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The closer has had a brutal stretch that continued in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Mets.
SEATTLE — In the midst of the worst rut of his career, Aroldis Chapman took to Instagram on Monday night to say he intends to prove people wrong.
The closer — who Aaron Boone indicated might be at least temporarily removed from the role due to his recent struggles — has had a brutal stretch that continued in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Mets, when he allowed a game-tying homer to Pete Alonso in the top of the ninth and gave up three runs without retiring a batter.
He was booed off the mound in The Bronx.
“For all those people that criticize my bad moments, I will tell them that I do not know how my story ends, but in its pages you will never read, ‘I gave up,’” Chapman wrote in both English and Spanish. “So I will move on. I still have many wars to win and many mouths to shut up.”
He’s got his work cut out for him, since Sunday’s implosion was just the latest in a cascade of awful outings for the left-hander who was dominant for much of the early part of the season — but has been a disaster of late.
Chapman’s ERA was 0.41 in 22 appearances prior to June 3. Since then, it’s 18.90 in 10 outings.
There has been much speculation that his stumble is due to MLB’s crackdown on pitchers using foreign substances, but Chapman has insisted he didn’t use sticky substances and Boone has pointed to more of a mechanical issue for Chapman.
No matter the reason, Chapman entered Tuesday having given up leads in three straight appearances, while allowing 24 baserunners in his last 5 ⅔ innings.
Boone over the weekend indicated he would consider Chad Green or Jonathan Loaisiga to be used in save situations until Chapman gets straightened out.
With the Yankees just a game over .500 — and Chapman at the center of their two most horrific losses — it may be too late.
This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Dan Martin
