(670 The Score) Cubs reliever Andrew Chafin has quite the mechanical mindset off the field. He has superb woodworking skills, he enjoys tinkering with his boat and cars are another interest of his. Those who have been around Chafin say they wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up being a diesel engine mechanic when his MLB career is over.
Which is why the way Chafin approaches his day job on the mound is a bit ironic. He’s not into the details of pitching mechanics.
“It’s funny you bring up that stuff,” Chafin said on the Bernstein & Rahimi Show on Friday. “I don’t use any of that. I let the ball do the talking. If I get an out, the mechanics were perfect, great pitch. I don’t really care. For me with baseball, I got to keep it simple. I can’t think about what I’m doing out there. I just got to go and react. Just rear back, throw as hard as I can and hope for the best. When I do that, generally speaking I have better success than if I’m out there like, ‘Oh, I got to go heater up and in, sinker down and away, slider backdoor. I got to make these pitches perfect.’ As soon as I start trying to pitch, I suck.”
Chafin has been one of the Cubs' most reliable relievers early on, with a 3.24 ERA in nine appearances in his first season in Chicago. He has also become a cult hero of sorts among fans for his fun-loving personality.
You can listen to Chafin’s full interview with Bernstein & Rahimi below. He discussed his recent acquisition of a new car for the city – his truck was far too big to park in the streets – and his off-field interests.