Game 1 of the 2025 Wild Card Series between the New York Yankees and the visiting Boston Red Sox: Aroldis Chapman almost did what Aroldis Chapman has done many times before in his playoff career. Remember 2016 with the Cubs and Cleveland’s Rajai Davis? How about 2019 with the Yankees and the Jose Altuve blast for the Astros? The 2020 blast by Mike Brosseau with the Tampa Bay Rays? After getting the third out of the eighth inning with a runner and scoring position Chapman came out for the ninth And promptly began giving up base hits to Paul Goldschmidt, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger.

Boston‘s pitching coach, Andrew Bailey, went out to the mound for a chat. As he did, Yankee announcer Suzyn Waldman correctly observed that Chapman had been throwing strikes, but they were of the 94-to-96 mile-an-hour variety. Once the meeting was over, it was clear what the message had been. A series of fastballs measuring between 99 and 101 was then followed by a 92 mile-an-hour splitter that had Giancarlo Stanton flailing. Out one. Jazz Chisholm was hitless in his career against Chapman and as the lefty stepped into the batters box, one could reasonably wonder if there wasn’t a righty available though Chisholm had just been brought into the game himself. Chisholm got a piece of the first pitch, but then flew out. Out two. That left Trent Grisham as the Yankee’s last hope to knock in a run. More 99 to 101 mile-an-hour fast balls from Chapman, which then set up another slider at 92 and ultimately the strikeout to end the game.

It was an amazing display of power by a pitcher whose ability to think his way through problems on and off the field has never been the greatest. But give credit where credit is due. And remember: when in doubt, reach back and let it fly.