TAMPA — Three years ago, it was the beginning of Mariano Rivera’s farewell tour. A year later, it was the opening leg of Derek Jeter’s goodbye. Last February, the biggest buzz in Yankees camp was Alex Rodriguez’s return from a year-long suspension.
Now as the Yankees’ spring training opens with the initial workout for pitchers and catchers Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the biggest story is one drowning in ugliness: Aroldis Chapman’s alleged domestic abuse situation, which likely will result in the new closer being suspended at the start of the season.
Even though Chapman wasn’t charged in the late October incident because of insufficient evidence, MLB had a team of investigators look into the events of the evening at Chapman’s house in Davie, Fla., where he admitted to police that he fired a gun eight times inside his garage. His girlfriend initially told police Chapman choked and pushed her.
Much of Joe Girardi’s press conference Thursday, which lasted more than 32 minutes, contained questions about Chapman’s situation.
Sweating heavily while fielding questions at his locker, Chapman offered little information about a possible suspension that likely will delay the much anticipated late-game Yankees bullpen of Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Chapman.
Chapman, who was acquired from the Reds for four minor leaguers in late December after the Dodgers walked away from a deal for the gas-throwing lefty when details of the incident surfaced, said he hasn’t met with MLB officials and didn’t have plans to, but admitted he was interviewed by MLB investigators. However, Chapman couldn’t recall when that was. If suspended, Chapman plans to appeal it.
Chapman declined to discuss what he told the investigators.
“I understand that everybody is worried about the issue, I understand everybody wants to know, but it is something that is out of my hands,’’ Chapman said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “My main focus is play baseball. I am happy to be here and I can’t wait to get started.’’
Whenever Chapman’s season begins, he can be expected to be heavily booed away from The Bronx and by the Yankee Stadium crowd if he pitches poorly.
Girardi didn’t take Chapman’s vow to appeal a suspension as a sign the pitcher, 28 later this month, believes he is innocent.
“I think it tells you he wants to question the suspension,’’ Girardi said. “In his mind does it tell me he thinks he didn’t do something wrong? I don’t know if it says that.’’
Girardi says he hasn’t read the police report.
“I will read it, but to me the most important thing is getting to know him more than the report,’’ said Girardi, who named Chapman his closer over Miller or Betances because he had the most experience in the ninth inning. “I have always felt to get the most out of a player, to really understand the player, you have to get to know them and get to their heart, and I can’t do that from a police report.’’
The Yankees knew what they were getting into from the moment they acquired Chapman and fully understand how domestic violence is a hot topic in professional sports. But they also knew an arm — especially a left one — that regularly pushes speed guns into triple digits is impossible to find.
It is that fastball that has Betances, who has registered 100 mph with his heater, anxious to see Chapman live.
“I can’t wait. Obviously you don’t get to see that speed,’’ said Betances, who didn’t do any physical work for a month following the season and didn’t throw for two months. “His arms are huge. I am excited to see how fast he can throw it up close.’’
Why would a pitcher who has reached 100 mph be jacked about seeing another hurler touch 103?
“The difference is he throws it constantly, I throw it once in a blue [moon],’’ Betances said. “I think the crowd at Yankee Stadium is going to wait instead of leaving early to beat traffic. They are going to stay late to see 102, 103 104. That’s a lot harder than a lot of us throw.’’