Aroldis Chapman

Chapman has walked 9 batters in the last 3.1 innings. I think it’s relatively apparent that he’s lost his release point. In years past, I noticed that Chapman occasionally rushes his windup, failing to gather himself completely at the top before coming home. Usually, when pitchers do this, throwing a breaking ball will help to keep their weight back; however, Chapman is doing the same with his slider. I wish he would concentrate on his forkball, to help him get back on top of the ball, but it doesn’t seem like that’s been attempted. In fact, you may recall that he first gave up a run this season when he stopped using his forkball for a few outings, and I mentioned it in the game thread.

Incidentally, the same happens in tennis with the serve, which is essentially the same motion as throwing a baseball.  In fact, I used to teach young tennis players the serving motion by having them throw a tennis ball, then an old tennis racket over the net into the service square.  When I would start losing my flat, first serve (analogous to a four seam fastball), I often regained it by hitting a few kick serves, which requires tossing the ball behind your head and scraping the top of the ball from the 11 O’clock to the 2 O’clock position, which means a full follow through.

Man, are you spoiled.  This happens to pitchers, but especially relievers and closers, nearly every year.  Craig Kimbrel, Jeurys Familia, Blake Treinen, Daniel Bard, Eric Gagne.  We focus so much on the Yankees, other teams’ problems rarely ping our radar.  The Yankees have also been fortunate to have wonderful closers year after year for decades, but singularly the one and only Mariano Rivera, who for these very reasons will likely never have his save mark broken.  Chapman has had a horrendous three weeks, but I recall many Yankee threads just like this one, wondering if Mariano was done because he went through a couple of weeks where he blew saves.  And, this, the most consistent reliever in major league history.  

Now, there have been cases, like the Atlanta closer who never recovered from the home run hit by Jim Leyritz.  I’m blanking on his name.  The Yankees even signed him hoping to recapture the magic in an arm that still threw 100 mph.  Alas, he could still throw 100, but he couldn’t get anyone out.  Note: Mark Wohlers.

As for more pitchers being done at 33 than 38, I’m sure that’s true.  I’m also sure that’s more true of pitchers at 27 than 33, simply for the reason that you have to be pretty good to have a career that lasts until 33 or 38.  What Kabli means, I suspect, is that players break down for good due to physically no longer being durable enough to recover outing to outing, in effect, aging out, rather than a career debilitating injury or just not being good enough anymore.

The Yankees have had wonderful talent in their bullpens historically.  If Chapman does return to his level of performance from April, May, and early June, he has a legitimate chance to put himself in some rarified Yankee history this season.  Current career leaders in saves for the New York Yankees:

1. Mariano Rivera 652
2. Dave Righetti 224
3. Rich Gossage 151
4. Sparky Lyle 141
5. Aroldis Chapman 130

Twenty-two saves in the second half would put him in third place all time.

Rizz--it wasn't Steve Bedrosian was it?

Wohlers went from an elite reliever to an ineffective headcase after that. At one point he had the record for fastest pitch ever measured in a major league game at 103 MPH. Of course the standards for measuring pitch velocity have changed to boost the numbers since then, so who knows how that would register today.

Wohlers' successor as Braves closer (other than a Kerry Ligtenberg cameo) was John Rocker, who also went from outstanding to terrible in the blink of an eye just when Atlanta let him go after the beaten-to-death controversial statements.

No, I can't recall a period where Mo was this bad. He would have a few rough outings though and people would start threads titled "Is Mo Finished?" 8 years before he retired.