In case some of you have not heard of him, Aroldis Champman made his first debute in MLB as a Cincinnati Red tonight.
Who is Aroldis Champman? He is a Cuban native who pitched for the Cuban national team and helped win the World Series Classic in 2009. Why is he such a special player you may ask? In short, he has the arm of a cannon pitching with velocities as high as 108 mph at times. Before the World Series Classic, however, he tried to defect from Cuba in 2008. As a penalty for doing so, his Cuban captor and warden, namely Castro, gave him a suspension from the team. It was deemed a conditional repreive. After all, he was far too talented to ban from Cuban baseball and was later allowed to return in 2009 for the World Series Classic. Then later that year, he was able to defect in Rotterdam Nehterlands and immediately petitioned MLB to enter the draft. Shocking the baseball world, the small market team Reds acquired Chapman in a 6 year deal worth over $30 million. Most had pegged him to go to a big market team like the Yankees or Red Sox.
Tonight Chapman came out of the bull pen to pitch the 8th inning against the Brew Crew making his ML debute. His first pitch was 98 mph and his fastest pitch was 103 mph. In all, he made 8 pitches to retire the side. The energy was electric as I watched the man-child Chapman basically look as though he made major league hitters pee themselves at the plate.
All I can say to all you Yankee and Red Sox fans out there is EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT BABY!!
😀
At least, that is until his contract is up around 2012. :'(
Welcome to America Aroldis Chapman!! I am glad you made it out of Alcatraz. You have a bright future indeed.
Originally posted by whodeyyour Reds are doing everything possible to undermine your position about how unfair it is for the small market teams.
In case some of you have not heard of him, Aroldis Champman made his first debute in MLB as a Cincinnati Red tonight.
Who is Aroldis Champman? He is a Cuban native who pitched for the Cuban national team and helped win the World Series Classic in 2009. Why is he such a special player you may ask? In short, he has the arm of a cannon pitching with veloci ...[text shortened]... ica Aroldis Chapman!! I am glad you made it out of Alcatraz. You have a bright future indeed.
Now that the Cardinals seem unable to beat even the worst teams, it appears the Reds are on their way to making this a most interesting post-season.
Chapman could give the Reds the same type of bullpen boost David Price did for the Rays a couple years back. I see them going deep into the playoffs and, if I were a Reds fan, I would tell Whodey that he is not deserving of watching a single post-season game that they play.
Originally posted by whodeyOswold. Papps. Champman. Will people creating threads about high-profile pitchers in this forum ever learn to spell their names correctly?
In case some of you have not heard of him, Aroldis Champman made his first debute in MLB as a Cincinnati Red tonight.
Who is Aroldis Champman? He is a Cuban native who pitched for the Cuban national team and helped win the World Series Classic in 2009. Why is he such a special player you may ask? In short, he has the arm of a cannon pitching with veloci ...[text shortened]... ica Aroldis Chapman!! I am glad you made it out of Alcatraz. You have a bright future indeed.
That aside, I think that Cincinnati have the NL pennant this year. San Diego doesn't score enough runs. The Reds score way too many runs for them not to score against the Padres. And they have exceptional young pitching and continue to add guys like Chapman. San Francisco, Atlanta, and Philadelphia I am still not sold on. Any of them could end up as the Wild Card, and Atlanta and Philly are still not that far apart in the East. So I think that the two best teams are the Padres and Reds, of which the Reds are far better. I think, however, that they will lose to the Rays in the World Series. Go Rays!
Originally posted by whodeyWhen A-Rod blasts a moonshot off Chapman into Monument Park in the bottom of the 9th to break 4-4 tie and clinch the 4th game of a 4 game sweep of the World Series, we'll see how enthusiastic you are about him then...
In case some of you have not heard of him, Aroldis Champman made his first debute in MLB as a Cincinnati Red tonight.
Who is Aroldis Champman? He is a Cuban native who pitched for the Cuban national team and helped win the World Series Classic in 2009. Why is he such a special player you may ask? In short, he has the arm of a cannon pitching with veloci ...[text shortened]... ica Aroldis Chapman!! I am glad you made it out of Alcatraz. You have a bright future indeed.
😛
Originally posted by sh76All I can say is tha A-roid better continue taking those steroids!! Of course, if Chapman does the same he may start killing people.
When A-Rod blasts a moonshot off Chapman into Monument Park in the bottom of the 9th to break 4-4 tie and clinch the 4th game of a 4 game sweep of the World Series, we'll see how enthusiastic you are about him then...
😛
Originally posted by golfer1Game on!! 😀
[That aside, I think that Cincinnati have the NL pennant this year. San Diego doesn't score enough runs. The Reds score way too many runs for them not to score against the Padres. And they have exceptional young pitching and continue to add guys like Chapman. San Francisco, Atlanta, and Philadelphia I am still not sold on. Any of them could end up as the Wild C ...[text shortened]... are far better. I think, however, that they will lose to the Rays in the World Series. Go Rays![/b]
Originally posted by MelanerpesI offered a convincing analysis of the situation. Even if my Reds "beat the odds", the bottom line is that they must overcome the odds.
your Reds are doing everything possible to undermine your position about how unfair it is for the small market teams.
Now that the Cardinals seem unable to beat even the worst teams, it appears the Reds are on their way to making this a most interesting post-season.
Originally posted by darvlayYour team is in a good place for two reasons. They have nice whether and no state income taxes. Those are two reasons their salary can remain relativiely low and still attract talent.
I'm a Jays fan. 80 wins and third place in the toughest division seemingly every year since '93. You don't hear me crying about it.