How Yankees plan to proceed after Chad Green stars as closer over Aroldis Chapman
Published: Jul. 08, 2021, 7:30 a.m.
Slumping All-Star reliever Aroldis Chapman was passed over for a save situation on Wednesday night.AP
By Randy Miller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
SEATTLE — Aaron Boone's plan for Wednesday night was to wing it if the Yankees got to the ninth in a save situation. The manager also decided that Aroldis Chapman would be an option despite his horrific struggles over the last month. Why? Who knows?
Here's one more thing that was on Boone's mind:
He was tempted to stay away from his best replacement option because Chad Green threw 35 pitches last Sunday night working a three-inning save to close out a Subway Series, Game 2 doubleheader win at Yankee Stadium.
And then late into a chilly evening in the Pacific Northwest, the Yankees had themselves a one-run lead through 8 ½ innings. It was big decision time for Boone, who realized his best option was not giving the ball to his All-Star closer.
Instead, Boone opted for his hottest and most reliable late-inning reliever, and it worked to Mariano Rivera perfection. Chad Green entered in the ninth, worked a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts, and the Yankees stretched their winning streak to three with a 5-4 survival that could have turned into another season-altering loss if Chapman had come in and blown up again.
"I just felt like that's what the game called for right there," Boone said. "Obviously Greenie is throwing the ball incredibly well. And with the one-run game and Chappy coming off 20-some pitches (Tuesday) night, I want to make sure I get him in situations that I feel really good about. I just felt like Greenie was the right call."
Green was the right call regardless of Chapman throwing 24 pitches the night before when he was shaky again working a scoreless ninth to seal a 12-1 series-opening win in Seattle.
Until Chapman gets straightened out, and he's in the worst slump of his career, a case can be made that Green should keep on closing because the Yankees can't afford to give away more games. They've done that enough during their disappointing first half, and Chapman's been a culprit.
As for Green, he's the Yanks' most reliable high-leverage reliever with Chapman's control way off and Zack Britton on the injured list again. Green lowered his ERA to 2.23 with Wednesday night's save and since June 8 has allowed one run over 15 2/3 innings with 21 strikeouts and one walk.
"He's in a really good spot," Boone said. "He's making very few mistakes. I know I talk delivery all the time and I don't always know what I'm talking about, but I know he is in a really good spot delivery wise and I think that's lending itself to seeing the breaking ball as consistent as it's ever been. But he's throwing a fastball where and how he wants to throw it over and over again."
Then why not ride the hot hand?
That may be Boone's plan through Sunday and perhaps initially when the Yanks return from the All-Star break next Thursday to play four at home against the first-place Red Sox.
Long-term?
Chapman still is the Yankees' closer.
"I feel like Aroldis is ready to go," Boone said. "He's ready to close when necessary. He's ready for other situations and we'll continue to talk as this thing continues to evolve and as we continue to try and get him back to the Aroldis that we know that he is."
Chapman might be having a Hall of Fame career — at least during regular seasons — but he never was better from April through early June this season pitching to an 0.39 ERA with 43 strikeouts over 23 innings in his first 23 appearances. And he's probably never been worse running up an 18.90 ERA over his last 10 outings with nine strikeouts and 11 walks over 6 2/3 innings plus three blown saves in seven chances.
With the Yankees fighting to save their season with a 44-41 record that has them fourth in the AL East and 8 ½ games behind Boston, Boone is walking a fine line trying to navigate Chapman's issues while doing what's best to close out games.
One thing that Boone won't consider is redefining Chapman's role post-slump to one similar how Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona used to deploy Andrew Miller, who would pitch in big spots from the fifth inning on.
"Look, there might be some different spots here in the short term as we're getting (Chapman) back on track where I want to get him in a situation where I think he can be really successful," Boone said. "But ultimately I think it's important to remember he's not very far removed from as good as I've ever seen him for a couple of months stretch to start the season. And there's no question in my mind he can get back to that point.
"I want to get him there in a smart way where he has chances to succeed and work through some of the things he's working through, I'm confident that he'll get back to that point, but this thing will continue to evolve."
Meanwhile, the Yankees are rallying around Chapman. Right fielder Aaron Judge delivered an upbeat message when they crossed paths recently:
"Just keep doing your thing, keep working and everything eventually levels out."
"For Chappy, I know he's working on different things, changing different things," Judge added. "But he's still our closer. He's still the guy I want in any big situation to close out a game for us."
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For the time being, Chapman's confidence surely is shaken somewhat, and probably way more so than when he blew a couple of really big games that ended the Yankees' season in 2019 and 2020. Those were just bad pitches that led to a couple of devastating home runs. This is repeated massive struggles.
"Obviously confidence comes with performance and pitching well, but I think he's in good spirits," Green said. "I think we're there for him. We're just trying to be good teammates. We all have our different struggles at times. If you play this game long enough, those situations are going happen, so you just try to be there for him."
Green was there for the Yankees on Wednesday night closing out the Mariners on 18 pitches, the last a 96-mph fastball that he blew by Shed Long Jr.
"He was really sharp again," Boone said.
Boone did his job well, too, doing what he had to do in the ninth.
"I was considering staying away from Green altogether just with his work the other night," Boone said. "But how that game unfolded … I just felt in my gut it called for Greenie in that spot, and that's why I went with him."
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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.