Aroldis Chapman's 2010 and 2011 IP totals

I voted 200, 220. If there was a 200, 120 option I probably would have voted for that.

The guy went out today with a sore back and the article stated that he had had similar problems in the past.

Are all gigantic lefties who throw 100mph condemned to back problems

Yes.

also, mullets

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interesting

We'll see.

got sent down today. were these MLB or combined MLB/MiLB totals?

tbh i think its year 3 that will be the 0

Early in Randy Johnson's career--third or fourth year, maybe--James wrote something like, "Appreciate him while he's around, because you'll never see anyone like him again." I'm starting to think that's true of Chapman. 92.1 innings into his career, he's given up 40 hits and struck out 142. Has anyone ever come close to matching the H/9 rate over his first 100 innings?

Can we call him a pitcher yet?

Or is he still merely a thrower?

Five fucking days ago:

“The need for young guys is to be a pitcher and not a thrower. But if you’re having good success as a thrower, keep on chucking.” – Baker on Chapman throwing all fastballs Friday

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120602/SPT04/306020072/Jay-Bruce-would-rather-starting-lineup

Josh Hamilton isn't a hitter. He's a swinger.

as in 'to swing'

His stats this year (albeit only 29 IP) are science-fiction: H/9 = 2.17 (!), K/9 = 16.14, ERA = 0.00. He's really cut down on his walks, too--under three per game. There's no real frame of reference for numbers like that. Is he really fragile? I'm slow, so he's just coming onto my radar this year.

He's just tossin' the rock back and forth with some bros.

Call me when he starts mixing it up with an eephus.

Then we might be able to call him a pitcher.

Josh Hamilton isn't a hitter. He's a swinger.

― Grusin' Gang (Andy K), Thursday, June 7, 2012 7:50 PM (44 minutes ago) Bookmark

wait this one might actually be true

TAKE THAT AROLDIS

I really put the curse on this guy.

Has anyone ever struck out two batters an inning past, say, 50 IP? Chapman has 80 K in 42.2 IP.

can't find a list that isn't made up of ERA qualifiers

Chapman has finally gone back to using his slider again and when he can throw that for strikes, the dude is unhittable.

I figured Billy Wagner might be the closest off the top of my head, as he put up some crazy K numbers for a closer and he did strike out 124 in 74.2 innings in 1999. There is no one else I can think of that would have that kind of numbers, even as a reliever.

i hope they're able convert him to a starter because seeing him wasted in the glorified mascot role that is the modern MLB closer is a shame.

gagne?

Gagne's Cy Young year was right there with Chapman in H/9 (37 in 82.1), but a couple behind in K/9 (137, so 14.98). Wagner was between 14-15 three times. I think it's time for an "Ask Bill."

I followed through on a letter to James; he responded after a few days:

Bill: Do you know of any pitcher who has ever averaged two strikeouts per inning over a decent-sized sample (say a minimum of 60 innings)? Aroldis Chapman has struck out 80 in 42.2 IP so far. All the seasonal leaders lists are based on ERA qualifiers, so they don't help; I threw the question out on a message board, and the closest suggestions (Billy Wagner, Eric Gagne) all topped out at 14-15 K/9.
Asked by: Phil Dellio
Answered: 7/24/2012

Taking that record all the way back to 1876, and using 60 innings as the standard all the way...in 1876 Tommy Bond averaged 1.94 strikeouts per 9 innings, leading the National League. In 1877 Bobby Mitchell increased that to 3.69, and in 1878 Mitchell broke his own "record" with 5.74 strikeouts per nine innings.

You have to remember that in this era they would still, for example, change how many strikes were required for a strikeout...one year it was 5, the next year 4, etc...so records were pretty fluid. In 1883 Grasshopper Jim Whitney (so called because he had a tiny little head that looked like a grasshopper's head) struck out 6.04 batters per 9 innings, and in 1884 One Arm Daily (so called because he had only one arm) struck out 8.68 per 9 innings. In 1885 Toad Ramsey (so called because...) struck out 9.46.

We could start the sequence over at 1900, but...let's not. If we credit the 19th century record as a legitimate major league record, that record stood until Bob Feller struck out 11.03 batters per 9 innings in 1936, the remarkable thing being that Feller was only 17 years old at that time. This record stood until Dick Radatz (The Monster) struck out 11.05 per 9 innings in 1963.

That record stood until John Hiller struck out 11.08 in 1975. That record stood until Dwight Gooden struck out 11.39 in 1984; Gooden was only 19 years old, and Gooden was the last starting pitcher to own the record, and the only starting pitcher to own the record since Bob Feller.

Tom Henke broke that record in 1986, at 11.63, and then Henke broke his own record in 1987, at 12.26. Henke's record was broken in 1989 by Rob Dibble, at 12.82; Dibble then broke his own record twice, upping the ante to 13.55 in 1991 and 1992. His record was broken by Billy Wagner. Wagner struck out 14.38 in 1997, then broke his own record twice, with 14.55 in 1998 and 14.95 in 1999.

Wagner's record was broken by Eric Gagne, who struck out 14.98 in 2003. Gagne's record was broken by Carlos Marmol in 2010; Marmol struck out 15.99.

So...Chapman may well break the record. If he doesn't, somebody will within a couple of years, and then it is fairly likely that that person will break his own record once or twice, and then the record will be handed off to somebody else within a few years. Records are made to be broken--in this case probably within five years.

"i hope they're able convert him to a starter because seeing him wasted in the glorified mascot role that is the modern MLB closer is a shame."

They keep saying that's the plan, but it obviously isn't going to happen this year. Part of that is that the Reds (knock wood) have had good production out of their 5 starters. To date, they have still only used 5 starters all year.

I think the original plan was to have him work out of the pen then start in the second half, but then they had the injuries in the bullpen, Marshall was sketchy as the closer and the starters have all been very solid - hence AC is the closer this year.

Jayson Stark ‏@jaysonst
Aroldis Chapman has pitched in 50 games this year. Has at least one strikeout in 49 of them. #ridiculosity

He struck out the side (again) today, extending his games-with-a-strikeout streak to 41. He's also now over two-K's-per-inning: 60 K, 29.2 IP, 2.02. The record for relievers is Kimbrel's 1.85 in 2012.