What Say You? Kimbrel or Chapman?

The game of baseball is always evolving.  When Babe Ruth played, there was no such thing as a closer; you only went to the bullpen when it was absolutely necessary.  No one had ever heard of a pitch count or a five-man rotation.  But over time, the game has changed and adjusted and now every single roster spot has a purpose.  There is no one on the bench that does not have a specific role.  You have the right-handed pinch hitting specialist, the left-handed pinch hitting specialist, the defensive specialist, platoon guys, left-handed pitchers out of the pen to get out lefties only, right-handed pitchers out of the pen to get out righties only, and your long relief guys.  Everyone has a function right down to the twenty-fifth man on the team.

The game has become specialized in every aspect and it has happened over the past two and half decades; especially when it comes to relief pitchers.  Before the mid-1980s, the average bullpen would have had about five guys; carrying eleven pitchers on the roster would have been unusual. Now, most teams carry twelve pitchers; each with a specialized role.  The most coveted of these specialized positions in the bullpen is that of closer.

The idea of how to use a closer was forever changed during the 1987 season when Tony LaRussa had the idea to use a 33 year-old, washed up starting pitcher who had been relegated to the pen as a closer.  The move worked; propelling the Oakland A’s to three consecutive World Series (one of which they won) and Dennis Eckersley to the Hall of Fame.  While baseball had seen a bevy of exciting closers in the prior decade (Goose Gossage, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, et al.), none were used in the manner that Eckersley would be over the next decade.  From the beginning of the 1988 season until the end of 1997, Eckersley saved 386 games in 453 opportunities. 

So, what was the major difference? Eckersley was charged with primarily coming in and pitching only one inning to close out the game.  In years past, a closer would come in and pitch two, or three if necessary, innings to finish a ball game.  While, Eckersley did accumulate some inning plus saves, as time progressed the bullpen required set up men to bridge the gap from starter to closer, virtually eliminating the need for multiple inning saves.

As we near to stretch run for the 2012 campaign, two young closers have emerged as guys who any general manager would love to build their bullpen around.  And when you take a look at both of theses guys, there numbers are remarkably similar, which is why both are being considered early NL Cy Young contenders.  Both are just 24 years old and were named to the All-Star Team this season and both are dominating hitters in the heat of a pennant race.  Of course, the two pitchers I am talking about are the Southern flamethrower for the Atlanta Braves, Craig Kimbrel, and Mr. Cuban Missile himself, Aroldis Chapman, of the Cincinnati Reds.  Here’s a peak at what both have to offer.

Craig Kimbrel

When Kimbrel was called up to the major leagues the first time in May of 2010, just days before turning 22, he made the decision to pick the brain of then Atlanta closer, Billy Wagner, who was retiring at the end of the year.  Kimbrel was expected to inherit the closer’s role in 2011 so anything he could glean from one of the best left-handed relievers to ever close ballgames would be priceless.  Kimbrel, who happens to be a righty but has a similar stature and build as Wagner, parlayed that into immediate success.  Kimbrel ran away with the Rookie of the Year award last season, notching a league leading 46 saves and blowing only eight.  The only problem in that storybook season was the fatigue that settled in during the month of September when Atlanta suffered an historic collapse (let’s hope that what happened in 2011 stays in 2011) and missed the playoffs.  Here’s a look at what the humble righty has done so far this season.

G    IP   SV  BS  W-L  ERA  WHIP  H  BB  K   K/9

48  48    32   2     0-1    1.13    0.65    19  12  86  16.1

Aroldis Chapman

During the World Baseball Classic in 2009, one of the shining stars was a twenty-one year old, skinny left-handed Cuban with a lightning bolt arm.  Everyone knew that eventually he would defect and make his way to the major leagues and that is exactly what happened when the Cuban national team happened to be playing in a tournament in the Netherlands later that year.  The only surprise was the small market major league team who landed such a big fish: the historically miserly Cincinnati Reds.  With Chapman locked in for five seasons at $25 million, the Reds were readying themselves to take a leap in the standings.  After spending most of the 2010 season in the minors, trying to determine whether he fit the rotation or the bullpen better (as well as trying to gain better command of his electric stuff) Chapman finally made his debut in late August as the Reds were poised to win their first division in fifteen years.  After a few ups and downs early in 2011, Chapman rebounded and put together a solid rookie season.  Several times his fastball has been clocked at 105 MPH and his changeup has more speed on in it than your average starter.  This season, after starting the season as set up man, Chapman has emerged as the closer for the team with the best record in baseball.  Here is a look at what the flamboyant lefty has been able to accomplish so far this season.

G   IP   SV  BS  W-L  ERA  WHIP  H  BB  K    K/9

60  64  33    37   5-4   1.27     0.72    30  16  113 15.9

Verdict

While I don’t think you would suffer by picking either guy to close out games for your team, and the numbers are really too close to help one make the call, the marginal differences are enough for me to decide on whom I would take to close out games for me.  Craig Kimbrel.  It really boils down to minutia at this point.  While both young men are just 24 years of age, Kimbrel seems to carry himself with more maturity on and off the field.  Chapman, at times, has found himself at the center of controversy (on the field for doing somersaults off the mound after closing a game, off the field for getting arrested for driving 90+ MPH on a suspended license), but hopefully these are the mistakes of a young man who has found himself to be a multimillionaire and a superstar before ever putting on a major league uniform.  This reason alone is enough to sway my vote.  So, what say you, folks?  Kimbrel or Chapman?

*This is the first in a series of What Say You? comparisons over the next few weeks.  Coming soon, look for the Mike Trout or Bryce Harper? comparison.