TAMPA — Aroldis Chapman stood in front of his spring training locker at George M. Steinbrenner Field, his left foot on folding chair, leaning against his knee. Reporters surrounded him.
It was a scene reminiscent of last year, when the Yankees’ closer was apologizing for the first time following allegations of domestic violence that eventually got him suspended.
But it’s a new season. And for Chapman, that meant discussing a new controversy.
In December, the 28-year-old ripped Cubs manager Joe Maddon for allegedly overusing him to help Chicago win its first World Series in 108 years, beating the Indians in seven games.
Does Chapman — or the Yankees, for that matter — worry there will be a residual effect?
If there has been, Chapman said he hasn’t felt it yet.
“I worked really hard in the offseason, worked on my body a lot,” Chapman said, via the team translator. “I feel good.”
He was asked if pitching coach Larry Rothschild has told him to take it a bit slower this spring to compensate for the extra work required of him during last year’s postseason run. The Yankees sent Chapman to the Cubs at the trade deadline but re-signed him to a record-breaking five-year, $86-million deal this offseason.
“Not really,” he said. “I spoke to Larry about maybe just starting the bullpen a couple of days later. But that’s it. Just a regular spring training for me.”
Here’s what Chapman said about Maddon in Decemeber:
“Personally, I don’t agree with the way he used me, but he is the manager and he has the strategy. My job is to be ready, to be ready to pitch, however that is, however many innings that is, I need to be ready for that. I need to go in and do my job.”
Chapman pitched in five of the World Series games and especially didn’t like going in with a large lead in Game 6.
Yankees’ Gleyber Torres takes batting practice Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.
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