SIMMONS: WAKE THE F--- UP, DON!
Flamethrower can’t pinpoint reason for his struggles
BOSTON — Aroldis Chapman was once arguably the most feared closer in all of baseball.
But the Red Sox don’t seem to fear him at all.
Boston got to Chapman again on Friday night, scoring two runs off the Yankees’ $86 million closer in the eighth inning of its 9-6 come-from-behind victory over New York at Fenway Park.
The 29-year-old flamethrower now owns a 9.95 ERA against the Red Sox this season in seven appearances (6.1 IP, 7 ER, 10 BB, 7 K).
“It’s hard to pinpoint one thing,” said Chapman, who has given up seven runs in his last four appearances overall — including his blown save and loss to Boston in the Bronx last Sunday.
He also blew a save at Fenway Park and took the loss on July 14. He now owns a 4.29 ERA in 2017.
“Because physically I feel really, really good,” Chapman continued. “My arm feels great. I think it’s just a tough moment that I’m going through, and eventually I’m pretty sure I’ll get out of it.”
Asked if Chapman is still the closer, Girardi responded: “I’ll sleep on everything and we’ll talk about it like we always do and we’ll go from there.”
Chapman pitched in the eighth inning on Friday night after resting the previous two days due to his hamstring tightness. Rafael Devers got him again for a single to lead off the frame, and Chapman followed by walking Christian Vazquez. The Red Sox then executed a double-steal against Chapman, who didn’t pay attention to the runners while on the mound.
Jackie Bradley Jr. followed with a two-run single to put Boston ahead by three runs, and Chapman failed to back-up homeplate on the play.
“That frustrated me,” Girardi said. “You have to be there.”
Girardi ultimately went out to talk to Chapman, who retired the next three hitters he faced. Chapman said it was a conversation in which his manager offered words of encouragement.
“We have to get him right. That’s the
bottom line,” Girardi said, adding that he still wants Chapman to pitch in the late innings. “We need him to help us in the bullpen. I think he’s frustrated.”
Larry Rothschild said recently that he believes Chapman’s problems have to do with his lack of confidence in himself. Hitters seem unfazed that he can hit triple digits on the radar gun.
Chapman doesn’t believe it’s a matter of tipping pitches.
“I don’t worry too much about signs and that stuff. You can’t let that get in your head,” he said. “Maybe my location is not where I want it, and I probably need to get better at that.”
Chapman and Girardi both believe he’s capable of getting out of his current funk. But it’s cost the team so much in terms of the division standings. The Bombers now trail Boston by five games in the AL East.
And the manager will have to seriously consider if he wants to keep running Chapman out there in the ninth — since he has other options like Dellin Betances and David Robertson perfectly capable of doing the job as well.