Gary Sheffield, Jr
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Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman is a man on a mission this year. The 6-foot-5 left-handed flamethrower has thrown 24 strikeouts in 10 innings. Is that good?
He’s 33 years old and apparently not slowing down a bit. Most in baseball predicted a sharp decline out of Chapman, but a sudden love for the weight room kept his career on a path to the Hall of Fame.
Helps when you develop a wipeout slider, and starting this year, a splitter. Throwing 102 mph with two reliable off-speed pitches is a recipe for success. When 24 big league hitters punch out in 30 tries…you know you’re something special.
Could Chapman win a Cy Young out the bullpen? I think if he keeps that ERA under 0.30 and maintains his 22 strikeouts per nine innings, then he’s got a shot (no pun intended for the Yankees fans in here).
Aroldis Chapman, 102mph 🔥🔥
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 2, 2021
And K Stare 👀 24Ks in 10ip. pic.twitter.com/DBPgKUH2zY
Only reason I was OK with Kluber being taken off the mound after 8 innings of 2-hit pitching today – Chapman has been better than ever.
The bankees are .500..finally..ya ya ya let’s celebrate mediocrity…!!! Wanna trophy too.??
I was one who predicted a decline as soon as Chapman left the Cubs for the Yankees. And I was right of course. Chapman can no longer hit 105, but finds himself struggling to touch 102 these days. Poor guy. It’s a shame really. So sad to watch a great athlete in decline. Fortunately he’s adjusted and learned how to be more of a finesse thrower by developing his offspeed. Hitters around MLB probably refer to him as that “crafty lefty” out of the pen now. Hopefully he can find a way to keep guys off balance enough to be effective.