So, he's gone from ace to 5th starter. Ever since the double front rolls we sure have lowered our expectations. I agree with LRCW and Hal.

 

What are you talking about? He's obviously going into the spot of the 5th starter replacing Leake.

What are you talking about? He's obviously going into the spot of the 5th starter replacing Leake.

 

Oh, come on HT. Do we have to revisit all of the threads from last season where he would be the star of the rotation? Really? Everyone built him up to be an ace. No one said, he'd make a great 5th starter. NO ONE. I hope he's better than Leake. As a matter of fact, if he's no better than Arroyo the Reds should have kept his rearend in the pen where he's been successful and where the team has had the level of success they've had. I don't care what the numbers say, his benefit at the end was beyond measure, no matter who would like try to convince anyone otherwise. Just my humble opinion.

Oh, come on HT. Do we have to revisit all of the threads from last season where he would be the star of the rotation? Really? Everyone built him up to be an ace. No one said, he'd make a great 5th starter. NO ONE. I hope he's better than Leake. As a matter of fact, if he's no better than Arroyo the Reds should have kept his rearend in the pen where he's been successful and where the team has had the level of success they've had. I don't care what the numbers say, his benefit at the end was beyond measure, no matter who would like try to convince anyone otherwise. Just my humble opinion.

He could easily be the star of the rotation not sure what it matters what spot he is pitching out of. Being in the 5th spot will help limit his innings. I understand where you guys are coming from. I think it's just the old school thought process of baseball and I happen to disagree. Like I said not much you can say to either side to change their mind it seems.

I am a Yankee fan. If you have the right guy, he is worth his weight in gold.

 

A Yankee and Reds fan here and you are 100% correct, a very good closer is priceless.

He could easily be the star of the rotation not sure what it matters what spot he is pitching out of. Being in the 5th spot will help limit his innings. I understand where you guys are coming from. I think it's just the old school thought process of baseball and I happen to disagree. Like I said not much you can say to either side to change their mind it seems.

 

With a potential pitch count limit and inning limit aren't you concerned that he will chew up the bullpen? With his strikeout rate he's going to have a pretty high pitch count even on days he has good control.

 

He's a very similar pitcher to Neftali Feliz and Daniel Bard. Bard couldn't command a 3rd pitch and was ineffective when he had to back off of his fastball. Feliz had mediocre mechanics and ended up having Tommy John surgery. Chapman shares a bunch of those characteristics.

FWIW, I saw a tweet yesterday regarding Chapman. I can't remember who it was from but basically it said a rival scout thought the Reds would be crazy to start Chapman. Apparently he was 91-93 in a AA start yesterday and couldn't get any pitch except a fastball over the plate.

FWIW, I saw a tweet yesterday regarding Chapman. I can't remember who it was from but basically it said a rival scout thought the Reds would be crazy to start Chapman. Apparently he was 91-93 in a AA start yesterday and couldn't get any pitch except a fastball over the plate.

 

He has thrown twice... First time...

 

14 pitches, 11 strikes in 1-2-3 2nd inning for Chapman with a K. Scoreboard radar had highest pitch of game 93 mph, a few in the 70s. #reds

 

22 total pitches, 17 Ks

 

He threw almost all off speed pitches the first start. I don't recall any stats from the 2nd one.

With a potential pitch count limit and inning limit aren't you concerned that he will chew up the bullpen? With his strikeout rate he's going to have a pretty high pitch count even on days he has good control.

He's a very similar pitcher to Neftali Feliz and Daniel Bard. Bard couldn't command a 3rd pitch and was ineffective when he had to back off of his fastball. Feliz had mediocre mechanics and ended up having Tommy John surgery. Chapman shares a bunch of those characteristics.

That's possible and I could see that being a concern. It's hard to tell right now considering he has only thrown 4 innings this spring.

There are no closers in baseball anymore. There are just guys who pitch the 9th inning when their team is up. A true closer would be chosen to pitch in the 7th inning of a 3-3 game with the bases loaded and 1 out. Or brought in with 1 runner on and no outs and the 3-4-5 hitters due up in the 8th inning of a 5-4 game the team is leading.

 

Any pitcher can have success coming in and pitching to the 6-7-8 hitters with a 6-4 lead in the 9th inning.

There are no closers in baseball anymore. There are just guys who pitch the 9th inning when their team is up. A true closer would be chosen to pitch in the 7th inning of a 3-3 game with the bases loaded and 1 out. Or brought in with 1 runner on and no outs and the 3-4-5 hitters due up in the 8th inning of a 5-4 game the team is leading.

 

Any pitcher can have success coming in and pitching to the 6-7-8 hitters with a 6-4 lead in the 9th inning.

Totally disagree with that.

There are no closers in baseball anymore. There are just guys who pitch the 9th inning when their team is up. A true closer would be chosen to pitch in the 7th inning of a 3-3 game with the bases loaded and 1 out. Or brought in with 1 runner on and no outs and the 3-4-5 hitters due up in the 8th inning of a 5-4 game the team is leading.

 

Any pitcher can have success coming in and pitching to the 6-7-8 hitters with a 6-4 lead in the 9th inning.

 

The role of closer and the role of the bullpen has changed from the time of Bruce Sutter, Goose Gossage and Rollie Fingers. This, to me, is comparable to saying there are no ace pitchers anymore because pitchers today do not throw as many complete games. Baseball has evolved and the closers that only pitch the 9th inning have time and again shown their value.

 

You can say what you want, but Mo is as good a closer as history has ever seen- and the overwhelming percentage of his saves were of the one inning variety.

He could easily be the star of the rotation not sure what it matters what spot he is pitching out of. Being in the 5th spot will help limit his innings. I understand where you guys are coming from. I think it's just the old school thought process of baseball and I happen to disagree. Like I said not much you can say to either side to change their mind it seems.

 

People need to remember the Reds signed him to be a starter and he would have been a starter last year if not for injuries to others in the bullpen. It is just too enticing to have the potential of a playoff rotation of Cueto, Latos, Bailey and Chapman to not try it. Nothing is guaranteed but IMO it is worth taking the chance. It is much easier to find a good bullpen guy than a good starter. I am not saying a good closer is not important but it is more important to have a good starting rotation and a good overall bullpen.

I like Chapman as a closer. The game was over when he came in. If that magic continues this season as a starter it would be great.

Did anyone watch the WBC game between USA and the Dominican Republic? The difference in the game was the 9th inning guys for each team, IMO. Rodney was lights out and Kimbrel, not so much.

An opposing NL scout tells FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal that the Reds "are crazy" if they use Aroldis Chapman as a starter. "It’s Joba Chamberlain all over again. His velocity dropped off in the second inning. He couldn’t get his off-speed stuff over the plate consistently. No question in my mind, he’s the closer," the scout said.

 

From mlbtraderumors.com