Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman addresses critics in Instagram post
There's no way to sugarcoat it: Aroldis Chapman is going through the worst stretch of his professional career. And it isn't lost him that critics are picking him apart.
So the New York Yankees closer took to social media on Monday to voice his plan to prove everyone wrong.
"For all those people that criticizes my bad moments, I will tell them that I do not know how my story ends, but in its pages you will never read 'I gave up,'" Chapman said in an Instagram post written in both English and Spanish.
"So I will move on, I still have many wars to win and many mouths to shut up."
Chapman's ERA is a massive 11.57 over his last 15 appearances. He has given up leads in three straight appearances, including a ninth-inning meltdown versus the Los Angeles Angels that handed the Yankees an 11-8 loss after they initially went up 7-0 in the first inning.
Many have pointed to the correlation between Chapman's decline and the league's crackdown on foreign substances. Chapman has denied ever using substances while pitching.
Yankees skipper Aaron Boone has said the 12-year veteran is dealing with a mechanical issue with his pitches and previously insisted Chapman is still New York's de facto closer. However, following Chapman's recent implosion against the New York Mets, Boone has also left the door open for Chad Green or Jonathan Loaisiga to start coming into games in save situations.
More must-reads: