For the first time in six years, the Yankees will begin the season with a closer not named Aroldis Chapman.
That is welcome news for those who were both tired of watching him — taking what felt like a fortnight to throw a single pitch, often missing his target by two feet as hitter after hitter drew an easy walk — and had become fed up with his off-field antics.
The Yankees are unequivocally, without a shadow of a doubt, much better off without Chapman. While the left-hander is now in the top 25 of the career saves list and is one of just three relievers in the 21st century to make at least seven All-Star teams (joining Mariano Rivera and Craig Kimbrel), he was noticeably terrible last year and had become ten times more of a distraction than a useful or trustworthy pitcher.
