This is a story about the eye test.
Yes, the eye test. No, the byline is not a mistake. This is about the eye test because statistically, Aroldis Chapman is amazing. Since the start of the century, just two relievers have been more valuable by fWAR — and everyone knows who is at the top. He’s sixth in K-BB%, seventh in ERA, second in FIP, and while he doesn’t have the workhorse loads of LaTroy Hawkins or longevity of Fernando Rodney, his 615 career innings isn’t anything to sneeze at.
We don’t even have to evaluate him against the rest of the 21st century.