The Cincinnati Reds have been rumored to moving Aroldis Chapman to the starting rotation following their acquisition of Jonathan Broxton. However, as history shows us, moving young power pitchers from the bullpen to the starting rotation, or vice versa, results in complete failure.
However popular the move has been in the past, is it the right one to make?
I don't like it.
Automatically, the New York Yankees come to mind. They protected a young Joba Chamberlain. Limited his innings and then stashed him in the bullpen.
This move failed as their right hander always seems to suffer from some sort of arm injury even before he was at home jumping on trampolines.
Then you have the most recent case of a closer becoming a starter in Neftali Feliz of the Texas Rangers.
Yeah. That was short lived.
Feliz tapped out after seven starts and had the Tommy John procedure performed following his injury.
He pitched decently going 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA.
Personally, if I was Neftali, I wouldn't want to be a closer anymore after not being able to finish up the World Series for my team in two opportunities.
But that's just me.
Anyways, let's get back to business.
Chapman has a cannon of an arm, Randy Johnson like with the speed and deadly slider. However, the lefty has already experienced arm fatigure in 2012 and that was as a closer.
Granted, relief pitchers end up throwing hundreds of innings as they warm up in the bullpen, Chapman went just 71.2 innings in 2012.
In mid-September, manager Dusty Baker had to sit Chapman due to "arm fatigue."
I get he is a super talented guy and he's not supposed to be in the bullpen, but why fix something that's not broken?
If anything Chapman might get injured and the Reds will be left with a hole in their starting rotation.
Better yet, what if the Reds can't close games with Broxton on the hill? Sean Marshall proved he couldn't close in 2012 and that was the main reason why they got him from the Chicago Cubs.
Best case scenario, Chapman comes out winning and remains healthy for the entire season, while Broxton handles business as the closer.
With great conditioning Chapman can make the transition, but the past doesn't allow me to say this with a lot of confidence.
