[外電] Chapman says he prefers closing

[Sparksfly (火光飛舞)]

Chapman says he prefers closing over starting

http://tinyurl.com/bk9m5w4
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Reds' brain trust has been remarkably successful at
not telegraphing their intentions about whether pitcher Aroldis Chapman will
be a starter or closer this season.

On Saturday, after his latest start against the Giants, it was Chapman
himself who came strongest towards the plate with his vote.

"I would like to be the closer, but that's not in my hands," Chapman said via
interpreter Tomas Vera.

The decision to convert Chapman into a starter was one of the most
controversial in baseball during the offseason. The 25-year-old lefty with
triple-digit velocity had 38 saves in 43 chances as a first-time closer last
season while posting a 1.51 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings and 68
appearances.

However, several members of the organization believed the Reds could get more
from Chapman's arm if he had more innings and a regular schedule in the
rotation rather than being kept in a bullpen for possible save chances.

The bottom line from Chapman: He prefers the rush of the ninth-inning save
situations over the long-haul nature of starting.

"In the beginning when I started closing, it was something I didn't know,"
Chapman said. "But as I started throwing and getting into the late part of
the game when the game is more exciting and has more meaning, I kind of liked
it. Yeah, the adrenaline goes up and I like to be in that situation. I would
like to be a closer, yeah, but there are some things that I can't control."

Earlier this week, manager Dusty Baker made it clear he hoped a decision
would come sooner than later so he and his team could start planning. Baker
has never sounded overly enthusiastic about the idea of moving Chapman out of
the bullpen. He has always stressed the final decision would be an
organizational one.

Apparently, Chapman beat Baker to the punch about revealing a preference.

"I was going to talk to him after he pitched today for that purpose," Baker
said after the Reds defeated San Francisco, 7-6. "You hear all kinds of stuff
from this camp, people talking and everybody thinks they're in the know.

"We were going to do what's best for the organization and for him. But he
makes it a lot easier when you get the person's blessing."

Over the years, Baker has often consulted with players on their preferences
for their roles or batting-order spot, feeling that a comfortable player is a
more productive player.

In this situation, it would seem to mean that Chapman's vote counts in the
final decision.

"Like I've said, a man in the middle is a man in constant turmoil," Baker
said. "We have to discuss it and then we'll see."

The murky outlook on who might be the Reds' fifth starter out of camp was no
easier to predict on Saturday afternoon as both Chapman and fellow contender
Mike Leake simultaneously started in split-squad games.

While Chapman emerged with a much better line than Leake, it was not the
easiest of afternoons. Against the Giants, Chapman gave up one run and two
hits over his four innings with three walks, two strikeouts and a wild pitch.
He threw 60 pitches with only 31 for strikes.

In the other game vs. the Brewers, Leake allowed seven runs (five earned) and
10 hits over 3 1/3 innings with no walks, one strikeout and one home run.

The first inning vs. San Francisco seemed like pure labor for Chapman, who
needed 27 pitches while throwing only 12 strikes. Relying on his fastball
early, eight of his first nine pitches were balls and led to back-to-back
walks. Third hitter Pablo Sandoval sharply lined a single to left field to
load the bases.

On an 0-2 count to cleanup hitter Hunter Pence, Chapman bounced a wild pitch
that scored Andres Torres for Chapman's lone run allowed.

"The issue I had was I was not commanding any of my pitches," Chapman said.
"I was just throwing too many balls, too many bad pitches."

Chapman worked his way out of the jam by striking out Pence and getting a
popout from Brandon Belt and a groundout to shortstop from Francisco Peguero.

"He has a knack for getting you out," Baker said. "He left some balls up that
they missed, sliders. You can possibly get away with that when you throw the
ball as hard as he does."

In the second inning, as Chapman mixed in more breaking pitches, Brandon
Crawford led off with a single into right field. Chapman erased him quickly
as Guillermo Quiroz grounded a first pitch for a 5-4-3 double play. Madison
Bumgarner worked an 0-2 count full but struck out to end the 13-pitch inning.

"The catcher came in and told me I was just rushing and landing out front a
little bit," Chapman said. "I was also opened up a little bit and the elbow
was dropping. He said to work on that and that's what happened."

A 13-pitch third inning saw Torres lead off with another walk but Chapman's
pickoff move to first base caught the runner stealing. The fourth inning was
Chapman's most efficient frame as he needed only seven pitches to retire the
side in order. It included a first-pitch flyout from Belt.

"He's a little wild at times, but sometimes that can work to your advantage a
little bit," Belt said.

In three starts this spring, Chapman has a 2.25 ERA with two runs allowed
over eight innings with four walks and four strikeouts. Leake's ERA went from
1.80 to 6.48 after Saturday's outing gave him 8 1/3 innings. The right-handed
Leake, who was the fifth starter last season, is respected by Baker and the
coaching staff. Earlier in camp, pitching coach Bryan Price said he could not
imagine a 25-man roster without Leake being on it.

One way or the other, Chapman would like to know what's in store for him as
soon as possible.

"I'm waiting for this," Chapman said. "I want to feel better about the
situation and I want to concentrate more on whatever they tell me to do. I
will sit down here and wait for their decision."

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大意言之, 古巴飛彈 Chapman 傾向後援 勝過先發

不過決定權並不在他身上 他會尊重球團的決定

而Dusty Baker（紅人總教練）也不是很苟同他的想法 認為事情還有討論空間

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※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 140.122.61.208
推 davidex:古巴陳鴻文
→ sdfsonic:古巴茂野
推 mrkey:Dusty Baker...c'mon man
推 angus282:好特別！一般人不是都渴望先發，薪水會比較多啊XD
※ 編輯: Sparksfly       來自: 140.122.61.208       (03/17 12:21)
→ kusami:這樣也不錯 後援可以盡情飆球速 先發還要配速QQ
推 pathfinder:Baker:不先發怎麼讓你單場150+球!
推 abc12812:會怕就好
推 Mooooose:當RP才能破球速紀錄阿
推 Edison1174:SP才能破球數紀錄阿
推 rex830521:樓上中肯
推 dudu5566:推 Edison1174:SP才能破球數紀錄阿 XDDDDDDDDD
推 shamuro:每場都完投 就可以兼sp + closer (誤)
推 Zack1031F1:只是想前滾翻罷了 XD
推 mightymouse:就當個第一局上場的closer就好了嘛
推 TokuchiToa:第一局上去進入無我的境界 把球場打爆 就真的變closer
→ TokuchiToa:讓球場被迫關門修整的closer(誤)
推 Dimitre:以後就變成天天C
推 ClutchShot:有些人喜歡關門的感覺吧
推 ilove1530:baker 襪子
推 circleleaf:第一局上的CL,兩邊問題都解決了!!
推 kee32:到底是球速紀錄還是球數紀錄，搞得我好亂哪!
推 AsumaEiji:Baker:我要你當SP+CL 有沒有問題?   Chapman:報告沒有
推 siliver:他是看到教練是誰才決定要當後援的吧.......
推 elong:投一牛四啊
推 kobeslaker:投9局的CL  像這種要求我還沒見過
推 RoyOH:把第一局當第十局投 延長賽打到十八局如何？
推 betadu:Papelbon也說過偏好CL勝過SP
推 percy90723:古巴陳鴻文
推 bkm1:Baker：沒人說你當先發就不能後援啊........
→ SlamKai:Baker:先發投一休四，休息的四天就救援關門，你行吧!
推 porten812:又要吹薩克斯風了嗎
推 kkk123:Baker:有人規定CP只能第九局上嗎
推 mp39999:薩克斯.貝克
推 newest:紅人球場掀起一陣貝克薩克斯風
推 s999132:勝投王加救援王有沒有搞頭？
推 goopa:借轉FB板 <(_ _)>
※ goopa:轉錄至看板 FBaseball                                      03/21 23:19
推 bounds:Baker:有人說CL一定要九局才上,不能第一局就上嗎~(挖鼻孔)
→ sneak: 有人規定CP只能第九局 https://muxiv.com