Comments on: The Reds are going to turn Aroldis Chapman into a reliever

By: ThatGuy

ThatGuy — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:04:32 +0000

That is not true at all, Santana made played in 45 games his first 2 years, 9 were starts and he didn’t do anything. He supported a 6+ era and a high 4 era in those 2 years and won 3 games. In 2002 he made a bunch more starts due to injuries did fairly well, but was returned to the pen towards the end of the season. Started in the pen again in 2003, and it wasn’t until the all star break that year when injuries forced him back into the rotation and he won 8 of his 11 last starts and never looked back. As I said, he spent the vast majority of 2000-2003 in the pen figuring it out and then became one of the best pitchers of the decade and winning a couple Cy Youngs.

By: whodeywho

whodeywho — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 04:34:40 +0000

David Price turned out alright.

By: akbled

akbled — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:22:36 +0000

This is really about the only chance he has to help the Reds this year, and its a very slim chance at that. He is far too wild with his command to be of help in the rotation or out of the pen. Now maybe if he can command one pitch decently and he can limit himself to using only two pitches he might, huge might, be ok. He would certainly be best served starting at the minors as he needs a lot of work. There are many pitchers in which this has worked out tremendously for however.

By: bigtrav425

bigtrav425 — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:07:50 +0000

Definitely a bad move! keep the guy as a starter he had good stuff in spring training!

By: Kung

Kung — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:37:46 +0000

Most of the guys who were later successful who started their MLB careers in the bullpen were already a lot more polished than somebody like Chapman. If you already have command of your secondary stuff, then I can see how a bullpen apprenticeship can help, in addition to limiting innings for a young arm.
However, somebody like Chapman really needs to develop his secondary stuff first before considering him for a bullpen role. This is like the Mets with Jenrry Mejia (sp?). Finally, they’ve admitted he should be starting in the minors to develop his offspeed pitches. The Reds should do this too.
Of course, if the Reds had Mariano Rivera to teach Chapman a cutter, well, that would be a definite point in favor of bullpen work.

By: CYGNUS X-1

CYGNUS X-1 — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:33:46 +0000

just perfect,you get a guy who could be one of the greats and because he is not prgressing as fast as you want and because of his contract you are making him a reliever and rushing up.yea this is going to work out well for the reds.they should have done what the nationals did with straussberg and started him out in aa and let him dominate and get confidance before promiting him to aaa.panic move by a guy who I thought was supposed to be a genius gm that would turn the reds around the right way.if they were going to send anyone to the pen it should be johnny 5,I mean queto who only goes 5 innings at the most and always gives up that many runs except when he plays the pirates.the reds need an ace that can give you 7-8 innings consistantly with a few complete games tossed in.look for chapman to have arm problems within a year and his carrer to short and a bust.

By: CYGNUS X-1

CYGNUS X-1 — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:31:50 +0000

By: Anon

Anon — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:19:39 +0000

Santata did start in the pen, and was wasted there. It took about 3 appearances before everyone with half a brain was demanding that he be placed into the rotation.
This is a mistake. Let the guy start,

By: Dan W

Dan W — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:13:04 +0000

Apologies for the multiple postings – not sure what happened.

By: Dan W

Dan W — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:11:05 +0000

Ben S – That is a semi-ignorant statement. There is a very limited sample size in this day in age of players like that, so you are correct in that regard.
This method using a player in the pen first used to be the way many pitchers came up. Look back to the game in the mid century – it was very common.
It is stilled used today and I have no problem with it. If you have a need in the pen, use it to get a future SP some experience.
Think about it, which is better, getting out AAA hitters, or learning how to get out MLB hitters? I think it is a good move by the pen AS LONG AS the Reds don’t make it a permament move and anoint him a future closer.

By: Dan W

Dan W — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:10:37 +0000

By: Dan W

Dan W — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:09:45 +0000

By: rob

rob — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:09:24 +0000

Jocketty has seen success with this type of move in the past. Dan Haren and Adam Wainwright are prominent examples of this strategy working. It’s something that was pretty standard back in the day too. For instance, Jim Palmer, Fergie Jenkins, and Gaylord Perry pitched out of the bullpen at the start of their careers.

By: ThatGuy

ThatGuy — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:08:05 +0000

Johan Santana disagrees with you. He started in the pen in 01-02(with a couple spot starts due to other injuries)

By: ben s

ben s — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:43:24 +0000

Ugh, the only time this has ever worked was with Phil Hughes, and even then it didn’t work with Joba. Bad idea.

By: Mark L Smith

Mark L Smith — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:40:15 +0000

Why not have him as a Kris Medlen-type? Let him pitch the 6th and 7th innings. Dusty likes to ruin young arms, so I’m sure he would do it and often.