Aroldis Chapman confident as the debate over his role as starter rages – MLB News
The Cincinnati Reds, on Thursday – Dec. 20, kept mulling over the possibility of using closer Aroldis Chapman as the starter in the upcoming season. Since the issue has generated heated debate, the outcome of it will be thoroughly interesting.
One of the few issues that can pop up if Chapman is used in the rotation is his arm. Not that he is slow or underwhelming in a fiercely competitive setting. It is rather an altogether different issue. This past season, he had to be shut down once due to the shoulder fatigue.
That he had to be pulled off from the lineup once only after he had pitched a little over 70 innings can become a matter of concern next season if he is to pitch over 200 innings. That is something that the Reds are discussing at length.
Chapman, on the other hand, is fairly confident, asserting that he would be more than ready to embrace the challenge.
"I have no worries about my arm," Chapman said via an interpreter. "Since I've known about this, I've been working and getting prepared to do what I did before. Nothing has changed."
However, there are sceptics. Interestingly, one of his teammates – Bronson Arroyo, has a rather critical look at the issue. Sharing his opinion, he does not think it will ever be an easy move for the Reds.
"It will be difficult. It's not an easy move," Arroyo said. "He should get a fair shot. It's just my opinion. I'm just saying it's not an easy move -- if people think throwing 80 innings a year is any way comparable to taking the ball every fifth day and throwing 200, it's not. It's such a different ballgame that you don't know what you're going to get.”
The Reds had a relatively successful season if the performances of rotation and bullpen are to be assessed. With the likes of Johnny Cueto in the rotation and Chapman in the latter, the Reds won the National League Central title.
That performance, the Reds hope, will remain intact once the new season begins as they make the final decision over the fate of Chapman.
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