Aroldis Chapman is preparing as if he’ll move into the starting rotation this season following two-plus years in the bullpen, but the Reds still haven’t made a final decision on his role.

 

“I’d like to decide soon and get my team together,” manager Dusty Baker said, via John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I don’t like having guys in the middle. That’s a bad situation when you’re in the middle of anything. An unknown. Then everybody else is in an unknown situation.”

 

 

 

 

Reds still haven?t decided whether Aroldis Chapman will start or close | HardballTalk

What do you think the Reds will/should do with Chapman?

I don't have a good feeling about this. The staff wants him in the pen, the front office wants him pitching every fifth day. I believe Chapman really likes the closer role and by the looks of it, he isn't throwing as hard during the pre-season and that's his biggest advantage.

I've posted about Neftali Feliz and Daniel Bard who are very similar examples at least 4 times and not one single Reds fan has made any kind of a comment. Chapman to the rotation is an unnecessary risk. The Reds pitching was not the problem.

If the Reds want to win in the post season, then leave Chapman in the rotation. You need top level starting pitchers to win a World Series.

If the Reds want to win in the post season, then leave Chapman in the rotation. You need top level starting pitchers to win a World Series.

 

Do that. All they need to is let Choo hit leadoff. The ERA was fine. Their offense sucked.

Chapman has no ML experience as a starter. Yet we all anoint him as a starter capable of pitching an entire season and being "the missile" for 7 strong each outing. While that's just not reality (and I think we all know that) what happens if he struggles in the rotation? Back to the pen? Where? The back end? 7th? 8th?

 

It's no secret that I think it's a mistake to start him, I hope I'm wrong. And I agree again with the notion that it wasn't pitching that cost the Reds in the post season.

I've posted about Neftali Feliz and Daniel Bard who are very similar examples at least 4 times and not one single Reds fan has made any kind of a comment. Chapman to the rotation is an unnecessary risk. The Reds pitching was not the problem.

 

Here's another guy that made the jump. Chris Sale. Cy Young finalist...

 

Two sides to every coin.

 

I think they should take the Medlen approach with him.

Trade him, you wont be able to resign him.

Trade him, you wont be able to resign him.

 

 

 

That's what people were saying about Votto 2 years ago. :sssh:

IMO, keeping Chapman at closer would be the best option. The Reds are trying to fix a need that isn't really a need. Leake and Arroyo are very good back-end rotation guys, and I dont think its a wise investment paying 3 million dollars to a long reliever/AAA pitcher. I also want one of my best pitchers to effect the most games. With him relieving hes playing in 60-70 games, where if he is starting hes only playing in 30.

 

Along with Broxton and Marshall, keeping Chapman makes games shorter for opposing teams which is a very nice asset to have that most teams in the Majors dont. Along with any of likes of Hoover, Lecure, Arrendondo, Massett, Ondrusek, Simon, that becomes a pretty nasty bullpen.

 

Pitching did not cost the Reds the postseason, the lack of a lead-off hitter and injuries did. If Cueto does not get hurt the Reds would have defiantly won the Giants series.

 

Lastly I will say this. I think they should have done all they could to keep Madson because quite frankly I don't trust Broxton in the 9th, he reminds me a lot of Cordero and lets too many people on base. If they would have been able to keep him then I would have absolutely no problem moving Chapman to the rotation because the bullpen wouldn't have needed him at all.

So our 3 post season studs that will win the World Series for us are Cueto, Latos and Bailey. Then when we need to win that game 4 we choose between Arroyo and Leake. That is what everyone is good with?

So our 3 post season studs that will win the World Series for us are Cueto, Latos and Bailey. Then when we need to win that game 4 we choose between Arroyo and Leake. That is what everyone is good with?

 

Last 6 World Series Champions regular season rotation:

2012 San Francisco Giants Rotation- Cain, Bumgarner, Vogelsong, Lincecum (came out of bullpen in postseason), Zito. Combined season 3.77 ERA

2011 ST. Louis Cardinals- Carpenter, Garcia, Lohse, Westbrook, Jackson. Combined season 3.72 ERA

2010 Giants- Cain, Lincecum, Zito, Sanchez, Bumgarner (pitched 18 games), Wellemeyer (pitched 13). Combined season ERA 3.74

2009 New York Yankees- Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Chamberlain, and a cornacopia of 5th relievers. Combined season ERA 4.08

2008 Philadelphia Phillies- Hamels, Moyer, Myers, Kendrick, Blanton (13 games), Eaton (19 games). Combined season ERA 4.47

2007 Boston Red Sox- Matsuzaka, Beckett, Wakefield, Schilling (24 games), Tavarez (23 games), Lester (11 games). Combined season ERA 4.33

 

Last 6 World Series top 5 Bullpen pitchers ERA:

SF- 2.89 Closer- 2.84 (casilla) / 1.79 (Romo)

STL- 3.26 Closer- Motte/Salas/Boggs-2.69

SF- 2.86 Closer- Wilson- 1.81

NYY- 3.30 Closer- Rivera- 1.76

PHI- 2.78 Closer- Lidge- 1.94

BOS- 2.88 Closer- Papelbon- 1.85

 

2012 Cincinnati Reds

 

Starters-Cueto, Latos, Bailey, Arroyo, Leake. Combined season ERA 3.65

Top 5 Bullpen pitchers- 2.65 Closer- Chapman (38 Sv) (1.51) Marshall (9 sv) (2.51)

 

So to answer your question- YES!!!!!! Last year they had the best rotation/bullpen/closer than the last 6 World Series Champions. Bullpen and Offense's win World Series not starting pitching, which helps a lot though.

That's what people were saying about Votto 2 years ago. :sssh:

 

Should have done that too, he cant run now, hasnt really been as productive as he was since he got paid........dont matter now, Reds are stuck with him.

Last 6 World Series Champions regular season rotation:

2012 San Francisco Giants Rotation- Cain, Bumgarner, Vogelsong, Lincecum (came out of bullpen in postseason), Zito. Combined season 3.77 ERA

2011 ST. Louis Cardinals- Carpenter, Garcia, Lohse, Westbrook, Jackson. Combined season 3.72 ERA

2010 Giants- Cain, Lincecum, Zito, Sanchez, Bumgarner (pitched 18 games), Wellemeyer (pitched 13). Combined season ERA 3.74

2009 New York Yankees- Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Chamberlain, and a cornacopia of 5th relievers. Combined season ERA 4.08

2008 Philadelphia Phillies- Hamels, Moyer, Myers, Kendrick, Blanton (13 games), Eaton (19 games). Combined season ERA 4.47

2007 Boston Red Sox- Matsuzaka, Beckett, Wakefield, Schilling (24 games), Tavarez (23 games), Lester (11 games). Combined season ERA 4.33

 

Last 6 World Series top 5 Bullpen pitchers ERA:

SF- 2.89 Closer- 2.84 (casilla) / 1.79 (Romo)

STL- 3.26 Closer- Motte/Salas/Boggs-2.69

SF- 2.86 Closer- Wilson- 1.81

NYY- 3.30 Closer- Rivera- 1.76

PHI- 2.78 Closer- Lidge- 1.94

BOS- 2.88 Closer- Papelbon- 1.85

 

2012 Cincinnati Reds

 

Starters-Cueto, Latos, Bailey, Arroyo, Leake. Combined season ERA 3.65

Top 5 Bullpen pitchers- 2.65 Closer- Chapman (38 Sv) (1.51) Marshall (9 sv) (2.51)

 

So to answer your question- YES!!!!!! Last year they had the best rotation/bullpen/closer than the last 6 World Series Champions. Bullpen and Offense's win World Series not starting pitching, which helps a lot though.

 

I am in your camp LOOGY......I think the Reds blew the series against the World Champions last year. Seriously Cincy could have won it all. Keep Chapman at his DOMINANT spot. We didn't move Votto to left field did we? The guy I am not confident in is Broxton. Last year they tried Marshall as the closer and he was a fail. Sometimes you are what you are. Chapman to me is a closer.