FanPost

Planning on Playing Again This Season, Chapman? Asking For a Friend


We are midway through the final month of baseball; a time when the Mets are going to trot out David Wright for one last hurrah, a time when the Rockies are currently trotting out Matt Holliday for one last hurrah (the Rockies actually have a better record than division rivals Los Angeles and Arizona, actually), and a time when the Twins seem to be feeling shocked at Joe Mauer announcing that 2018 could be his last hurrah. Speaking of last hurrahs, are you planning on playing again this season, Chapman? Asking for a friend.

Okay, well, maybe I should hope for more than one last month from a closer we're paying more than we've ever paid Rivera for the same job. Valued at $17,200,000 (no reliever has a right to make that much money!), Chapman has had some frustration in recent times. Knee tendinitis aside, he's made 31 saves through 33 save opportunities, good for 94% rate of success (okay, maybe Chapman has earned that money). That's pretty good, but you also have to consider his latest injury woes that have hampered his ability to do the thing he's paid to do. He's given up six earned runs in his last twelve innings of work. That's six earned runs in his last twelve when he'd had six earned runs throughout the entire season before that. Clearly there were problems, but an inability to accept them for what they were and hoping they just wouldn't get worse made him more of a liability than a problem-solver.

It is just as well that he is out at a time when the Yankees are on such a downward slide that they have been on, as the majority of games the Yankees have played since he was placed on the DL (14 out of 20) have ended with either the Yankees losing to weaker teams or winning by four or more runs. Given this record, it is hard to see him getting much playing time during those games had he been healthy. Thus, we will never know if he would have contributed to the Yankees' numerous defeats or soldered on the saves to the close games. During those 20 games, by the way, the Yankees are 11-9. That's bad, but I'm not sure how much Chapman could have made a difference. Perhaps this time off could help him return next week with a renewed vigor.

Or, if he returns, he could continue his poor performances as of late and not get removed quickly enough for him not to be included on the postseason roster. I'd rather have a healthy if-unreliable Tommy Kahnle give up two earned runs in four innings of relief than a questionable Aroldis Chapman hurt himself further in the postseason and make us scramble to find a replacement closer amongst the overworked bullpen of September. Further injuries to the multi-multi-multi-mutli-million dollar man would be sad, especially because he is set to take so many millions of dollars home this season. And next season. And the season after that. Have I mentioned that a reliever is making so many millions of dollars?

Yeah, I have. So I need to ask, clearly, if Chapman is planning on returning to the roster, because I could go either way with the prospect of our closer coming back. Clearly, with the Yankees' inconsistent offense, relief pitching really isn't a priority right now. Aaron Judge is the more valuable player to a team that has suffered his absence from the batting lineup and has forced Neil Walker into the outfield until finally acquiring Andrew McCutchen, neither of whom having been very impressive since the end of August. Again, I wouldn't outright refuse Chapman's return, but I can't say that it appears we need him; the Yankees have been faring just the same without him that they have been performing with him since the All-Star break: spotty with a lot of downsides.

So, Chapman, if you are planning on coming back before the end of the season, please... take it easy. If not... also, take it easy. If you haven't decided yet... what are you waiting for, huh?!? Make a decision already!

Thanks for all your hard work so far this season.

FanPosts are user-created content and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Pinstripe Alley writing staff or SB Nation.