Idiotic Move

Aroldis Chapman is one of my favorite players. He comes in to the game and adds electricity to the crowd. He is fun to watch and exciting to see. Every pitch he throws can eclipse 100 miles per hour. If the Reds convert him into a starter, it would be their biggest mistake since getting rid of Josh Hamilton.

Lets be honest. Even to a true baseball fan, the end of games can be very boring. With all the pitching changes and the left handed and right handed match ups, the games can also feel very elongated. Chapman will come in the 9th or even the 8th and work his magic. The crowd's electricty will return. In tie ball games he can pitch the 9th and 10th inning to get through those innings. 

The Reds already have a nice rotation. Cueto, Latos, Leake, Arroyo, and Bailey is a solid 5. They can still add another pitcher. Greinke, Dempster, Lohse, Jackson, and Dan Haren are still available and are probably affordable for the Reds. 

Chapman has reached 106 miles per hour on his fast ball and that is the kind of thing that drives fans crazy. If he is a starter, you can bet that he may reach 100 miles per hour only a few times in a start. You can also bet that he won't pitch for more than 5 innings very often. So think about it. Would you rather have 5 innings and 3 runs every 5 days or 4 innings, 4 saves, and 0 runs every 5 days. 

Also like Kerry Wood and Joba Chamberlain, a flame throwing starter is definitly high risk of injury.

With Broxton resigning with the Reds and Chapman remaining as the closer, the opposing team won't be able to take the heat at the end of the game.