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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2010 > March > 12 > Entry
Why is somebody from Cuba named Chapman?
PHOENIX, Ariz. -Every time Aroldis Chapman sneezes, a writer is close enough to say, “Bless you,” even though Chapman doesn’t understand a word of it.
Through interpreter Tony Fossas, the Dayton Dragons pitching coach, Chapman was asked if he is already tired of the attention and he said, clearing in English (which in this case also was Spanish), “No, no, no.”
Catcher Ramon Hernandez heard it and said, “He doesn’t understand English so he has no idea what is going on around him.”
Manager Dusty Baker made a solid point about the 22-year-old lefthanded Cuban defector: “If he didn’t sign for all that money ($30.25 million), nobody would know about him or be paying attention to him.”
Well, maybe. Maybe not.
When you throw 100 miles an hour fastballs, 90 miles an hour sliders and 80 miles an hour change-ups, it is hard not to gather notice.
Chapman pitched two more scoreless innings (two infield hits, two strikeouts, 35 pitches, 20 strikes) as the Cincinnati Reds beat a Los Angeles Dodgers split squad, 3-2.
What was impressive is that in his second inning, Chapman faced three Dodgers regulars. Andre Ethier fouled out on the second pitch. Matt Kept swung and missed a 3-and-2 change-up. Casey Blake took a 3-and-2 change-up for strike three, a change-up thrown so hard that most thought it was a 90 miles an hour slider.
Impressive.
OK, QUICK question. How can a Cuban be named Chapman?
“My ancestors are from Jamaica and moved to Cuba,” said Chapman. OK, mon, so who in Jamaica is named Chapman. I digress.
Chapman fiddled and fuddled with his breaking pitches, sliders, most of the day and showed frustration and irritation at times Friday.
“Personally, I felt good, but I missed a couple of pitches that I was trying to put over the plate but they went the other way,” he said. “The last couple of games I have not used the break ball at all, so I wanted to throw more on the last couple of hitters so I could work on them.”
AND SPEAKING of attentive media, mostly out-of-town guys seem intent on trying to get manager Dusty Baker to commit to sticking Chapman in the rotation and he won’t bite.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The main thing is we have to keep him in the rotation and see how he does. See how he is because we don’t really know what we have yet.
“Possibly everybody is getting ahead of themselves with this kid,” Baker added. With what Chapman has done so far, mainly spin the dials on radar guns, Baker was asked if he understands the super-hype and the massive attention.
“Yeah, I understand it,” Baker said. “But I don’t have to adhere to it. First, we want him to fit in with the guys. We got him to pitch and let’s let him pitch right now.”
JONNY GOMES hit a two-run homer, his second this spring (Shouldn’t he be the starting left fielder, left handed pitcher or right handed pitcher?) and Chris Heisey cracked a solo shot for the three Reds runs and a 3-0 lead trudging into the ninth. But Carlos Fisher gave up two in the ninth and Justin Smith came on with the tying run on first and got the last out.
Bronson Arroyo got the win with three scoreless innings as the starter.
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By jb
March 16, 2010 5:01 PM | Link to this
Slave owners in Jamaica (and Cuba) would have been named Chapman.
By rich
March 16, 2010 12:16 PM | Link to this
Anyone remember a Cuban boxer named Teofilo Stevenson?
By indygeo
March 14, 2010 3:36 PM | Link to this
And give me a grammar lesson … “it’s” should be its. My bad.
By Indygeo
March 14, 2010 3:34 PM | Link to this
O.K. Hal. We’ll give you a history lesson and John Saunders on ESPN a geography lesson. Jamaica was settled by the British, hence much of the population has English surnames; it’s inhabitants are not descendants of Spanish settlers. John Saunders (in taking Torii Hunter to task and making the point that Dominicans of Africans are as black as he is) referred to the “island of the Dominican Republic”; no such thing - it is the island of Hispanola, roughly half of which is Haiti and the other half is the Dominican Republic. School’s out.
By Whackreds.com
March 14, 2010 4:28 AM | Link to this
100 mph! That is whack!
By Tom
March 13, 2010 5:50 PM | Link to this
Cuba has had a lot of immigration since Columbus discovered it over 500 years ago, so an English surname is not so unusual. I’m pulling for Heisey to make the team, although as a starting outfielder it seems a long shot. But he seems to have it all together, offense, defense and speed.
By westsider
March 13, 2010 2:14 PM | Link to this
Chapman’s a relatively ubiquitous surname in Jamaica, actually.
By Ralphie
March 13, 2010 10:29 AM | Link to this
Dusty: “First, we want him to fit in with the guys.” That could start by speaking some English. Let’s face it, he’s not going back to Cuba. With that kind of scratch I think he can afford a tutor.
By Kevin
March 13, 2010 9:59 AM | Link to this
If Stubbs is the starting centerfielder then there is NO WAY that Gomes should start over Dickerson in left.Its not just about hitting home runs its about hitting period and CDick is a much better hitter than Gomes will ever be. Not to mention hes by far much better defensivley. Personally, I hope Heisy makes the team and Gomes doesnt.
By Bob
March 13, 2010 9:45 AM | Link to this
Jamaica was under British rule for centuries and is still part of the British commonwealth. “Chapman” sounds British to me.
By steven ross
March 13, 2010 9:30 AM | Link to this
JONNY GOMES hit a two-run homer, his second this spring (Shouldn’t he be the starting left fielder?) Yes! Everyone knows this except Dusty. Typical right-lefty nonsense with Baker.
By MAC
March 13, 2010 9:05 AM | Link to this
Totally agree on Dickerson & Gomes comment. I think it’s time to ask Dusty, “How much more does CD have to do before he is considered for the starting CF spot?” Likewise, Gomes needs to play to give Rolen some protection AB! Way to go JB, it’s great to see this kid consistently hitting the ball. No doubt it’s still very early, but Reds have some nice pieces playing well.
By Yodasbrother
March 13, 2010 8:42 AM | Link to this
Dickerson - Center. Gomes - Left. Dusty seems to be handling Chapman very well. The Bonds’ circus experience is probably really going to help the Reds. Dusty does not sound like he will be intimidated too easily.
By mamapo
March 13, 2010 7:38 AM | Link to this
Way to go Jonny! I want to win that lunch with Hal, so keep working to earn that left field Opening Day position!
By Wizard
March 12, 2010 9:35 PM | Link to this
C Dickerson .429 .538 .385 D Stubbs .250 .308 .077