Aroldis Chapman: Joe Maddon misused me in the World Series

A lot of people have questioned the way Chicago Cubs Manager Joe Maddon used closer Aroldis Chapman during the World Series earlier this fall.

Chapman is one of those people.

“I believe there were a couple times where maybe I shouldn’t be put in the game and he put me in,” Chapman said a day after finalizing an $86-million, five-year contract with the New York Yankees. “So I think personally, I don’t agree the way he used me.”

Using an interpreter during a conference call with reporters on Friday, Chapman cited the example of Game 6. After throwing 42 pitches over 2 2/3 innings in Game 5 against the Cleveland Indians two days earlier, Chapman was brought in with the Cubs leading, 7-2, with two on and two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Chapman got four outs during the seventh and eighth innings, then was brought out to start the ninth even though the Cubs then led by seven runs. He threw 20 pitches that night, with the series-deciding game 24 hours later.

“I don’t think I needed to come into the game,” Chapman said Friday of Game 6. “The important game was going to be Game 7 because basically we had that game almost won, and the next day I came in a little tired.”

Maddon admitted the next day he should have had another reliever ready to start the ninth inning.

In Game 7, the Cubs led, 6-3, when Chapman entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning. But that lead evaporated quickly, as Chapman gave up a double and home run to tie the score at 6-6. He wound up throwing 35 pitches over 1 1/3 innings but was not his dominant self.

Chapman said Friday that he never voiced his concerns to Maddon.

“He is the manager and he has the strategy,” Chapman said. “My job is to be ready, to be ready to pitch, whatever that is, however many innings it is, I need to ready for that and I need to go in and do my job.”

charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii