Back when the New York Yankees weren’t winning every game they played, they had some trouble dealing with the Tampa Bay Rays. During those games filled with tension, Aroldis Chapman threw behind Mike Brosseau and received a controversial three-game suspension.
That night had a benches-clearing incident and also some salty post-game comments from Rays manager Kevin Cash, who indicated that his team also had several pitchers capable of throwing high-90s heat directly toward the Yankees’ hitters.
The Yankees closer, however, may not have to serve his suspension in the shortened 2020 campaign, which is certainly a welcome development since the season is very short and even three games seem like a lot.
The Yankees’ All-Star closer insists he didn’t do it on purpose
According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said today that his All-Star closer could have a second hearing regarding his appeal of the three-game ban stemming from the contest against the Rays.
That development would delay the suspension until next season and allow the lefty fireballer to put the incident behind him for the time being.
Chapman, who had to deal with a bout of COVID-19 to start the season and missed some games, has gone on the record as saying that he didn’t throw at Brosseau’s head on purpose and, per Jack Curry of YES Network, isn’t happy about the length of the punishment.
It is the first time that Chapman has been suspended or punished for an on-field incident in his career. However, he did have to sit for 30 games in 2016 because of a violation of the league’s domestic violence policy.
This season, Chapman has a 3.72 ERA with a 3.71 FIP and a 2.83 xFIP in 9.2 frames. He had a rocky start, likely because of the rust, but has been back to his dominant self as of late and has a 16.76 K/9 mark.