Look, I know that all of you Reds fans are penciling him in for 18 wins next year as a starter. However, in spite of his speed gun exploits there is a reason that the big name teams declined to pay him less than Jason Bay made this season. There is something in Chapman's release, motion or mental makeup that made the big market teams back up. Maybe he fixes it, maybe he doesn't. But he wouldn't be the first person that could regularly reach triple digits on the radar gun to flame out. I have heard from a good source that Aroldis is older than he says and doesn't have the mental makeup to be a #1 starter or closer. Nothing is ever his fault. As around and see what you find out.......

You couldn't be farther from the truth. He had no history to speak of. He wowed people with the velocity at the WBC bottom line. Had he had any significant history to base an evaluation on there likely have been several suitors. However, the Reds took a flyer. A mildly expensive flyer, but one nonetheless. Paid off so far. I do agree that he's no guarantee as a starter, and that's been my contention all along, use him in the pen and shut the door with him, IMO. I heard from a good source that Aroldis is really Danny Almonte.

Maybe you missed where I said "no way I'm comparing him to Randy Johnson"? And you roll your eyes and say "there have been so many Randy Johnson's out there"???

The reason is because no one is even close to having that potential and Chapman does. Why not try him as a starter, then if he struggles you can move him to the pen. I'm one of the biggest Reds fans out there, but they aren't going to win a World Series w/o a big time starter. Volquez has the stuff to be, but why not give the guy with the best stuff(maybe in the world) a chance. It just seems crazy to me to not give Chapman a chance to start because this team is ready to win now, but they need a frontline starter to go deep in the playoffs.

 

Rangers-Lee

Giants-Lincecum/Cain

Yankees-Sabathia

Phillies-Everyone

Rays-Price

Reds-Arroyo? Volquez? Cueto? A proven big game pitcher?

 

The best teams have them. The Reds are better 1-5 than 90% of the teams, but their 1-3 and just averageI used the rolleyes because I disagree with you. Still do. I'll tell you why, because in all of baseball, there has been one guy who has been able to throw 200 innings that resembles Chapman. Yep, your boy on the Geico commercials. Otherwise none. Let's just look at our neighbors the Cubs. Prior and Wood ring any bells for you? And what's wrong with rolling "the guy with the best stuff (maybe in the world)" out every other day or 3 days in a row and slamming he door shut for an inning or possibly 2 at the end of a game? Even if he's better than a .500 pitcher, once a week won't get him 18 wins and guess who we still have at the end of the game hanging that right arm over the rubber as he gets the sign? Yep, Big Snack's favorite, Choke-O Cordero.

 

By the way, Steelers>Bengals.

I have heard from a good source that Aroldis is older than he says and doesn't have the mental makeup to be a #1 starter or closer. Nothing is ever his fault. As around and see what you find out.......

 

:lol: It wouldn't surprise me if he's older than he stated, but come on. :lol:

Look, I know that all of you Reds fans are penciling him in for 18 wins next year as a starter. However, in spite of his speed gun exploits there is a reason that the big name teams declined to pay him less than Jason Bay made this season. There is something in Chapman's release, motion or mental makeup that made the big market teams back up. Maybe he fixes it, maybe he doesn't. But he wouldn't be the first person that could regularly reach triple digits on the radar gun to flame out. I have heard from a good source that Aroldis is older than he says and doesn't have the mental makeup to be a #1 starter or closer. Nothing is ever his fault. As around and see what you find out.......

 

I don't really care how old he is. He needs a chance to see what he can do. Homer is mental midget if he can overcome it I think Chapman can too.

I don't really care how old he is. He needs a chance to see what he can do.

 

:thumb: 100+ is 100+ regardless of your age.

 

The guy needs a shot to crack the rotation. I don't know if Chapman in the rotation is the best thing for the Reds since we have plenty of starting pitchers, but you simply cannot pay a man that much to keep him as a set-up guy (or closer). Give him a shot & see what he can do. If he struggles, then move him back to the pen. If he does well as a starter, then the Reds have suddenly become a BIG TIME player.

I used the rolleyes because I disagree with you. Still do. I'll tell you why, because in all of baseball, there has been one guy who has been able to throw 200 innings that resembles Chapman. Yep, your boy on the Geico commercials. Otherwise none. Let's just look at our neighbors the Cubs. Prior and Wood ring any bells for you? And what's wrong with rolling "the guy with the best stuff (maybe in the world)" out every other day or 3 days in a row and slamming he door shut for an inning or possibly 2 at the end of a game? Even if he's better than a .500 pitcher, once a week won't get him 18 wins and guess who we still have at the end of the game hanging that right arm over the rubber as he gets the sign? Yep, Big Snack's favorite, Choke-O Cordero.

 

By the way, Steelers>Bengals.

 

Because you don't have the guy with the best stuff as a set up man. There isn't another team in the majors that does that. I would be much happier if he were to close this year, but that isn't going to happen. Like I said, but you failed to respond to...You need top tier pitchers to make it deep into the postseason. The Reds have one of the deepest staffs, if not the deepest, in the league. That will probably get them to the playoffs again, but then we are back to flipping coins for who to start and there isn't going to be one guy who other teams dread seeing on the mound.

 

And I made this name last year...but thanks for pointing out the obvious

I find it interesting that the knock on the Reds this year was that they lacked a top of the rotation guy who could compete with Halladay, Oswalt, Lee, etc. Now that we have a guy who could be said elite starter, some want to keep him in the bullpen?

I find it interesting that the knock on the Reds this year was that they lacked a top of the rotation guy who could compete with Halladay, Oswalt, Lee, etc. Now that we have a guy who could be said elite starter, some want to keep him in the bullpen?

 

That's what I am saying, best case he turns out to be a stud and figures it all out. Worst case the Reds have to put him back in the pen and we have the same team we had last year.

I find it interesting that the knock on the Reds this year was that they lacked a top of the rotation guy who could compete with Halladay, Oswalt, Lee, etc. Now that we have a guy who could be said elite starter, some want to keep him in the bullpen?

 

That's been what I've been trying to say. You said it a lot better though lol

MAGIC NUMBER 162

 

:dancingpa :dancingpa :dancingpa

I find it interesting that the knock on the Reds this year was that they lacked a top of the rotation guy who could compete with Halladay, Oswalt, Lee, etc. Now that we have a guy who could be said elite starter, some want to keep him in the bullpen?

 

I completely agree! I think they should at least try him as a starter, because we need that elite starter that he possibly can be. Honestly I wouldn't mind seeing the Reds move Homer to the bullpen, if they don't include him in a trade. He is someone who throws hard, and would throw even a little harder when its just one inning of work.

Because you don't have the guy with the best stuff as a set up man. There isn't another team in the majors that does that. I would be much happier if he were to close this year, but that isn't going to happen. Like I said, but you failed to respond to...You need top tier pitchers to make it deep into the postseason. The Reds have one of the deepest staffs, if not the deepest, in the league. That will probably get them to the playoffs again, but then we are back to flipping coins for who to start and there isn't going to be one guy who other teams dread seeing on the mound.

 

And I made this name last year...but thanks for pointing out the obviousWow. So now you are dissecting why we didn't have a deep playoff run. Stellar work. Look at the #'s put up by the pitching staff in the series they played against Philly. Next.

 

And look on the bright side, the username made sense last year.

I find it interesting that the knock on the Reds this year was that they lacked a top of the rotation guy who could compete with Halladay, Oswalt, Lee, etc. Now that we have a guy who could be said elite starter, some want to keep him in the bullpen?

So, your contention is that Chapman could be an elite starter? Based on what? Stuff? On his large body of work? I think Volquez or Cueto are more reasonable options at this point to become "elite". And only Colin Cowherd said they didn't have an elite guy that I know of. He was fed that info, let's not pretend that he has a clue about sports, let alone baseball.

 

Am I misunderstanding your post or are you one of those hellbent on him being a starter?

Chapman as a starter in AAA:

5-5 with a 4.20 ernie in 13 games. Opp. BA=.246 pitched 65.2 innings gave up 60 hits and 6 dingers. Struck out 76, walked 40

 

Chapman as a reliever in AAA:

4-1 with a 2.40 ernie in 26 games. Opp. BA=.156 pitched 30 innings gave up 17 hits and 1 dinger. Struck out 49, walked 12.

 

 

By all means, let's start him. Could be elite!

 

Why is it that we can't let him pitch at the back of the bullpen for a season? Maybe 2?

I'm with spindoc on this one. Why the rush to make Chapman a starter next year? The Reds have an abudance of starting pitching. Arroyo, Volquez, Cueto and Wood should be locks for the rotation next year. That leaves 1 spot for Bailey, Leake and Chapman? I think Chapman has shown that of those three he is the best suited to work out of the bullpen. I say give him another year working out of the bullpen, and then see how the pitching staff takes shape after Cordero's and Arroyo's contracts run out, assuming Arroyo doesn't sign an extension before the season starts.