Debate continues on Cincinnati Reds’ Aroldis Chapman’s potential role in MLB 2013 – MLB News
The debate which has got in the Cincinnati Reds discourse is the potential role for Aroldis Chapman – a pitcher of top calibre. The debate initiated after general manager Walt Jocketty recently stated that the Reds are weighing all options for assigning either a starter or reliever’s role to Chapman.
Winning the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award in July this year, Chapman proved an agent of change for the Reds’ bullpen, making it one of the strongest and formidable in the National League.
Inducted in the Reds in 2010, this former Cuban pitcher has not looked behind, marching forward to attain more glories. A quick look at the history the evolution of this player as the Reds’ pitcher, however, shows that the start was relatively tough.
For example, in Game 2 of the National League Division Series in 2010, he allowed three runs that resulted in the club’s eventual defeat and proved his first post-season loss as well. However, all three runs were actually unearned ones and were executed due to miscues of the outfielders.
Stung by the unlikely and disconcerting result, Aroldis Chapman, nonetheless, continued showing his brilliance and consistency. He went on to be named for 2012 All-Star Game – for the first time in his career and in a relatively short period given his debut in only 2010.
Chapman had a tremendous season this year, finishing it with phenomenal 1.51 ERA. His 38 saves in 43 chances placed him among the best in the National League – remaining third.
With the career ERA of 2.33 in 137 games, winning 11 games and losing 8, the Reds’ pitcher has a potentially bright future ahead. Until he developed the shoulder fatigue problem, which shut him down in September, he was being considered a serious candidate for the Cy Young Award.
Given the fatigue issue which arose and may likely impact the player again, it is natural that the Reds weigh all options before moving him to the rotation. But the availability of an array of other good pitchers, who can always be the best choice for the starters’ role.
Nonetheless, final decision will ultimately be taken by the management with the advice and recommendation of the pitching coach.
The offseason will provide the team an opportunity to assess if they can and should use Chapman as the starter. With varying views, Chapman – however, is all set to pitch in any position the team decides after a year which saw both the rotation and bullpen performing extraordinarily well.
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