Have Aroldis Chapman's off-the-Field Issues Started to Impact His Play?

First came the arrest—speeding and driving with a suspended license. 

Next, it was the lawsuit—an $18 million conviction claim.

Finally, there was the Pittsburgh fiasco—a burglary, a bound woman and an all around bizarre scene in a Pennsylvania hotel room.

Yes, Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman has had quite the interesting season both on and off the baseball field, but have his off-the-field antics started to impact his on-field performance? Not quite.

While it may be easy to blame Chapman's recent imperfections on his personal life issues, the 24-year-old's struggles (if you want to call them that) may be a direct result of the organization's failure to solidify his role within the pitching staff.

After entering spring training as a starter, Chapman was sent to the bullpen just one week before Opening Day. Then, after pitching incredibly well as a late inning reliever, he was given closing duties—an honor, but also a challenge.

Starting pitchers have to approach the game with a much different mindset than relievers, and Chapman may still be transitioning between the two. One night he's trying to save his arm, and the next he's throwing 100 mph-plus fastballs, trying to fan everyone in sight en route to a Reds victory. It's a bit of a baseball balancing act and a difficult task for any MLB pitcher to tackle, let alone a second-year player under tremendous pressure.

So, while his off-the-field issues are certainly cause for concern, it isn't necessarily fair to blame Chapman's questionable behavior for his recent pitching hiccups. As long as those hiccups remain few and far between, his personal life should be none of our concern.