Joel Sherman

Joel Sherman

MLB

When will electrifying show of Aroldis Chapman actually begin?

TAMPA — The start time was scheduled for 12:05 p.m., and in what might turn out to be apt metaphor, Aroldis Chapman joined the proceedings late.

Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller already were up on the mounds tucked beyond the right-field fence at Steinbrenner Field when Chapman entered, and began throwing in a line that left to right was Chapman, CC Sabathia, Betances and Miller.

There is nothing that quite captures the monotony and routine of spring training like the bullpen session, except for perhaps the games of catch that proceed it. Arms need slow, steady buildup for all the tearing down that will occur over the next several months and casting a ball at about 75 percent effort in late February is part of that process.

Thus, the bullpen session should define the concept of “move along, nothing to see here.”

Except this was the first must-watch moment of this Yankee camp, drawing fans to the overhang that curls just above those bullpens, plus every significant member of the Yankee baseball operations department and every member of the media at the place not assigned specifically to Masahiro Tanaka.

Such is the electrifying promise of the Nastier Boys that simply seeing them in full uniform and at work in unison — even at 75 percent — was a postcard of possibility for the 2016 Yankees.

Their season, in many ways, is built from the back forward, designed to accentuate the overwhelming stuff of what are arguably the three most dominating active relievers not named Wade Davis. If Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown and Julio Jones were on one team, folks would probably flock to pass-catching drills, even in training camp.

Gene Michael, whose first spring training was 1959, said he had “never seen anything like it,” referring first to Chapman, then to the sheer size and velocity of Chapman, Betances and Miller. Brian McCann, who caught Chapman, was focusing on just the lefty during the six-or-so minutes that the trio worked from the mounds. But as they congregated afterward, McCann admitted, “Ever since we acquired [Chapman], I have been waiting for that moment. That is three heavyweights together at the same time.”

From left: Aroldis Chapman, CC Sabathia, Dellin Betances and Andrew MillerCharles Wenzelberg

Of course, what looms over this camp and this team and the mere acquisition of Chapman is for how long are they going to be apart, not together?

Rob Manfred told reporters Friday he was close to handing out discipline in two of three domestic abuse cases he has been reviewing, and because the case against Chapman stemming from a late October incident in South Florida has been closed without charges, the assumption is Chapman will be one of those ruled upon. It was doubtful that ruling would occur over the weekend.

The expectation is despite the lack of charges that came from allegations Chapman choked his then-girlfriend and then fired a series of shots in his garage, Manfred will use powers bestowed in the new domestic abuse protocols to levy a suspension. But when and for how long?

I was told that, for example, Manfred can structure the penalty as he sees fit, which could mean he suspends Chapman not just from regular-season games, but could ban him from spring training workouts and/or games in which fans are charged for admission — though a spring ban remains highly doubtful. As for the regular season, at the request of the club and with the consent of the Commissioner’s Office, the player may participate in non-public workouts or at the club’s spring training facility.

Thus, it is possible Chapman’s preparation could be disrupted enough that his ban could extend beyond the suspension and until his arm and body are ready for the regular season. Chapman has said he would appeal any suspension, and an appeal would be heard by the independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, who ruled to uphold Alex Rodriguez’s one-year suspension for his ties to Biogenesis. It is possible at a moment when it is vital to project zero tolerance against domestic abuse that Manfred will assess a stiff penalty and leave it to Horowitz to potentially modify the suspension.

Thus, like this first bullpen session, Chapman is expected to join Betances and Miller already in progress. The Yankees will hope that is just a piece of April and they can have — in full — the relievers who ranked first (Chapman, 15.7), second (Miller, 14.6) and third (Betances, 14.0) in strikeouts per nine innings last year (minimum 50 innings).

Betances and Miller did that for the Yankees. The anticipation and dread are bounded in the presence of Chapman, who even at less than max effort Saturday reminded what motivated the Yankees to accept the criticism and likely suspension to grab Chapman. He is loose-limbed yet powerful, uncoiling with a long stride yet smoothness so that the ball comes out easily but, vavoom, crashes into the catcher’s mitt hard even, when pitching coach Larry Rothschild said, “It was firm, but trust me he wasn’t airing it out.”

“It is exactly what you think,” McCann said of the experience of catching Chapman for the first time. “That is why he is the only one in the league who can do that [throw 103 mph].”

Slow to the mound, fast out of the hand, Chapman prepares for a season that, for him, starts when?