Chapman Dazzled

Aroldis Chapman has a fastball that can be heard but not seen.

“It sounded like he was throwing real hard. I couldn’t see it (laughs). He gets it up there. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a longer stride. It looked like he was going to run out of mound. He’s very impressive, especially that’s tall and lanky being able to change his release time as effectively as he did and still get his arm to his proper slot and spin the ball. Their (radar) gun wasn’t working, but it looked like about a 90 miles per hour slider today. That’s tough to square up. He was very impressive,” Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said after the Reds beat his club 14-5 on Monday.

During spring training when a player leaves the game, they either run in the outfield or go to take extra swings. That didn't happen today.

The players on both teams jostled for room along the dugout railing to watch the 22-year old Cuban pitcher throw over 100 miles an hour pitches.

The game drew just 2,000 people but the section directly behind home plate had more radar guns than the Ohio Highway Patrol on Memorial Day weekend. They were truly thicker than bugs on a bumper.

I sat in front of a radar gun toting scout who read off the speeds to former manager and current scout, Ned Yost.

98,98, 102, yes I said 102, 97, 98, 100. I wrote them down on my score sheet. I asked the person next to me if she heard the same thing. Affirmative.

He snapped off a slider at 90 mph. His change up was 80. That variance in speed makes it extremely difficult to hit.

The first hitter he faced was Brayan Pena, who is also from Cuba.

Pena singled but after he got loose, no one touched him.

He walked Brian Anderson, then fanned the next 3 out of 4 hitters. Chris Getz had the misfortune of getting a look or sound of a 100 mile an hour fastball for strike three.

"I'll take 100 with command," Dusty Baker said with a broad smile on his face. "It's hard to tell how hard he's throwing. He looks like he's not putting any effort in it. He was closed to the plate when he missed and when he missed, he missed down."

Chapman talked to the press through Tony Fossas. Fossas is of Cuban descent who is the pitching coach for the Reds' Dayton Dragons.

"I felt better than the last game that I threw," Chapman said. "I usually start off slower. As the game goes on I usually throw harder. I felt like I was able to be more aggressive against another team. I didn't have to worry so much about throwing inside."