Youthful Growing Pains

"Control, control, you must learn control!" Reds flame thrower Aroldis Chapman would be wise to take heed of those sage words of advice from Jedi Master Yoda to Luke Skywalker during The Empire Strikes Back. After his second straight apperance without recording an out, manager Dusty Baker dismissed the idea of Chapman going to the minors to work out the kinks; and pitching coach Bryan Price believes the issue is with Chapman's mechanics and, possibly, his confidence. Still it wouldn't surprise me if Chapman is eventually sent to Triple A. Considering his talent and the money the club invested in him, his development should be the utmost of importance. The same holds true for Mike Leake. The only way this organization can cultivate the second coming of The Big Red Machine is by developing its own talent. Does that mean both Chapman and Leake are ticketed for the minors soon? Not necessarily. Chapman may be able to right himself in a bullpen session and be back to dominating hitters and Leake certainly has the stuff to be the long man in the Reds relief corps. However a demotion to Triple A Louisville to straighten things out doesn't mean either pitcher couldn't be back with the big league club later in the season to be part of a playoff push.