Reds moving Aroldis Chapman to starting rotation.... Smart Move or Way too Risky?

[3and2Fastball]

Personally I think this is not a smart move. I realize that starters have more value than closers, but Chapman has the potential to be one of the all-time great closers.....seems like a risky move to make

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130109&content_id=40897912&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

[chicagowhitesox1173]

I don't know I think he's got the arm for a starter.

[Cap78]

he is built to close I think. Throws really hard, but only needed to do so for maybe an inning or so.

[dishnet34]

Eh, IMO, it could be a very risky move. Look at what happened to recent reliever-to-starter conversions the past couple years: Daniel Bard, Neftali Feliz, Phil Coke (for a third of a season). I know I'm missing a few, but the only one that I can think of that has actually paid off so far is Chris Sale.

[dominik]

Personally I think this is not a smart move. I realize that starters have more value than closers, but Chapman has the potential to be one of the all-time great closers.....seems like a risky move to make

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

well if you have the choice between 60 innings and 190+ innings it's pretty obvious what is more valuable. and if he doesn't work you can easily move him back to the pen.I don't see a big risk here, you try it and if it doesn't work no big deal (unless he gets hurt).

[dgarza]

the only one that I can think of that has actually paid off so far is Chris Sale.

Derek Lowe kinda recently as well.

[filihok]

It's a no-brainer. If Chapman can start. He should start.

[PlanetZoltan]

Bold prediction: Chapman will be on the DL and having Tommy John surgery by July 1st.

I think this a terrible decision by the Reds. Chapman is basically a one pitch pitcher.

[filihok]

I think this a terrible decision by the Reds. Chapman is basically a one pitch pitcher.

You've got to give him credit for at least two pitches

He throws a slider about 14% of the time

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=10233&position=P#pitchtype

[RaysFan_98]

Bold prediction: Chapman will be on the DL and having Tommy John surgery by July 1st.

I think this a terrible decision by the Reds. Chapman is basically a one pitch pitcher.

Agreed he also won't have that 100+ MPH Fastball pitching in the Rotation coming out of the pen he can come in and let it lose.

[RaysFan_98]

You've got to give him credit for at least two pitches

He throws a slider about 14% of the time

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...on=P#pitchtype

He has a great Slider but he relies to heavily on his FB And a FB that high will only keep guys guessing so long and when he is in the Rotation he will start getting hit hard.

[filihok]

He has a great Slider but he relies to heavily on his FB And a FB that high will only keep guys guessing so long and when he is in the Rotation he will start getting hit hard.

Last year

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=sta&lg=all&qual=100&type=4&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=3,d

Bartolo Colon, Justin Masterson and Ross Detwiler all threw their fastball over 80% of the time. None of their fastballs are nearly as good as Chapman's

[RaysFan_98]

Last year

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=sta&lg=all&qual=100&type=4&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=3,d

Bartolo Colon, Justin Masterson and Ross Detwiler all threw their fastball over 80% of the time. None of their fastballs are nearly as good as Chapman's

Colon gave up 5 HR's against the Rays alone in one game but keep thinking that...............

[Zito75]

I don't know I think he's got the arm for a starter.

I don't think so either... TJ is in his future.

[filihok]

Colon gave up 5 HR's against the Rays alone in one game but keep thinking that...............

Keep thinking what?

Justin Verlander gave up 8 earned runs in less than 6 innings against the Royals.

Sometimes good pitchers get hit.