PITTSBURGH — Even 15 years into his Main League profession, the Cuban Missile can nonetheless do issues no different pitcher can. Working example, a two-pitch sequence on Wednesday night time throughout which Aroldis Chapman recorded pitches of 105.1 and 104.7 mph, the latter being a known as third strike to finish a scoreless eighth inning.
“I feel with Chap, you simply know that you just by no means know what you’re going to see,” supervisor Derek Shelton stated after the Pirates’ 9-8 loss in 10 innings to the Padres.
San Diego managed to get two runners on base with one out in a one-run recreation, however the hard-throwing lefty was capable of strike out Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado to protect the Pirates’ lead.
After hanging out Machado, Chapman struck a pose and stared him down earlier than going to the Pirates’ dugout.
“Simply one thing he informed me,” Chapman defined, by way of interpreter and coach Stephen Morales. “After which when he stated it, I began laughing.”
“One thing,” Chapman stated with a smile.
Honest sufficient. Let the pitch do the speaking.
No pitcher in addition to Chapman has thrown a pitch 105.1 mph or more durable within the pitch monitoring period (since 2008), and Chapman himself hasn’t thrown a more durable pitch since July 22, 2016, when he threw 105.2 mph towards the Giants. The 104.7 mph third strike to Machado is tied with Ben Joyce — who additionally hit 104.7 mph to retire J.D. Martinez on Aug. 3 — for the toughest strikeout pitch within the pitch monitoring period.
It’s one other instance of why Chapman belongs within the dialogue of the sport’s greatest lefty relievers — he handed Billy Wagner for probably the most strikeouts for a southpaw reliever earlier this season — and the way he can nonetheless wow this deep into his profession. He’s been clicking of late, with that velocity and higher management coming in tandem. For the reason that All-Star break, Chapman has allowed only one run over eight innings, hanging out 13.
“It feels good to be in that spot proper now,” Chapman stated. “I struggled a little bit bit earlier within the season. And as a pitcher … you simply wish to be forward in counts and attacking the strike zone, and I feel I am in a fairly great place proper now.”
Now a decade and a half into his Main League profession, it doesn’t appear to be Chapman is slowing down.
“I feel I’ve had an extended profession already,” Chapman stated. “I do not suppose I want to indicate folks what I can do, as a result of I’ve accomplished it already for a few years. I do not suppose I’ve to indicate the rest anymore.”
