Aroldis Chapman is latest victim of the “Mariano Rivera Effect”
Aroldis Chapman blew his 4th save of the season against the rival Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. He was coming off a dominating performance in the All Star game. The usual “fans” lost their collective minds about how terrible the Cuban Missile is, and talked of “his decline”.
Then a report from The Atlantic’s Ken Rosenthal came out that another player told him that he was one million percent sure Chapman would opt out of his contract after the season. The timing and reporting seemed pretty curious.
Chapman assured fans and media that the report wasn’t true, since he hasn’t even had the conversation with his agent.
Some fans aren’t so sure he won’t opt out, and honestly, Chapman would be crazy not to test the open market, assuming he pitches well and stays healthy down the stretch.
If you don’t think Chappy is the best closer in the game, you aren’t watching baseball. There aren’t many top notch closers locking it down year-in and year-out. It’s a tough job and Yankee fans have become spoiled.
I refer to it as the “Mariano Rivera” Effect, whereby Yankee fans believe that all relievers should be dominating, strike-throwing machines. Mo was the greatest closer of All-Time. That’s not even in dispute with the Hall of Fame voters, who unanimously elected him to Cooperstown.
From 1997–2013, Rivera was a 5 time World Series Champion, a 13 time All-Star, MLB’s all time savers leader with 652, and games finished with 952, and even finished in the top 3 of the American League Cy Young Award 4 times. He was even better in the post season.
That’s the problem. Yankee fans have come to have unrealistic expectations for relievers. Dave Robertson and Andrew Miller did well stepping into Mariano Rivera’s shoes. Before Mo, there was John Wetteland, Dave Righetti, Goose Gossage.. their legacies now inflated as time has passed by.
Aroldis Chapman has saved 260 of 288 save opportunities in 7 years as a closer (2012–2018) a 90.3 save percentage, and he has a 2.08 ERA, an 0.98 WHIP and 177 BB while striking out 708 in 415 1/3 IP.
Mariano Rivera in his first 7 years as a closer (1997–2003) saved 278 of 318 opportunities, an 87.4 save percentage, he had a 2.16 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and a 113 BB while striking out 401 in 475 IP. I’m not saying Aroldis is better, but the numbers do. Mariano did it for 17 seasons. Chapman has only done it for 7.
They match up well, and Chapman has a long way to go to get there, but he can be one of the All-Time Greats. He doesn’t have Mariano’s smooth delivery or composure. Rivera often grinned when he gave up a hit. The Missile is usually sweating profusely before he throws his first pitch. He’s not Mo. No one is or will ever be. But Chapman is about as close to Mo as fans should hope to expect.
Aroldis Chapman may opt out. Let’s hope he stays.
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