The experiment is over. The Reds put Aroldis Chapman into the closer's role.
Chapman auditioned as a starter during the last two seasons but ultimately moved to the closer's role.
Last year injuries forced the issue. This year the organization recognized the move gives them the best chance to win.
In an organizational decision, Chapman, who saved 38 games for the NL Central Division champions, is going to close.
The plan for 2012 was to put Chapman in the starting rotation but injuries to the bullpen created a void which Chapman filled brilliantly, to the point that he recieved votes for the Cy Young Award.
Chapman didn't allow a run until his 16th appearance of the season. He didn't become the closer until May 20, yet tied for third in the National League in saves. From June 26 through August 17, Chapman turned in 23 consecutive scoreless appearances. He converted a team-record 27 consecutive save chances.
"Our rotation is Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey and Mike Leake," Dusty Baker said as if there was a drum roll in the room.
Baker and general manager Walt Jocketty had the following to say.
Baker said....
"We didn't think it was Leake versus Chapman. That's not how it was. We set them up on the same day so we could make that decision that would give us a better chance to win and to set up our bullpen."
"It's not like Chapman didn't have success. The guy was an All-Star and had 47 or whatever it was saves."
"He started out as a guy who pitched two innings last year. He was a set up guy remember. We had him setup to pitch every four or five days. Now we have to get him into situations, where his arm will rebound for back-to-back games. We need to do it now while we have a few days of spring training. He's the closer and on days he can't pitch, we've got Broxton. It's no different than last year. It's consecutive days like we did last year."
Baker communicated with the players involved - Leake, Chapman and Broxton.
"We talked to everybody. We talked to everybody before we talked to you."
Chapman expressed last week that he preferred to close.
"Unsolicited, he said that. You want a guy at a comfort level. But do you tell your boss what to do? If you do you won't be working long. We don't care about the publicity. It doesn't factor into the decision."
There was believed to be an division among the Reds' staff as to how to use Chapman.
"Contrary to what people think, there is no wedge between the manager and general manager. But it seems like that for the sake of a story, it's not right."
"We're ready to get our team together and play ball."
In the playoffs last season, Chapman was not involved in the last four games. Could he have had a greater impact on the playoffs as a starter?
"Where would we have been had he not been in that role? We might not have even made it to be in that situation. Like I told you earlier. He had the chance to be our best starter or best closer. What did Chapman account for 50 percent of our wins. When you add it up with holds, wins and saves how many was he involved in 58-59 at least?"
"There's the point, that your number one starter is worth more than your closer, but how do you know if he's your number one or not. Hopefully someday we'll find out."
Jocketty said.......
"It was like last year. It was a tough decision. We felt what gives us the best opportunity to win this year is to leave the rotation as is. We had four guys that pitched 200 innings. We have another guy who is capable of pitching 200 innings (Leake). That's a very strong rotation and putting Chapman back to the closer role with Jonathan Broxton, who might close some games. It gives us a very strong bullpen. As we evaluated it, we felt it was best. And Leake's had a very good spring. We think he's pitched very good. Dusty's been happy. Bryan's (Price) been happy. I've been happy. We felt that he was close to where he was a couple years ago. I think we're a better team."
"We're a team that's built for now. We're built to win now. This in our opinion gives us the best opportunity to do that."
"Someday he may be a starter. But now this puts us in the best position to be successful."
Broxton's contract seemed high for a setup man, now that he is not the closer.
"What did Soriano just sign for $14 (million), Papelbon's $15. Late inning setup guys are getting in the range that Broxton is getting, Affeldt. It was important that we sign him (Broxton) back to give us that flexibility."
Broxton is fine with his role as the setup man.
"He (Broxton) told Dusty he would pitch in any role."
Chapman's preference was a factor but only a factor.
"No way do the players tell us what they want to do but it certainly is a factor. He was comfortable in that role. He had success in that role. Ultimately we make the decision."
Jocketty disputes the story that there was a deep division.
"You guys (media) have made a big deal out of this. You exaggerated the point that there was a big in-house battle. There was not a big in-house battle. We approached this spring exactly the same as last year. With Chapman that he was going to be either the starter or the closer. We waited until the end of last spring training, maybe two days earlier because of injuries but what puts us in the best position to win. That's all that we are concerned about."
Would Chapman have more impact as a starter who could pitch 200 innings or a closer that will pitch closer to 50 innings?
"We wouldn't have gotten 200 innings out of him this year. That's a factor too."
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| Professionally edited by ML Schirmer for proof reading services call 513-240-3120 |
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