Nursing a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, Aaron Boone turned to Chad Green for a crucial save situation, while Aroldis Chapman stayed behind in the bullpen.
Boone told reporters after the 5-4 win that he didn’t enter the game with his mind set on Green taking the ball in a potential save situation, but when it came time to lock down a third straight win, the surging Green got the call over the struggling Chapman.
“Just felt like that’s what the game called for right there,” Boone said. “Obviously Greeny is throwing the ball incredibly well, and just with the one-run game there, and chappie coming off of 20-something pitches last night, I want to make sure I get him in situations that I feel really good about. Just felt like Greeny was the right call tonight.”
It turned out to be the right call, as Green fanned two in a perfect ninth, picking up his third save of the season and continuing a dominant stretch that has included just one run in his last 15.1 innings. Meanwhile, Chapman has allowed 14 earned runs in his last 6.2 innings, as Green has clearly moved his way up the team’s current bullpen rankings.
“He’s in a really good spot,” Boone said of Green. “He’s making very few mistakes. I know I talk delivery all the time and I don’t always know what I’m talking about when it comes to delivery, but I know he is in a really good spot delivery-wise…we’re seeing the breaking ball is as consistent as its ever been, but he’s throwing the fastball where and how he wants to throw it over and over again, and he was really sharp again tonight.”
So, what does this mean for Chapman, who was dominant through the first two months of the season before his last 10 appearances, which have been overwhelmingly dreadful? For now, it looks like Boone will continue to try and find the lefty spots in lower leverage situations to rediscover his command. On Tuesday night, Chapman pitched the ninth in a 12-1 game but continued to struggle finding the zone, walking two batters to bring his walk total up to 11 in his last 10 appearances. Chapman may find himself pitching in similar situations until he proves he is back to what he was at the beginning of the season.
“There might be some different spots here in the short term as we’re getting him back on track where I want to get him in situations where I think he can be really successful,” Boone said. “But ultimately, I think it’s important to remember he’s not that far removed from being as good as I’ve ever seen him for a couple month stretch to start the season, and there’s no question in my mind that he can get back to that point, but I want to get him there in a smart way where he has chances to succeed and work through some of the things he’s working through. I’m confident he’ll get back to that point, but this thing will continue to evolve.”
Right now, the closing job appears to be evolving in the direction of Green, who has been far more reliable of late, and will likely remain that way until Chapman can straighten himself out. But Boone says he will continue to check in with Chapman about his role in the bullpen.
“I’ll talk to him,” Boone said. “We’ve been talking a lot beforehand and talking through some things, and I’ll continue to do that. Aroldis is ready to go, he’s ready to close when necessary. He’s ready through other situations that we’ll continue to talk through as this thing continues to evolve and as we continue to try to get him back to the Aroldis that he is.”
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