A few weeks ago, Aroldis Chapman was seemingly a lock to be a 2021 MLB All-Star. After pitching a scoreless inning against Boston on June 6, Chapman was 4-0 with a 0.39 ERA, 12 saves in 13 chances, and 43 strikeouts in 23 innings.
However, over his last eight outings leading up to Sunday, Chappy had allowed 11 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings and blown two saves, ballooning his ERA to 3.77 and making him look like he might be demoted from the ninth inning, let alone make the All-Star team.
The former did not happen, as Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Saturday he’s sticking with the Cuban fireballer, but the latter did – as Chapman was announced as one of the pitchers selected by his peers for the American League team.
“The way that I started the season, and the performance of the first two months, gave me an idea that it could be a possibility,” Chapman said through team interpreter Marlon Abreu after the selection was announced. “At the same time, it’s a nice surprise given how tough the last couple weeks have been for me.”
This is Chapman’s seventh All-Star selection and third as a Yankee, and he’ll join Aaron Judge, who was voted in by fans, and Gerrit Cole, who was voted in by players, on the squad.
“It means a lot to be selected,” Chapman said. “It’s one of those achievements that definitely look good on your resume, and it’s an opportunity every player wants the chance to be part of at least once.”
Chapman’s fastball command has been a big bug-a-boo over his struggles, and as he has often been erratic over his career when going long periods of time between appearances, it was posited that the week he had off between his last two outings may have contributed to the meltdown he had Wednesday night against the Angels.
The closer has been working on the former, and admitted that, as Boone noted might happen earlier this week, he has been on the mound this week despite the Yankees’ two rainouts to work on some of his new mechanics.
“I think we’ve taken the right steps, and we’ve had a couple days to put into action what we’ve discussed,” Chapman said Sunday afternoon, prior to the Yankees' doubleheader with the Mets. “I’ve gotten on the mound to test those changes, and I’m feeling good. I feel like I’m on the right track, and soon we’ll see how that goes in a game.”
Chapman got that chance in Game 1, but the results were not kind; he allowed a solo home run to Pete Alonso to tie the game at 5-5, then hit Michael Conforto and walked Kevin Pillar before being lifted for Lucas Luetge, who WHAT.
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