Heat to the left. That’s what came to my mind when I watched the highlights of Aroldis Chapman smoking the Brewers last night…literally. Chapman came in to pitch 1 inning struck out 1 and sat down the other two on grounders on a flat filthy breaking ball. It’s all heat to the left, but Chapman isn’t all heat and that’s what’s going to make him so great.
The Reds took a huge chance on Chapman and put a flat ton of money on him as well. He defected from Cuba in 2009 and the Reds signed him in January 2010. They have had him working and pitching in the minors with the Louisville Bats where he was 9-6 on the year with a 3.57 ERA appearing in 39 games pitching 95 innings giving up 38 ER, 52 BB, and 125 Ks. In the minors, Chapman went from starting pitcher to reliever when his control was suffering and he quickly got it under control. His pitch speed in the minors has hit 105 mph. That’s 1 – 0 – 5 people. Heat to the left.
In his major league debut, Chapman threw pitches over 100 several times. His top speed hit 103 that was actually put into play as a ground ball. How a guy comes around at all on a 103 mph pitch is beyond me, but the real story of last night’s debut was the breaking ball. Everyone is all hyped up about his velocity and it’s awesome to be sure, but it’s that filthy breaking ball that’s going to win the games, get the grounders, it was flat nasty. After a 102 mph pitch an 86 mph breaking ball has to look like it’s crawling to the plate. The difference is staggering.
The other thing that will make Chapman a durable and hopefully injury free pitcher is that his mechanics are solid. He has the right side up W not an upside down one like Strasburg. It makes all the difference in the world for an elbow ligament for a flame thrower. Chapman is the real deal. The Reds are geniuses for signing him and he is definitely going to be bringing it THIS season to the left.
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