Let Aroldis Chapman Start!!!

The Cincinnati Reds just signed Ryan Madson to a one year, $8.5 million deal in what is being called one of the best offseason free agent signings in recent memory.  I personally think it’s a great move not because of Madson’s pitching superiority, but because it solidifies the Reds bullpen to finally allow Aroldis Chapman to start.  The Madson signing gives the Reds a very good setup/closer combination going into 2012.  Sean Marshall was brought over from the Cubs earlier in the offseason and he’s a guy with a 2-something ERA the past two years. Mat Latos was brought over to be a top of the rotation starter. Boom. The Reds are improved from last year when they lost 83 games.  Wanna know the move that will put them over the top? Finally allowing Aroldis Chapman and his golden left arm to dominate hitters every fifth day.

Chapman was signed to a 6-year $30 million deal to be a starting pitcher.  He started for the Cuban National team and dominated hitters who were wholly unprepared for his heater.  Of the pitchers who pitched at least 30 innings last year, Chapman threw the fastest (averaged 98.1 mph, next highest Lefty: Matt Thorton 95.8) and has the record for fastest pitch ever thrown. Ever.  The problem has never been about Chapman’s stuff. If you’ve ever seen him when he’s on top of his game, you completely understand.  Sometimes major league hitters look like a Beanie Baby with a baseball bat when facing Chapman.  I maintain that this can, should, and will happen with the Cuban Missile in the Starting Rotation.

The biggest knock against the big Cuban has been his relative inconsistency.  Yeah, the guy threw 50 innings last year and walked 41.  But, think about how difficult it is to maintain mechanics when getting inconsistent trips to the mound.  Through April 27th , Chapman gave up exactly zero (cero for all you Spanish speakers out there) runs in 12 appearances. He averaged about one day off between appearances.  Then omniscient Dusty gave Aroldis 6 days off.  Chapman then walked two and gave up a run without getting an out in his next outing.  “Fair enough,” Dusty says, “You shall get 5 more days off.”  Chapman’s next outing: 3 walks, 3 earned, no outs. Uh oh. 5 more days off. Chapman’s next outing: 4 walks, 4 earned, one out.

Now, to the untrained eye, Chapman’s failure with many days of rest may seem like it would translate to failure with the many days of rest associated with the starting rotation and pitching every fifth day.  As Lee Corso would say, Not So Fast, My Friend.  Starting pitchers generally throw a short bullpen in between starts and are on a very strict, consistent throwing program.  Relievers however, do not pitch unless its their day to pitch.  That means when a guy gets 5 days off, he may well not pick a baseball up in between major league appearances.  Letting Chapman get on such a regimen should allow him to become more consistent and more prepared to dominate pitchers like he’s capable.

There is the concern that Chapman doesn’t have the three pitch repetoire required to start.  I laugh at these people. David Price and CC Sabathia would be Chapman’s most comparable pitchers should he move to the rotation.  Sabathia threw fastball some 60% of the time and his third pitch (a changeup) just 13% last year. David Price threw his fastball 70% of the time and his second and third pitch just 10 and 9 percent respectively.  When you have a fastball in the 98’s, you don’t really need a third pitch to make hitters look like girls (For the record Chapman threw about 5% changeups last year).

It’s quite obvious to me that Aroldis Chapman would provide significantly more value to the Reds this upcoming season as a “#5” starter than as a 7th inning reliever. And if they are really that concerned about the 7th inning, maybe they can use the extra $6 million or so supposedly still in the budget (payroll was due to rise to $85MM and by my calculations after the Madson signing, its at about $78) to sign a veteran reliever still out there on the free agent market. I’m thinking Kerry Wood, David Aardsma, Scott Linebrink, or even Brad LIdge.

Bawse of the Day: Arolids Chapman.  Anytime you throw a baseball 105.1 mph and then tattoo 105.1 on your left bicept, You’re a Bawse.

-Sean Morash