The last two seasons have ended in nightmare fashion for Aroldis Chapman. The Yankees’ dominant closer, known for piling up strikeouts and keeping the ball in the park, has surrendered two backbreaking home runs in the last two postseasons, ending the Yankees’ quest to get to the World Series for the first time since 2009.
Chapman, who was left dumbfounded after giving up a walk-off home run to Jose Altuve in game six of the 2019 ALCS, came back in 2020 and surrendered what would be the game-winning home run to Mike Brosseau in the decisive game five of the ALDS, adding another painful ending for the Yanks and another notable demerit on Chapman’s October resume.
For Chapman, the failures of the past two seasons will be what drives him through 2021, and will hopefully offer him a shot at redemption to lead the Yanks to what has been an elusive Fall Classic appearance.
“For me, you have to take that experience from it and use it as motivation,” Chapman said through his interpreter in a Zoom call with reporters on Friday. “Especially when things don’t work out the way you want. For me, you go through the experience, you learn from it and use it as fuel.”
Chapman’s October hiccups will be a topic of discussion when the postseason approaches, but this time of year, the talk is normally around the lefty flamethrower’s fastball, and if a diminished velocity should be a cause for concern. Chapman’s trademark heater has made up the bulk of his identity as a pitcher since his time with the Reds, and many wonder just how efficient he will be as his velocity drops with age. In previous seasons, the velocity climbs as the season moves along, but this year, his fastball is already appearing to be in midseason form, sitting in the upper 90s so far this spring.
“I feel really good,” Chapman said. “I think I’m ready to go. I’ve had a few outings but everything has felt really good. I was able to come into this camp in really good shape and ahead of the training…and I find myself ready.”
Chapman’s new splitter has also made an appearance this spring, an added weapon that he hopes will help make him tougher to hit by the time the playoffs arrive and the best lineups in the league step into the box. With another nasty pitch being put into the arsenal, Chapman hopes 2021 ends a lot differently than the past two seasons.
“This pitch, I think it’s just going to make my other pitches better,” Chapman said. “I think it’s going to be a more impactful pitch overall. Just having an extra weapon is going to give me a better chance for sure.”
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