Why Can't Chapman Pitch Before the 9th?

Mariano Rivera has over 100 career saves where he pitched at least part of the 8th inning.

If we all agree that Chapman is the best in the pen why can't we use him other than the 9th inning?

Why can he not be used in an 7th or 8th inning situation where the Reds have a 1 or 2 run lead and the opponent has runners on base?

Use him when the opponent is most likely to narrow or erase the lead from the 7th on.

I've never understood the mentality that the closer has to enter the game in the 9th inning.

Somebody should google what percentage of Goose Gossage's saves were more than three outs. Many were more than six outs.

That being said, Chapman ain't Rivera.

He is on the Reds.

Only one person can answer that question.

You would have thought that today would have been a perfect time to have him get 4 outs. Probably cost them the game. I certainly don't think Chapman has been overused to this point. Whats a few extra pitches today to get the third out in the 8th.

In fairness to Dusty it's a league-wide phenomenon.

Marc Sheldon's take.

The Chapman issue « Mark My Word

For Chapman to have been ready for Jones there, he likely would have had to be up from the start of that inning. To do that every time would be a lot to put on an arm they’re trying to protect from wearing out or breaking down.

Bingo...

Broxton hit leadoff guy in inning... that mean Jones was likely going to be the tying run or go-ahead run... now leadoff guy was erased on DP, but Chapman needed to be throwing at that stage because leadoff guy got on. How has babying Strasburg last year helped Nationals this year? Oh yeah, he's hurt again.

Strasburg is the weakest argument possible. Just use Champan till the wheels fall off and he's hurt again? Best idea ever...

No just keep babying him enough to lose just enough games to be a wild-card team and have things come down to one game (in which he probably won't be used either because he was just used the day before)

If only there was some proof that being a wild card team was a bad thing. You might have something then...

Braves won as many games as the West Division champ Giants and had season decided in one-game playoff, so yes it's a bad thing these days.

Rangers won more games than AL Central champ Tigers last year and had season decided in one-game playoff that it lost, too. So yes it's a bad thing.