Aroldis Chapman questions how Joe Maddon used him in World Series

A late-season rental and key contributor to the Chicago Cubs’ curse-breaking World Series victory in November, relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman is back in New York, where he lobbed some criticism at Cubs manager Joe Maddon on Friday.

Traded in July from the Yankees to the Cubs for prospects, Chapman returned to The Bronx after finalizing an $86 million, five-year deal on Thursday, the most lucrative contract ever for a reliever.

The 28-year-old met with reporters to discuss his return to the Yankees and also fielded questions about his stint in Chicago, specifically in the World Series when analysts and fans heavily scrutinized the way Maddon deployed his bullpen arms. Via Newsday, here’s Chapman’s assessment on the way Maddon used him:

“Personally, I don’t agree with the way he used me,” Chapman said through a translator, citing specifically Game 6 of the World Series, when he pitched despite the Cubs holding a sizeable lead. “But he is the manager.”

The flamethrowing reliever is certainly not the first to voice disagreement over Maddon’s moves in Game 6 and Game 7.

In Game 6, Maddon put Chapman on the mound in the seventh inning when Chicago held a 7-2 lead. He pitched 1.1 innings and into the ninth when Maddon pulled him for Pedro Strop to close a 9-2 game.

But that appearance prevented Chapman from entering fresh in Game 7 — a wild, rain-delayed endeavor for everyone involved that nearly proved disastrous for the Cubs when a fatigued Chapman allowed three hits and two earned runs in the eighth inning as the Indians tied the game at 6-6. He remained in the game in the ninth inning and managed to preserve a tie in a clean inning.

Of course, all is well that ends well. The Cubs won the game 8-7 in extra innings and will get the rings, and Chapman got the big contract.-foxsports.com