Walt: Chapman to be in bullpen in 2011

over 1 year ago PeteyHendrix 25 comments 0 recs |

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Great. We wouldn't want to have a starter with the potential to actually compete with other top end rotations.

"People don't kill people. Burning oreo packages kill people."

by crolfer on Jan 4, 2011 5:30 PM EST reply actions

I'm gonna buy a Brewers jersey

with Greinke on the back….

by Highlifeman21 on Jan 4, 2011 8:12 PM EST up reply actions

BOOO!!!!

"strikeouts are a lot sexier than groundouts"

by smitty3 on Jan 4, 2011 6:28 PM EST reply actions

I see no reason why they shouldnt start him out as a starter in Louisville and call him up later, how valuable is he really as a reliever in the early going? If they do still see him as a starter, this just delays when he will be ready to join the bigs as one. The dreams in my head of him as a dominant starter are, for now, gone. Guess the Reds will have to look outside the organization for the ace they desperately need, since they dont really feel like developing one.

by pack_fan on Jan 4, 2011 6:56 PM EST reply actions

I think

Walt wants to strike while the iron is hot. This team is contending for the first time in years, and he wants to take advantage of it.

I would guess if the Reds finished fourth last year, Chapman would be starting in AAA this year.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 4, 2011 7:08 PM EST up reply actions

I just dont see how he's so much more valuable in the pen

I’ll take 6-7 innings of him next year over 1 this year, we have guys who can hold down the bullpen spot until mid-season when the reds could call him up similiar to last year. plus then we’ll have a much better idea of how much the team is competing.

I’m being way over-pessimistic of this move, but this move looks to me like the plan to replace cordero. Also I don’t just want to maybe be slightly more competitive this year, I want to compete all the way through the playoffs and get that ring. No way the Reds do that without an ace starter, hopefully they acquire one somehow.

by pack_fan on Jan 4, 2011 7:25 PM EST up reply actions

actually

I think it’s a plan to replace Rhodes.

The thing is…there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready next year, even if he spends all of this year in Louisville. The scouts all say he’s really raw, and will take a lot of patience and maybe many years before he’s a good starter. As others have pointed out, it took Randy Johnson until he was almost 30 before he got control of that gangly body of his. What if it’s five years or more until Chapman is ready to start?

we have guys who can hold down the bullpen spot until mid-season when the reds could call him up similiar to last year. plus then we’ll have a much better idea of how much the team is competing.

But games played in May count the same as games played in August.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 4, 2011 8:05 PM EST up reply actions

right now yes its Rhodes

but I meant down the line.

Interesting point on Johnson, I’m a little hesitant to compare the two however (even though that seems like a popular comparison), Johnson is sort of a special case and certainly not the norm, so its tricky to use him as an analogy. I’m willing to wait some to see if Chapman ends up filling out his potential for awhile, and if it doesnt work out he has a nice comfortable spot to land in the bullpen.

As for games in May, yes I’m aware they count, I just dont see how a middle reliever wins you so many more games while it could be time he can continue to learn how to be a starter. Given this situation with this specific player, I use that time to help him develop to his full potential.

by pack_fan on Jan 4, 2011 8:24 PM EST up reply actions

hmmm having a bad guy in the pen can cost you alot of games

all we have as a lefty is bray and he is still unproven

hell, our top guys in the pen are Cordero and Masset — not exactly a guarantee right there.

I think if anything this is a prudent move, both for Chapman’s future, and the Reds 2011 season. We have much more depth in our starters than in our bullpen.

by cokane on Jan 5, 2011 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

I should add

I dont really see him being ready to step in as a starter next season. What I meant by that sentence was more possible speculation on the earliest he could possibly be ready, it was kind of hyperbolic. That said, I’d take a rocky year from him as the 5th guy before I’d take him in the pen this year, personal opinion.

by pack_fan on Jan 4, 2011 8:53 PM EST up reply actions

so, if Condom Arm finally breaks down, or Volquez has a post TJ hiccup and ends up on the shelf

do we put Chapman in the rotation, or do we turn to Maloney or LeCure?

I know what I’d do

by Highlifeman21 on Jan 4, 2011 8:14 PM EST reply actions

I don't know what you'd do

But I know what Justin would do.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 4, 2011 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

What I hate most about this

is they’re not even going to give him a shot at starting.

We’re not the Yankees guys, (no offense BF), we don’t have the money to have a closer and setup man commanding this kind of money…

"People don't kill people. Burning oreo packages kill people."

by crolfer on Jan 4, 2011 9:41 PM EST reply actions

I'm hoping he'll get a chance to start

That he’ll be Phil Hughes, not Joba Chamberlain.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 4, 2011 11:47 PM EST up reply actions

Wrong.

He’ll definitely get a chance to start in the future. I think more than anything, the logic here is a “win now” mentality for 2011. If the Reds repeat last year, then Chapman is the best reliever on a playoff-bound team. If they aren’t, then I doubt Chapman will be in the ‘pen the whole year, and they’ll be able to put him in the rotation (either here or LOU) to work on stamina and pitches. Either way, there’s no downside to him starting 2011 in the bullpen.

"Aroldis Chapman is a seven course meal followed by four hours of sex on the table with a nymphomaniac model heiress who owns her own brewery." - jch24

by BK on Jan 5, 2011 12:15 AM EST up reply actions

I just hope you're right.

"People don't kill people. Burning oreo packages kill people."

by crolfer on Jan 5, 2011 12:20 AM EST up reply actions

I know this is a well-reasoned, rational assessment of the situation

but I’m still worried.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 5, 2011 12:32 AM EST up reply actions

reading these kinds of posts help me feel better about the situation

but I’m still unhappy about it. Hope youre right. They could also use winter ball etc. to build his innings. Just might take longer before he is ready to start in the bigs, which is my main concern.

by pack_fan on Jan 5, 2011 4:29 PM EST up reply actions

When do they make the switch back to starter then, to work on stamina and what not?

I don’t think he’s a guy that’ll easily bounce back and forth between pen and rotation

by Highlifeman21 on Jan 5, 2011 7:21 PM EST up reply actions

"And a high fly ball to center field. He hit it a ton. And the 2010 National League Central Division Champs are the Cincinnati Reds!"

by joshuar9476 on Jan 5, 2011 9:56 AM EST reply actions

Dusty's gonna open up a can of this on your ass.

by Brian B on Jan 6, 2011 2:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I'm OK with this.

If Masset and Chapman are awesome in the pen, we can trade Cordero + Yonder + END for an awesome LF’er or HanRam mid-season. Chapman and Bright Eyes can then split the closing duties. Then Masset can handle closing in 2012 while Chapman goes back to starting. with both of them eased into their roles. It solves any deficiency on the left side of the pen in 2010. It MIGHT be that pitching 48 games out of the MLB pen is the best thing for his career at this point, even if that career is to be as a starter.

This is not my first choice, but I get how it makes sense to Walt as a worthwhile and preferred option. And I trust Walt.

"Don't turn off the TV if we've still got bats in our hands." - Dusty Baker

by PeteyHendrix on Jan 5, 2011 1:55 PM EST reply actions

couldn't say it better myself, Petey.

Much like when Jay first came up, we needed him to play CF and leadoff occasionally (remember?? It was like, uh, 3 years ago.) Jay wasn’t suited for either, really, but he was our best option at both at the time, and he did it. Now? Stud RF who should be either our 4 or 5 hitter.

It’ll work out, folks, I promise. Walt promised. Let’s all just be damn happy we’ve got a 105mph Zeus in our pen throwing bolts at Berkman, Pena, a shittastic LH from Pit, Prince, and Colby the Cheeseman.

Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.

by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Jan 5, 2011 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

eh, thats a way different situation

Bruce had been learning RF for years, and didnt need additional time in the minors to become one after playing CF and/or leading off. shifting batters around the diamond and around the lineup are very different from shifting pitchers from the pen to starting.

either way, you’re all probably right, I’ll try to worry less about it.

by pack_fan on Jan 7, 2011 8:09 PM EST up reply actions