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Aroldis Chapman called his recent streak “probably the most difficult moment of my career, for sure”.
It’s hard to imagine anything worse.
He came in on Sunday night after pitching scoreless innings on his previous two outings, but neither was particularly impressive or in a stopping situation.
Prior to those appearances, Chapman had allowed 14 earned runs – and four homers – in 5 ² / ₃ innings for an ERA of 22.24.
While Aaron Boone did not come out and said Chapman was no longer the closest, the manager used Chad Green in the team’s most recent save situation, when the Yankees lost a lead of five points in the ninth in Houston in the last game of the first half.
“It’s obviously difficult, but it’s even more difficult because as a team we haven’t played [how] we expect, ”Chapman said through a performer ahead of Sunday’s series final against the Red Sox in the Bronx.
“Going through a difficult time now is even more difficult. I’ve been through tough times throughout my career and that’s okay when you play this game. But right now, when you know every win matters so much, when you know when you’re not doing your job, it usually means that you will end up losing the game, this is the hardest part.
When asked what has changed since his dominance at the start of the season, when he had a 0.39 ERA in his first 23 games, Chapman pointed to many factors.
In addition to the mechanical issues he is working on, Chapman said he was “overconfident” and that got him in trouble.
“Confidence is the key to my role,” Chapman said. “It can hurt you anyway. If you are not confident it can hurt you. If you are overconfident, it can hurt you. I think it all started with feeling overconfident. You combine that with some mechanical stuff, it just got out of hand.
He said of his confidence now, “It’s really good. There is a hunger there and a fire to get back to where I was when I started the season.
Chapman added that he was so messy on the mound that after being named to the American League All-Star squad, he told Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash he didn’t want to participate in the match.
“From the start I had my doubts about making the All-Star Game,” Chapman said.
He told Cash he “didn’t feel in a very good position to come in and pitch.”
Chapman decided to attend the game in Colorado to support protesters in Cuba, who are calling for a change in the country’s government following food and electricity shortages due in part to the effects of COVID-19.
“I understood this was a good opportunity to send a message to my Cuban community,” Chapman said. “I felt for a while that there was a lot of attention and people watching.”
Chapman and Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia wrote “SOS Cuba” on their All-Star Game hats.
“It was a message of hope for my fellow citizens in Cuba,” Chapman said of the listing. “The regime has ruled the country for over 60 years. … We hope to end communism in the country.
He is optimistic that the exhibition has helped their cause.
“For people who think Cuba is a paradise, it is not a paradise,” Chapman said. “There is a lot of hunger, a lot of oppression of the people in Cuba. It was about raising awareness. There are a lot of people on the streets protesting and asking for help from the United States. “
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