If we’re cherry-picking save % as the only way to pick closers — and only this first half of the season’s save % — especially considering a closer who has had oddly few save chances relative to his team’s success (hence the “f-the-closer” game the team enjoyed playing), here is a quick glance at a few closers “better” than Rondon:

J. Gomez, F. Rodriguez, Dyson, Casilla, Papelbon, Ziegler, Robertson

All of whom have ERAs & K/9 worse than Rondon (except Casilla, who beats Rondon by .1 K/9).

Does Chapman help the bullpen? Absolutely! Mike Trout would also help the outfield.

Ken’s argument doesn’t seem to be that Aroldis Chapman doesn’t make this bullpen better, it seems to be that the Cubs gave up a lot (in a couple ways) relative to what they “needed.” And it does seem like late-Theo Red Sox. I guess we can debate what “need” means, but with the clear definition of “fact” as you have posted above, it seems that saying the Cubs DID need Chapman also falls well short of the vaunted fact status.

But to your argument, the bullpen definitely needed help. I don’t know that either Chapman or Miller were necessary to accomplish the goal since they likely would have won the division anyway, but looking ahead to the playoffs I hope Chapman is on the mound during late inning/high leverage situations.

fact (fakt/) noun
noun: fact; plural noun: facts
a thing that is indisputably the case.

Sorry, that’s not a fact. Coming into the deadline both Strop and Rondon had shown quite a bit of inconsistency. Rondon had 4 blown saves good for only an 81% success rate – ranking in dead middle of all relievers. not exactly a comforting thought for an NLCS against Mets pitching.

By most rankings, Rondon was a tier 3 closer maybe fortunate enough to rank #13 in MLB but certainly no Familia or Chapman. And Strops inconsistency last night helps to understand why Cubs relievers ranked 10th in the National League by WAR at -1.2.

Even by the eye test, no serious observer can conclude the Cubs were “set” with relievers. Seriously, I was having Marmol flashbacks everytime Rondon came out in July.

Let’s put an end to the BS that we didn’t “need” Chapman or Miller. We did.

What’s more troubling to me is the recent statement that Chapman is not comfortable getting four outs (or something to that effect). Is it four outs or wanting to close? If Bryce Harper comes up with 2 outs in the 8th inning of game 7 NLCS is Maddon not going to go with Chapman because he’s “not comfortable?” If you sell your soul to “the monster” you better play with the hand you dealt yourself.

That all said, the anti-Monster move would have been to use Torres as part of a package to pry Sale from the White Sox. That would have setup the Cubs for the next several years as well as provided some protection if they can’t sign Arietta beyond 2017. But of course, in order to succeed winning multiple WS championships you have to get past winning the first one. There’s a big chip riding on 2016.