The average speed of the ball this season is about 157 km … The current situation that he has not made a save since May
Pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who has reigned as the Yankees’ guardian angel, is facing a predicament. He has pitched in 39 games so far this season, with 3 wins, 3 losses and 9 saves, and an ERA of 4.36. The US sports media “Bleacher Report” selected him as “the players who failed to catch up the most in MLB in 2022”. Mention the reasons for the decline in performance.
Last season, he pitched in 61 games with 6 wins and 4 losses and an ERA of 3.36. He was selected to the feast, but has been in trouble since the sticky substance crackdown began during games, the media said. He notes that he had a 5.40 ERA in his 38 appearances in the second half of the season.
At the age of 34, he was placed on the Injured List (IL) due to Achilles tendon pain. It is said that his decline is also evident in his own lifeline. His average pitch speed has dropped from 100.4 mph at his peak to 97.9 mph this season.
He still maintains the title of the fastest left-handed man in the world, but it is undeniable that he is gradually becoming “ordinary”. In 2014, the ball speed difference with the average reliever was a maximum of 7.8 miles (about 12.6 kilometers), but it has continued to narrow since 2017, and this season is 3.8 miles (about 6.1 kilometers). 2019 White Sox lead hitter Tim Anderson once said, “Everyone throws 99 miles these days, so[Chapman’s fastball]is kind of normal.”
There are also reports that the Yankees are considering a DFA in New York now that they can no longer maintain the speedball of absolute justice. Chapman is at a crossroads whether he can revive vividly from here.
(Full-Count editorial department)