His buddy is right here, and I still claim that. Like I stated when we first posted it, it doesn't mean he'll never blow a save.

 

You can claim that other teams think the game is over. The fact is other teams have scored on him in 4 of his last 6 appearances so the game isn't over when he enters it. Do you think it's possible he's had too many appearances since becoming the closer and that's why he's struggled? Like back to back and 4 out of 5 days might be not something he can do.

You can claim that other teams think the game is over. The fact is other teams have scored on him in 4 of his last 6 appearances so the game isn't over when he enters it. Do you think it's possible he's had too many appearances since becoming the closer and that's why he's struggled? Like back to back and 4 out of 5 days might be not something he can do.

 

I have a suspicion that there could be something the team is not saying about Chapman. With all the concerns around how he is used and how many innings he can throw might they be telling him to not throw anything but fastballs and have the catchers calling very few sliders? Just a thought but him not reaching above 95 after a day of rest has me concerned.

 

You can claim that other teams think the game is over. The fact is other teams have scored on him in 4 of his last 6 appearances so the game isn't over when he enters it. Do you think it's possible he's had too many appearances since becoming the closer and that's why he's struggled? Like back to back and 4 out of 5 days might be not something he can do.

 

Sure he's been a little human here lately, and the teams may have a little confidence now while he's struggling. Even the greatest closer of all time had his share of hiccups, but it didn't change the fact that the opposing team pretty much knew the game was over when he entered the game. I'm not sure what the problem is. Is his arm hurting and he's not telling anyone? Like spindoc stated he struggled to find the plate last night. Chapman hasn't had that problem most of the year. It seems to go right along with his recent struggles. That is the problem they need to figure out. I'm positive it has nothing to do with what inning he is pitching.

Sure he's been a little human here lately, and the teams may have a little confidence now while he's struggling. Even the greatest closer of all time had his share of hiccups, but it didn't change the fact that the opposing team pretty much knew the game was over when he entered the game. I'm not sure what the problem is. Is his arm hurting and he's not telling anyone? Like spindoc stated he struggled to find the plate last night. Chapman hasn't had that problem most of the year. It seems to go right along with his recent struggles. That is the problem they need to figure out. I'm positive it has nothing to do with what inning he is pitching.

 

That's not what I asked. He was being limited and not pitching back to backs or rarely doing it before he became the closer. Since he became the closer he went 4 out of 5 days and has had several back to backs. Now he's not as dominant. Is him closing the reason for that? I say yes.

I wouldn't use him to protect a 3 or 4 run lead with nobody on base like they did in NY. I wouldn't use him 4 times in 5 days ever. It's more about when not to use him than when to use him. Just a month ago they didn't want to use him back to back and they very rarely did. Jumping that guy into the closer spot might have been a bad idea.

 

What happened to you and your buddy claiming the game was over when he entered the game because the other team knew they couldn't score?

If you're banging the "he should start" drum, what will be your refrain when he can't find the plate in the first inning? He needs to be middle relief?

From Lance's Blog

Chapman's last 6 appearances:

115 pitches thrown

100 four seam fastballs

6 changeups

9 sliders

5.1 innings, 7 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 2 HR, HBP...0-3, 2 saves, 2 blown saves, .304 BA.

Allowed runs in four of last six appearances.

Monday on his pregame show Dusty said Chapman has been bothered by lower back issue.

Chapman vs AL:

0-2 10.38, 2 saves in 5 games, 4.1 innings, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 5 K

Chapman vs NL:

4-1 0.30, 6 saves in 25 games, 30 innings, 9 H, 1 ER, 0 HR, 11 BB, 59 K

John Fay- On May 30, Dusty Baker did not pencil Joey Votto in the lineup for the first time all year. The move caused great angst across Redsland. Votto was hitting .321 at the time and the only consistent bat in the lineup. Mike Costanzo, who was hitting just above .000, started instead.

 

Twitter lit up like a Christmas tree.

 

But Baker said he saw Votto wearing down a bit. Votto was 2-for-his-last-10, which constitutes a mini slump for him, at the time.

 

How’s Votto done since the off day? He’s hitting .492/.575/.864.

 

Coincidence?

 

That's not what I asked. He was being limited and not pitching back to backs or rarely doing it before he became the closer. Since he became the closer he went 4 out of 5 days and has had several back to backs. Now he's not as dominant. Is him closing the reason for that? I say yes.

 

And I say no. When he wasn't closing he pitched more than 1 inning on more than 1 occasion, Look at his numbers the days he has gone back to back. He's been dominate every game except the series against the Pirates. Heck he even struck out the side on consecutive nights against the Astros. The other blown saves were when he had 2 days off in between. One being the Tigers game, and the other last night. If anything the numbers say he should be used more often.

If he really was dealing with a "tightness" in his back, Dusty is a moron for using him at all. He's the one guy the pen has to have going right, no need to risk him hurting himself until he's 100% over it IMO.

If he really was dealing with a "tightness" in his back, Dusty is a moron for using him at all. He's the one guy the pen has to have going right, no need to risk him hurting himself until he's 100% over it IMO.

 

I agree. Why take a chance on Chapman altering his delivery trying to reduce the pain in his back. A great way to lead to an arm injury.

If he really was dealing with a "tightness" in his back, Dusty is a moron for using him at all. He's the one guy the pen has to have going right, no need to risk him hurting himself until he's 100% over it IMO.

Before I throw Dumsty under the bus, was it common knowledge that Chapman was having back issues?

Before I throw Dumsty under the bus, was it common knowledge that Chapman was having back issues?

 

Why does it have to be common knowledge if Dumsty knew?

Before I throw Dumsty under the bus, was it common knowledge that Chapman was having back issues?

 

If I'm not mistaken he wasn't available Sunday (or maybe it was Monday) due to "tightness" in his back, so yeah, I'd say it was pretty well known.

John Fay- On May 30, Dusty Baker did not pencil Joey Votto in the lineup for the first time all year. The move caused great angst across Redsland. Votto was hitting .321 at the time and the only consistent bat in the lineup. Mike Costanzo, who was hitting just above .000, started instead.

 

Twitter lit up like a Christmas tree.

 

But Baker said he saw Votto wearing down a bit. Votto was 2-for-his-last-10, which constitutes a mini slump for him, at the time.

 

How’s Votto done since the off day? He’s hitting .492/.575/.864.

 

Coincidence?

 

Before you declare Dusty Baker a genius answer this question. Isn't that his job as the manager of this team to be able to sense when his players need a break? He gets paid a heck of a lot of money to do just that. It's his job to talk the players and get a sense for how they feel and if anything is bothering them especially with young guys. Veterans are a different story they will let their bodies tell them when they need a break. Anybody can look at stats and run guys out there based on that and we all know that Dusty loves his stats. If you want to give Baker the credit for Votto's tear that's fine. On paper it looks like a good move but let's give Joey a little bit of the credit, he is pretty good isn't he?

Before you declare Dusty Baker a genius answer this question. Isn't that his job as the manager of this team to be able to sense when his players need a break? He gets paid a heck of a lot of money to do just that. It's his job to talk the players and get a sense for how they feel and if anything is bothering them especially with young guys. Veterans are a different story they will let their bodies tell them when they need a break. Anybody can look at stats and run guys out there based on that and we all know that Dusty loves his stats. If you want to give Baker the credit for Votto's tear that's fine. On paper it looks like a good move but let's give Joey a little bit of the credit, he is pretty good isn't he?

 

:lol: Did Dusty kick your dog? Did he break your daughter's heart or something?

 

Someone simply mentions that since Dusty gave Votto an off-day he's been on a tear, and you go into a long explanation trying to steer any of the credit away from Dusty. Your hatred for the man runs deep. :lol: