Kahnle can throw mid-90s fastballs. I think he needs to throw more fastballs to make his change-up more effective. He often gets away with throwing almost 100% change-ups, but I think over time this isn't effective for him. The Sox were just sitting on the
change-up.
Chapman was throwing 101/102-mph in the 9th last night and hitting his spots. Pretty impressive for Malloy to hit a double on a 101-mph fastball.
Torres at least made contact and grounded out to advance the pinch runner McKinstry to 3rd base. Torres grounded out on an 87-mph slider after falling behind 0-2 in the count on a couple of 99+ mph fastballs and fouling off a 100-mph fastball that was way
up and away. That actually wasn't a bad at-bat for Torres.
Perez got up 2-0 in the count against Chapman with McKinstry at 3rd and 1 out, but Perez couldn't catch up to a couple of 101-102 mph fastballs up in the zone. He struck out swinging on an 88-mph slider. The Tigers might as well have tried for
a squeeze play with Perez or had McKinstry try to steal home. LOL!
Tork had little chance against Chapman. He took a 100-mph fastball for a strike, fouled off a couple of heaters, and fell behind 0-2. He took a 102-mph fastball that was up and away for a ball, and eventually struck out on a slider.
Chapman going between 100+mph fastballs and 87/88-mph sliders was deadly.
The Tigers need a Chapman in their bullpen.
The Tigers actually have had a chance to acquire Chapman a few times in recent years but stay away from him. I know he has a domestic violence record, which always makes me wary of signing him. He's a heck of a closer when he's on (sometimes he can get a
bit wild).
(Gregory Soto was sort of Chapman-lite, but Soto never could get enough command of his stuff).
Peter