and hoping he won't turn out to be as dominating as he showed he could be in two innings of scoreless relief against the Royals.

In his first outing before a paid crowd, Chapman threw fastballs that were clocked as high as 102 mph, sliders in the high-80s and a changeup that registered 80 but looked like it was stopping time. The worst news of all for teams that allowed the Reds to outbid them: 15 of his 26 pitches were strikes, and few missed the strike zone badly.

"I'll take 100 with command,'' Reds manager Dusty Baker said, smiling.

You bet he will.

Strasburg, the Nationals' $15 million first-rounder, has been described by Baseball America as a "once-in-a-generation'' talent. He's a special prospect, no doubt, but better than Chapman?

I'll believe it when I see it.

Some will say Chapman can't throw a ball 102 mph. They'll say that for a few reasons — because few pitchers in history have been able to do that, because the majority of the readings peaked at 98-99, and because, well, the kid didn't even look like he was trying.

Chapman met with reporters within 15 minutes of his last pitch, a slider that blew right past the swinging Rick Ankiel, and it barely looked like he had broken a sweat. He made it look that easy on the mound too.

Baker said it's hard to tell how hard Chapman is throwing because "he throws so easy.'' He doesn't look like he's putting any effort into it.

Tony Fossas thinks he knows at least part of the reason.

A Cuban who survived 12 big-league seasons as a lefty specialist, Fossas is taking a break from his chores as a minor-league coach in the Cincinnati system to help Chapman become acclimated. He has gotten to know him since he signed in December, and sees an ultra-talented athlete who finally is being allowed to focus on what he does best.

"Growing up in Cuba under those situations, going through the planning of a defection … leaving his family behind, not knowing what the future brings, that takes a lot of guts, a lot of heart,'' Fossas said. "I think this is a piece of cake, to be honest. I expect him to get better, to get more comfortable.''

Working the third and fourth innings, after Bronson Arroyo had gone the first two, Chapman allowed one single — to his friend, Brayan Pena, who had caught him in Cuba — and walked one. He retired the last four hitters he faced, striking out David DeJesus, Chris Getz and Ankiel.

Chapman said he was more comfortable than he had been during his first workouts in camp and in an intrasquad game last week. The difference, as relayed to a reporter by Fossas, was that he wasn't so worried about hitting Kansas City batters as he was his own teammates.

"He doesn't have to be so worried about throwing the ball inside,'' Fossas said.

That's a great mindset for a pitcher to have.

Adrenaline may have added some zip to his fastball but Chapman insisted he wasn't showing off.

"I wasn't trying to throw any harder,'' he said. "I was just working on throwing pitches. If I did (hit 102), it was just one of those things.''

Easy gas. Easy future.

As was true for Bruce Springsteen when Landau wrote his 1974 tribune in Rolling Stone, the hard work for Chapman was getting here. The next chapter, the one on the big stage, will be pure fun.

Funny thing is is that this is just one of about 100 similar articles written on him in the last week. He's the real deal, kiddies.

Here's another

Oh and the last thing I'll say on this is what another guy on my Reds msg board said:

Look, folks, how do you know a player is potentially special? It's the little things. Fay and others have alluded to it, that players stop to watch. Proof? That pic from Jamie Ramsey (click the link fellas).

Just spend a second marveling at the Reds' dugout. Look again. 3rd or 4th inning of pre-season game #3, friends. Not game #3 of the World Series.

 

[Wrigley]

Spoken like a true homer

 

[fasteddie_21]

There were hundreds of articles, but I'd bet fewer than forty written. In any case, they're mostly all written about the same 2 innings that he's pitched so far.Look, you can go ahead and draft him. You can say that you think he's going to be great this year. That's fine. I'm not stopping you from or doing the first or knocking you for doing the second. I just don't agree.

I am not talking fantasy beisbol, sorry.

 

[dparker713]

That was what everyone was saying about him before he signed. Bryan Price, the Reds pitching coach, as well as a couple of the other coaches found some flaws in his delivery and corrected them.

You dont fix flaws in a delivery in a day or even a few weeks. He needs to consistently practice and repeat his delivery. Plus, throwing 100 over 2 innings is nice, but hardly unheard of. He needs to sit at 95 over 7 innings as a starter and thats much harder to do. The guy has a world of talent, but a bunch of reports seemed to indicate he's lazy and doesnt really work at pitching. Also, throwing nice and easy isnt exactly an indication of future health - Prior had a nice and easy motion.I seriously wouldnt expect anything out of him this year except maybe a September call up. He needs some time in the minors to work on his control and just get accustomed to his new surroundings. PS - Having seen Strasburg in person and Chapman on TV at the WBC, I'd take Strasburg in a heartbeat.

 

[trogg78]

ROY 2010!

 

[avoiding injuries]

LOTS of people on the Orioles board were pissed that the O's didn't make a stronger play for him. Reading this helps me see why.

 

[Bud Kilmer]

Drafted him as one of my 4 minor league keepers. Lets hope something good happens with this.

 

[eoMMan]

We should start another HYPE thread about Kyle Blanks.

 

[Wrigley]

We should start another HYPE thread about Kyle Blanks.

Loved Tae-bo

 

[Statorama]

FWIW, my prediction is that Chapman gets limited action this year, pitching fewer than a hundred innings, and finishes with an ERA above 5 and a WHIP just under 2..... like 1.8 or 1.9. If I was in a big dynasty league I might draft and stash but in a limited keeper and all redrafts I would just avoid.

My prediction is that Dusty Baker goes all *DUSTY BAKER* on him and leaves him out there to throw 150 pitches each game and the kid is out of baseball by 2013.RIP Edinson Volquez

 

[fasteddie_21]

Aroldis Chapman's line today:

Gave up a lead-off HR to Rickie Weeks on a 3-1 change up.

3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

per the announcing crew (Brewers feed), he threw harder in the 3rd inning than in the first. FB working @ 97mph and an 82mph change.

So far, for the spring, here's his line:

7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB/10 K

Yup, that command is horrible!



Every other team, down the road, is going to seriously regret passing on him.

 

[pantagrapher]

Ugh. Getting harder for me to ignore this guy.

 

[dparker713]

Aroldis Chapman's line today:Gave up a lead-off HR to Rickie Weeks on a 3-1 change up.3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 Kper the announcing crew (Brewers feed), he threw harder in the 3rd inning than in the first. FB working @ 97mph and an 82mph change.So far, for the spring, here's his line:7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB/10 K Yup, that command is horrible!Every other team, down the road, is going to seriously regret passing on him.

A) Its spring training B) Its 7 innings C) Its 7 innings in spring training D) 2.57 is a good walk rate, not spectacular E) At 3 innings he still has barely turned a lineup over even once - he needs to be able to do that 3 times.Still a long way to go for the guy to be worth the 30 mil they shelled out for him.

 

[fasteddie_21]

Aroldis Chapman's line today:Gave up a lead-off HR to Rickie Weeks on a 3-1 change up.3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 Kper the announcing crew (Brewers feed), he threw harder in the 3rd inning than in the first. FB working @ 97mph and an 82mph change.So far, for the spring, here's his line:7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB/10 K Yup, that command is horrible!Every other team, down the road, is going to seriously regret passing on him.

A) Its spring training B) Its 7 innings C) Its 7 innings in spring training D) 2.57 is a good walk rate, not spectacular E) At 3 innings he still has barely turned a lineup over even once - he needs to be able to do that 3 times.Still a long way to go for the guy to be worth the 30 mil they shelled out for him.

I'm curious, are you a Yankee fan?

 

[dparker713]

Aroldis Chapman's line today:Gave up a lead-off HR to Rickie Weeks on a 3-1 change up.3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 Kper the announcing crew (Brewers feed), he threw harder in the 3rd inning than in the first. FB working @ 97mph and an 82mph change.So far, for the spring, here's his line:7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB/10 K Yup, that command is horrible!Every other team, down the road, is going to seriously regret passing on him.

A) Its spring training B) Its 7 innings C) Its 7 innings in spring training D) 2.57 is a good walk rate, not spectacular E) At 3 innings he still has barely turned a lineup over even once - he needs to be able to do that 3 times.Still a long way to go for the guy to be worth the 30 mil they shelled out for him.

I'm curious, are you a Yankee fan?

My fandom is just as immaterial as how you're both a Reds and a Cowboys fan. You're creaming your pants over a guy that has 7 pro exhibition innings. You should know how volatile pitchers are after having watched Arroyo last year. Stretches of dominance followed by sucking, and back to being good. Lets see 50-100 innings out of the guy before you anoint him the next Randy Johnson.

 

[Tony Jabroni]

Will he be in the starting rotation for the Reds this year? Any chance at all?*

*Struggling new fantasy baseball owner

 

[fasteddie_21]

Aroldis Chapman's line today:Gave up a lead-off HR to Rickie Weeks on a 3-1 change up.3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 Kper the announcing crew (Brewers feed), he threw harder in the 3rd inning than in the first. FB working @ 97mph and an 82mph change.So far, for the spring, here's his line:7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB/10 K Yup, that command is horrible!Every other team, down the road, is going to seriously regret passing on him.

A) Its spring training B) Its 7 innings C) Its 7 innings in spring training D) 2.57 is a good walk rate, not spectacular E) At 3 innings he still has barely turned a lineup over even once - he needs to be able to do that 3 times.Still a long way to go for the guy to be worth the 30 mil they shelled out for him.

I'm curious, are you a Yankee fan?

My fandom is just as immaterial as how you're both a Reds and a Cowboys fan. You're creaming your pants over a guy that has 7 pro exhibition innings. You should know how volatile pitchers are after having watched Arroyo last year. Stretches of dominance followed by sucking, and back to being good. Lets see 50-100 innings out of the guy before you anoint him the next Randy Johnson.

I'll take that as a yes. And growing up in Portland, Oregon, no home teams (save for the Blazers) so I found my idols as a kid where I did.And I never said he's the 2nd coming. I pointed out to the haters that said his command was horrible that they seem to be wrong. That was the ONLY negative on him. And teams like the Reds can't shell out $180 Million for pitchers...they have to grow them or get lucky like they did w/ Chapman. eta: Obviously it's only a handful of innings in ST, but I'm not really caring about much regarding his results EXECPT for his control. That's the biggie and that's why I'm making a big deal out of 7 innings so far.

 

[fasteddie_21]

Will he be in the starting rotation for the Reds this year? Any chance at all?*

*Struggling new fantasy baseball owner

Absolutely he will. If it were not for his contract, he would have a legit shot at breaking camp as the #5 starter (although he shouldn't...he still needs time, imo, just not a whole season). As it sits right now, his contract should prevent him from being w/ the Reds until at least May 15th so he does not become a Super 2 (and start his arbitration clock early). But if he throws like he's shown both in the ST games and all thru practices, they won't be able to keep him down there too much past that.Also, Mike Leake is sick polished as well, so the Reds, even w/ Volquez on the shelf (hopefully all season... no reason to rush him back), have a whole lot of depth for the rotation. And that's not even including Travis Wood.

I think there is little-to-no chance that Chapman isn't in a Reds uniform by July 1, if not way before that.

 

[dparker713]

Aroldis Chapman's line today:Gave up a lead-off HR to Rickie Weeks on a 3-1 change up.3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 Kper the announcing crew (Brewers feed), he threw harder in the 3rd inning than in the first. FB working @ 97mph and an 82mph change.So far, for the spring, here's his line:7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB/10 K Yup, that command is horrible!Every other team, down the road, is going to seriously regret passing on him.

A) Its spring training B) Its 7 innings C) Its 7 innings in spring training D) 2.57 is a good walk rate, not spectacular E) At 3 innings he still has barely turned a lineup over even once - he needs to be able to do that 3 times.Still a long way to go for the guy to be worth the 30 mil they shelled out for him.

I'm curious, are you a Yankee fan?

My fandom is just as immaterial as how you're both a Reds and a Cowboys fan. You're creaming your pants over a guy that has 7 pro exhibition innings. You should know how volatile pitchers are after having watched Arroyo last year. Stretches of dominance followed by sucking, and back to being good. Lets see 50-100 innings out of the guy before you anoint him the next Randy Johnson.

I'll take that as a yes. And growing up in Portland, Oregon, no home teams (save for the Blazers) so I found my idols as a kid where I did.And I never said he's the 2nd coming. I pointed out to the haters that said his command was horrible that they seem to be wrong. That was the ONLY negative on him. And teams like the Reds can't shell out $180 Million for pitchers...they have to grow them or get lucky like they did w/ Chapman. eta: Obviously it's only a handful of innings in ST, but I'm not really caring about much regarding his results EXECPT for his control. That's the biggie and that's why I'm making a big deal out of 7 innings so far.

You can take it however you want to take it. I dont see it as relevant so Im not going to answer.Actually, other knocks on him included some scouting reports on some games where he only threw in the high 80s, his lack of results and stature w/in Cuban baseball, plus potential maturity and work ethics issues. Oh, and then there was the price - 6/mil a year prevents him from being really cheap labor. He could very well wind up being worth the investment, but until he displays consistency and stamina he's an awfully expensive toy.

 

[JohnnyU]

Aroldis Chapman's line today:Gave up a lead-off HR to Rickie Weeks on a 3-1 change up.3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 Kper the announcing crew (Brewers feed), he threw harder in the 3rd inning than in the first. FB working @ 97mph and an 82mph change.So far, for the spring, here's his line:7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB/10 K Yup, that command is horrible!Every other team, down the road, is going to seriously regret passing on him.

I like Chapman, but I hate that he plays in a phone booth.

 

[Capella]

And I never said he's the 2nd coming. I pointed out to the haters that said his command was horrible that they seem to be wrong.

You're really saying people are wrong about something after 7 spring training innings? Am I reading that right?

 

[fasteddie_21]

And I never said he's the 2nd coming. I pointed out to the haters that said his command was horrible that they seem to be wrong.

You're really saying people are wrong about something after 7 spring training innings? Am I reading that right?

Not just the 7 innings. The entire spring from the 2nd practice of the spring. We'll see.

 

[Capella]

And I never said he's the 2nd coming. I pointed out to the haters that said his command was horrible that they seem to be wrong.

You're really saying people are wrong about something after 7 spring training innings? Am I reading that right?

Not just the 7 innings. The entire spring from the 2nd practice of the spring. We'll see.

Wow.Not only is it a laughable sample size...they are fake games.Yeesh.

 

[fasteddie_21]

And I never said he's the 2nd coming. I pointed out to the haters that said his command was horrible that they seem to be wrong.

You're really saying people are wrong about something after 7 spring training innings? Am I reading that right?

Not just the 7 innings. The entire spring from the 2nd practice of the spring. We'll see.

Wow.Not only is it a laughable sample size...they are fake games.

Yeesh.

Hey what do I know. I'm just going off the dozen articles that are written after every appearance.And yeah, they were wrong about his lack of control, that's all I'm trying to say.

#1

#2

...he has been nowhere nearly as wild and raw as scouting reports indicated before camp began.

Part of the reason is because Chapman focused on improvements since signing and has learned quickly.

"I am staying taller and finishing up my pitches better and not dropping my elbow," he said. "I was always opening up too much and I've made those corrections."

 

[trogg78]

Fernando was the last pitcher to win Cy Young and ROY in the same year, right?

 

[shuke]

And I never said he's the 2nd coming. I pointed out to the haters that said his command was horrible that they seem to be wrong.

You're really saying people are wrong about something after 7 spring training innings? Am I reading that right?

Not just the 7 innings. The entire spring from the 2nd practice of the spring. We'll see.

Wow.Not only is it a laughable sample size...they are fake games.Yeesh.

Still bitter about that Josh Hamilton thing, eh?

 

[Capella]

And I never said he's the 2nd coming. I pointed out to the haters that said his command was horrible that they seem to be wrong.

You're really saying people are wrong about something after 7 spring training innings? Am I reading that right?

Not just the 7 innings. The entire spring from the 2nd practice of the spring. We'll see.

Wow.Not only is it a laughable sample size...they are fake games.Yeesh.

Still bitter about that Josh Hamilton thing, eh?

No, they went to the World Series the year after and could make it again this year.

 

[eoMMan]

Fernando was the last pitcher to win Cy Young and ROY in the same year, right?

I think Chapman is a lock for this.I gotta see if my betting site has his name listed or if I have to take the field.

 

[snitwitch]

Will he be in the starting rotation for the Reds this year? Any chance at all?*

*Struggling new fantasy baseball owner

I think he has a decent hold on the #5 spot -- they may keep him down for a month or two for arbitration clock-ticking reasons. He went #1 in my keeper league (24 owners, keep 13, redraft whoever else is available (where he went #1), 5 SPs)

 

[fasteddie_21]

Reds/Rockies on MLB network right now. Chapman pitching the final 4 innings. Just made Tulowitzki look stupid. First pitch, 93mph on the black for strike 1. 97 for a foul, strike 2. 79 mph change that he missed by about 5 feet for strike 3. Then got Olivo and Mora out on 5 pitches more, respectively.

Good luck.

 

[fasteddie_21]

As good as the first inning was, the 2nd was the polar opposite. Couldn't locate, couldn't get comfortable. Very interested to see how the kid bounces back next outting!

 

[fasteddie_21]

Let me preface by saying that I am not making any excuses for Chapman.

That said, reporters are reporting via tweets (John Fay and C. Trent Rosencrans) that Chapman was pulled due to stiffness in his back.

 

[Capella]

Good luck.

Guess they didn't need it.

 

[fasteddie_21]

Link

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Cincinnati Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman has run into his first setback of spring training, and it has nothing to do with his control.

The Cuban defector left the game early Monday because of a stiff lower back, which has been bothering him for several days. The Colorado Rockies scored four times in his final inning and pulled away to a 9-1 victory.

Brad Eldred went 3 for 4 with two homers and three RBIs for Rockies.

The 22-year-old Chapman has been the talk of the Reds' camp with a fastball that has been clocked at 100 mph. He dominated Milwaukee batters in his previous outing last Wednesday, striking out five in three innings while giving up only one hit. His strong showings made him a candidate for the fifth starter's spot.

The back problems could change that equation. After an examination, the Reds said he was having back spasms.

"I'm not hurt," Chapman said, speaking through a coach acting as a translator. "I had a little stiffness in my lower back. It has been bothering me for a couple days. I was able to work through it in the first inning, but it didn't get loose in the second inning."

Manager Dusty Baker visited the mound after he sensed Chapman holding back on his fastball.

"He didn't say anything," Baker said. "In Cuba, you know they are taught not to complain. You could tell he was wincing. He wasn't throwing his fastball and he was shaking off the catcher to get to his breaking ball. We could tell something was wrong. We had to draw it out of him."

 

[eoMMan]

Link

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Cincinnati Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman has run into his first setback of spring training, and it has nothing to do with his control.

The Cuban defector left the game early Monday because of a stiff lower back, which has been bothering him for several days. The Colorado Rockies scored four times in his final inning and pulled away to a 9-1 victory.

Brad Eldred went 3 for 4 with two homers and three RBIs for Rockies.

The 22-year-old Chapman has been the talk of the Reds' camp with a fastball that has been clocked at 100 mph. He dominated Milwaukee batters in his previous outing last Wednesday, striking out five in three innings while giving up only one hit. His strong showings made him a candidate for the fifth starter's spot.

The back problems could change that equation. After an examination, the Reds said he was having back spasms.

"I'm not hurt," Chapman said, speaking through a coach acting as a translator. "I had a little stiffness in my lower back. It has been bothering me for a couple days. I was able to work through it in the first inning, but it didn't get loose in the second inning."

Manager Dusty Baker visited the mound after he sensed Chapman holding back on his fastball.

"He didn't say anything," Baker said. "In Cuba, you know they are taught not to complain. You could tell he was wincing. He wasn't throwing his fastball and he was shaking off the catcher to get to his breaking ball. We could tell something was wrong. We had to draw it out of him."

All dat power don broke his back, huh?

 

[dparker713]

And I never said he's the 2nd coming. I pointed out to the haters that said his command was horrible that they seem to be wrong.

You're really saying people are wrong about something after 7 spring training innings? Am I reading that right?

Not just the 7 innings. The entire spring from the 2nd practice of the spring. We'll see.

Wow.Not only is it a laughable sample size...they are fake games.

Yeesh.

Hey what do I know. I'm just going off the dozen articles that are written after every appearance.And yeah, they were wrong about his lack of control, that's all I'm trying to say.

#1

#2

He has walked at least four batters in three out of his seven starts and has issued 21 free passes in just 35 innings, good enough for an average of 5.4 BB/9

 

[Bobcat10]

Still rostering him in my #8 pitcher slot (non-keeper/points league). Only allowed 8 starting arms. Gotta keep holding him at this point, no?

 

[zoobird]

Bobcat10 - Hold him if you can't do anything more productive with the roster spot, but in most leagues there are pitchers on waivers right now who will provide more value this season than Chapman.

 

[Bobcat10]

Bobcat10 - Hold him if you can't do anything more productive with the roster spot, but in most leagues there are pitchers on waivers right now who will provide more value this season than Chapman.

I might give it a few more weeks since I'm 5-1. I've been doing some double start juggling with my 7th spot all year when I see a good option out there, but now that Francis is back I'm not sure I'll have that flexability. Some of the names on the wire are Silva, Gio, Clayton, Talbot, Correia, Bailey, LeBlanc, Ely...

 

[zoobird]

Bobcat10 - Hold him if you can't do anything more productive with the roster spot, but in most leagues there are pitchers on waivers right now who will provide more value this season than Chapman.

I might give it a few more weeks since I'm 5-1. I've been doing some double start juggling with my 7th spot all year when I see a good option out there, but now that Francis is back I'm not sure I'll have that flexability. Some of the names on the wire are Silva, Gio, Clayton, Talbot, Correia, Bailey, LeBlanc, Ely...

I definitely like a few of those (including Gio and Correia) better. Especially because they have favorable home parks, so you can spot start them when they're home , which won't work for Chapman even if he gets called up.

 

[fasteddie_21]

Chapman, since moving to the BP and becoming the closer in Louisville (strictly to help the big club this season...going back to being a SP next season)...Chapman's last 19 appearances:

20.2 IP, 10 H, 5 BB, 35 K, 0.89 ERA, 2.23 BB/9, 15.60 K/9

Oh and it's confirmed that he has been clocked at 104 mph 2 times and tonight, 105 mph. Honestly, I have never seen anything above 103. I didn't know it was possible. This is going to be a ridiculous BP for the Reds during the stretch run and into the playoffs. Oh, and since the Reds have 2 guys on the 60-Day DL, Chapman can come on on Sept. 1st and still be post-season eligible.

 

[dparker713]

Oh and it's confirmed that he has been clocked at 104 mph 2 times and tonight, 105 mph.

I'll believe that when I see it on pitch f/x.

 

[fasteddie_21]

Link

 

[dparker713]

Link

Radar guns are hot all the time and scoreboard guns are nearly always hot. He may very well be throwing that hard, but Im going to wait for reliable data before I believe it.

 

[Timmay]

If Aroldis is indeed throwing 105 mph, that is just insane. Can't wait to see him throw in the bigs.