Sparks flew between Aroldis Chapman and his former manager, Joe Maddon regarding his use in the postseason. Despite the disagreement, the New York Yankees might want to take some notes with their new flame-throwing closer.
In the midst of finalizing his five-year, $86 million deal, Aroldis Chapman confessed his disagreement with how Joe Maddon and the Chicago Cubs used him in the postseason. Looking to seriously contend within the next five years, the New York Yankees should evaluate how to properly use their resigned closer.
“Personally, I don’t agree with the way he used me, but he is the manager and he has the strategy,” said Chapman (per ESPN.com). “My job is to be ready, to be ready to pitch, however that is, however many innings that is, I need to be ready for that. I need to go in and do my job.”
During a conference call with the Yankees, Chapman specifically mentioned his discontent with Game 6. Already with 1.1 innings of work under his belt, Maddon kept his closer in for the ninth inning, despite a seven-run lead. If Chapman had it his way, Maddon would have taken him out earlier to rest for the deciding seventh game.
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“The game was open and I don’t think he needed to me in the ninth,” said Chapman (per ESPN.com). “The important game was going to be Game 7 because we had that game almost won. The next day I came in tired.”
In response, Maddon expressed his gratitude for the flame-thrower’s contribution in their championship run. However, he defended his decision to keep Chapman in Game 6 because of the hole the Cubs fell into. Even though Chicago held a seven-run lead in Game 6, they fought in a win-or-go-home situation.
“There is no Game 7 without winning Game 6, said Maddon (per ESPN.com). “…That’s why you do what you have to do.”
Understood, But Overworked
While Maddon accurately understood the Cubs’ dire situation, Chapman appropriately felt overworked during the postseason. Prior to the playoffs, the southpaw only threw 20-plus pitches 16 times between the Yankees and Cubs. As his pitch count gradually rose in the postseason, it spiked during the last three games of the World Series.
Through the 4.3 innings Chapman pitched before Game 5, he threw 74 pitches over four games. He finished the World Series by throwing 96 pitches in his last 4.4 innings, including 42 pitches in Game 5.
“The way I feel as baseball players we are warriors. Our job is to be ready to do what we need to do on the field,” said Chapman (per ESPN.com). “They send me out there to pitch, I’m going to go out there and pitch.”
Despite his persistent worth ethic, Chapman’s fatigue became abundantly clear to the Cubs in Games 6 and 7. Pitching into the ninth inning, Chapman gave up a run for the first time in the Game 6 of the World Series. The following day, he allowed a two-run homer that tied the game in the eighth inning. While appearing in back-to-back days for another relief pitcher might not be an issue, it is for a pitcher who averages over 100 mph. Despite his elevated workload, Chapman averaged 100.7 mph in the postseason after averaging 100.9 during the regular season. His level of velocity cannot be maintained on short rest.
“At the end of the day, man, we would not have won without him, and I appreciate everything he did,” said Maddon (per ESPN.com)
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Regardless, at the end of the day, the Cubs won the World Series and Chapman played a huge role. The Yankees understand their new closer’s postseason value and hope for the chance to use him in October.