Aroldis Chapman, close to the New York Yankees, has become a liability this season.
He is no longer credible or trustworthy to defend a late innings lead, his command is off, and he has not trusted his fastball command since last season.
Before Monday’s game, the left-arm flamethrower had a 3.86 ERA with an ugly 4.95 FIP (fielding independent pitching) in 14 innings.
A number of physical problems have affected him since then, but the league’s decision to ban the use of foreign substances on pitchers’ balls seems to have really affected Chapman’s performance.
Since that unfortunate month (June 2021), Chapman has not been able to catch the ball as before and his control has been damaged.
According to the always-reliable Codify Baseball, Chapman suffers from another ailment, in addition to spotted commands: loss of speed.
“At least 97% of Aroldis Chapman Fastball is not MPH: 2017 >–> 2.5%. 2022 —–> 45%, ”they tweeted.
Not at least 97 MPH% of Aroldis Chapman Fastball:
2017 >–> 2.5%
2022 –> 45%– Codify (odCodifyBaseball) May 22, 2022
He is not using the flamethrower as hard as he is throwing
About half of his fastballs traveled at least 97 miles per hour five years ago: this year, the clock clocked at just over 2.5 percent faster.
It is worrying for a man who has built his career around fastball speed.
In the last few years, Chapman has thrown a slider and made a tough splitter, but when his fastball is off, his game and, consequently, his numbers are up.
His 6.43 walks in every nine innings since 2011 is his highest mark, and he hasn’t fooled the Heaters as much this year.
Of course, time is still on his side, but the Yankees, understandably, are losing patience.
Will they make a switch and replace Chapman as a proximity?