The Yankees are playing their best baseball of the 2021 season and Aroldis Chapman has had absolutely nothing to do with it.
An 11-game winning streak hasn’t been enough to put away the Alka-Seltzer when watching this team. It’s because when Chapman comes in from the bullpen, the only guarantee is an uptick in steps you’re taking from your living room watching him try to close out a game.
Your Fitbit will track those steps right into your bathroom for the medicine cabinet. That’s what it’s been like watching Chapman struggle away his summer.
Now’s not the time, however, for the Yankees and manager Aaron Boone to walk this tight rope with Chapman.
It’s all about the big picture right now and that’s keeping the wins coming as the season winds down.
The fact of the matter is this team is one Chapman-blown save, or implosion, away from their season turning back towards the wrong direction.
Tuesday night in Atlanta, Boone watched Chapman labor through six batters while only recording two outs. He allowed two hits and two walks including walking in a run to cut the Braves deficit to just 1.
And that was all Boone needed to see. It was a familiar scene, and, to Boone’s credit, the contingency plan was in motion. Wandy Peralta came in from the bullpen and did what Chapman has been unable to do lately – close out the game.
“We’ve got to figure it out,” Boone said afterward. “The bottom line is, a lot of people are doing some really good things down there and Chappy’s going to be one of them, too. We’ve just gotta continue to find ways to win games. And it really is just a little bit of an ‘all hands on-deck, let’s go find a way.’ A lot of guys continue to step up.
The Yankees have received plenty of help in the bullpen from mostly everyone not named “Chappy”.
Peralta, Jonathan Loáisiga, Chad Green, Lucas Luetge and Albert Abreu have all come through with strong performances. When their respective numbers have been called, the results have been there. Boone has a unit he can trust with the ball when it’s time to close.
And as for “Chappy” – what’s next?
When he’s on, he’s one of the best in the game. However, he hasn’t been that guy since earlier in the season when he was damn-near lights out.
Chapman hasn’t forgotten how to throw a fastball, his confidence in throwing it, however, appears shaken. That’s not what any team wants to see out of their closer.
Boone appears to know this can’t continue. It certainly can’t continue with the Yankees playing some of their best baseball in years.
There are enough arms in that bullpen to justify moving Chapman back into the 7th or 8th inning, at least enough for him to get back his mojo.
“I don’t know,” Boone said when asked about a closer by committee scenario. “We just won a big game and a lot of people are doing a lot of great things, so we’ll figure it out.”
Boone knows there are still big games ahead for his team. It would be nice if Chapman becomes of those players doing great things, preferably in time for the playoff-push.
Meanwhile, we’re low on Alka-Seltzer.
Image: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
