High-Priced Reliever is Underperforming for Pirates

After being given a $10.5 million contract by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Aroldis Chapman has been a disappointment recently. After a good start to the season, Chapman now has an ERA of 6.00, a WHIP of 1.889, and a FIP of 5.05 at the close of Sunday’s action. In 13 appearances covering nine innings, he’s struck out 16 but walked 12.

As ugly as those statistics are, they hardly begin to tell the story of how it’s gone for Chapman lately. In his first seven games, he didn’t give up a run or a hit, earning a save and five holds. In the next six, however, in four innings the big left-hander gave up eight runs (six earned) and suffered two losses and two blown saves. During that stretch, opposing hitters are batting .278/.519/.500 against him.

Aroldis Chapman is a Disappointment for the Pirates So Far

Chapman can still light up the radar gun, registering over 100 mph on many of his pitches. But he’s walking too many and not pitching smart. Things began to unravel for Chapman on April 15 at Citi Field against the New York Mets. Entering a 3-3 game in the eighth inning, he struck out Jeff McNeil, who reached base when the ball eluded catcher Henry Davis. He then walked DJ Stewart, allowed a double steal, and then a double to deep left field by Harrison Bader. The Mets were ahead for good. Stewart is a .219 lifetime hitter. Bader is a bit better at .244. Neither should get the better of Chapman in this type of situation. When manager Derek Shelton came out to remove him, Chapman had words with the home plate umpire and got ejected.

Last Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers, Chapman entered the game in the eighth inning to protect a 4-1 lead. After he walked the bases loaded with one out, Shelton replaced him with right-hander Hunter Stratton. With Chapman being a strikeout specialist at a time when that was needed, it wasn’t exactly a show of confidence.  Stratton escaped the jam with just one run scoring. On Tuesday, Bailey Falter pitched a gem, leading 2-1 in the eighth when Shelton removed him. Shelton bypassed Chapman and went to last year’s eighth-inning man, Colin Holderman. Holderman and David Bednar preserved the victory for Falter.

The $10.5 Million Problem

On Thursday, disappointment became ignominy for Chapman and the Pirates. Against the Brewers at PNC Park, Chapman came on in the eighth inning to protect a 5-4 lead. Facing Gary Sánchez, his former batterymate with the New York Yankees and a catcher in whom the Pirates showed interest in the spring, he surrendered a two-run home run to the opposite field, giving the Brew Crew a lead they wouldn’t lose. It was a demoralizing loss to a division foe that the Pirates must catch if they hope to play in the postseason. After the game, Shelton said that against Sánchez, Chapman threw too many fastballs. Chapman agreed, saying he should have used some curveballs, and he would take this and learn from it. It was a startling admission from a 36-year-old in his 15th major league season.