Yes, he’s only a closer, but you can argue that Aroldis Chapman‘s arrival in the Bronx this year was a turning point for the 2016 Yankees.
Since Chapman’s return on May 9, the Yankees have gone 10-4, which includes their current five-game win streak. They’ve climbed out of the cellar in the AL East and into third place – coming within one game of .500. The offense has come to life, the starting pitching has been relatively consistent and the Yankees are showing real signs of life. The turnaround stems from the team’s biggest strength – the bullpen.
Chapman’s presence takes pressure off everyone else. Think about it. He takes pressure off Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, two guys Joe Girardi relied heavily upon during the first 30 games of the season. Miller and Betances no longer have to be “THE guys.” They can defer to Chapman some nights to pitch the stressful innings. I also feel like The Big 3 compete with each other. They’re arguably the three most dominant relievers in baseball. Who wants to be the best of the best?
The starting rotation is also a beneficiary of Chapman. A guy can go six innings now and hand the ball over to the pen. SIX INNINGS! Granted, starting pitchers want to go out there and pitch nine every night, but imagine going to the mound without thinking “If I don’t go at least seven or eight we’re in trouble.” This also allows Girardi to pull his starters early (if the Big 3 are rested) to save some bullets for the rest of the season.
Finally, the offense. Remember, it’s essentially a six inning game now. Just get the lead after six and it’s game over. This eases the pressure on everyone, one through nine. We’ve seen Carlos Beltran come to life. Since Chapman’s return, he’s hitting .353/.393/.784 with five homers, 15 RBI and seven doubles. Even Chase Headley has found it again! He’s hitting .310/.383/.500 with two homers and seven RBI since May 9.
Chapman isn’t the only reason the Yankees have turned it around of late, but he’s a significant part of it. The Yankees will only go as far as their pitching/bullpen takes them. Since the Cuban Missile returned, they’re beginning to climb the standings.
