Joel Sherman

Joel Sherman

MLB

How Yankees inadvertently saved Chapman, Miller for this moment

CLEVELAND — Andrew Miller never worked three consecutive games this season as a Yankee. Aroldis Chapman did it once.

The idea, pitching coach Larry Rothschild explained, was to preserve the duo for big games late in the year. Chapman, in particular, yearned to be used more. On three occasions with the Reds, he had pitched four straight days.

“But he understood,” Rothschild said by phone. “They both did. We didn’t want to use them three days in a row so we could do it later in the year. Unfortunately, it is for two different teams.”

When the Yankees traded Chapman and Miller at the deadline, obviously only contenders were interested. Thus, the Yankees recognized what has happened could happen — that both lefties could be key figures in a World Series.

“I am happy for those guys,” Rothschild said. “They did the right thing. They were always ready to pitch and great to be around. Everyone with the Yankees loved to have them, the circumstances did not allow us to [get to the World Series with them].”

Chapman was traded to the Cubs on July 25, and Miller was dealt six days later to the Indians. Both were great for the Yankees and arguably have been even better for their new clubs, with Miller, in particular, emerging as the biggest force of this postseason.

“Their stuff is tremendous,” Rothschild said. “But a lot of guys have great stuff. These guys like to compete. They are ultra-competitive. They want the ball in key situations, and that is a big separator for them.”

Rothschild had a year and a half with Miller and calls him “among the most special players” he has been around.

“Every superlative you could think of fits the guy,” he said.

Miller was good in the clubhouse, ready to pitch in any role, even when a little sore, and “a really good self-evaluator,” who could diagnose mistakes even when he was successful and fix them.

Chapman was trickier. The Yankees were able to acquire him from the Reds for a tepid return because the lefty was facing suspension due to involvement in a domestic-abuse case.

Rothschild, though, said Chapman never was a problem for him. Quite the opposite. He said Chapman was “open to coaching” and willingly worked on his slider and changeup during a one-month suspension to open the season.

Aroldis ChapmanAP

“He was quiet in the locker room, but he would come ask questions,” Rothschild said. “He always worked at keeping himself ready to pitch, and that is largely about his work habits, lifting and running. He is really diligent. To me, I have never been a big weights guy, but that is how he trained coming up, and I didn’t want to take it away because he stayed healthy. The first time I saw him at Steinbrenner Field, in fact, I was really surprised how strong he was. I hadn’t really seen him in years, and I thought he was thin. He is incredibly strong. Physically, he is the strongest pitcher I have ever dealt with. He might be the strongest player I have ever dealt with.”

The Yankees had considered Miller deals in the offseason. Literally on the day they obtained Chapman, Yankees officials said one reason was recognition they could spin him for more come July if necessary. Such is the quality of the two relievers that the Yankees knew they had the mother lode at the deadline — difference-makers for playoff teams — that they could try to improve their prospect base significantly.

“When Andrew gave up a run or even a hit, you were surprised — ‘How can that happen?’ ” Rothschild said. “There are not a lot like that, but Chapman was like that, too. They are rare, so you are going to miss them, but I have wanted them to do well for someone else.”