Reds' Top 5 relief pitchers: Sheldon's take

No one loves a good debate quite like baseball fans, and with that in mind, we asked each of our beat reporters to rank the top five players by position in the history of their franchise, based on their career while playing for that club. These rankings are for fun and debate purposes only … if you don’t agree with the order, participate in the Twitter poll to vote for your favorite at this position.

Here is Mark Sheldon’s ranking of the top five relief pitchers in Reds history. Next week: managers

1. Aroldis Chapman, 2010-15
Key fact: Recorded the fastest pitch on record in MLB history (105.8 mph as a rookie in 2010) since pitch-tracking started in 2008.

After Chapman defected from Cuba, the Reds surprised the baseball world by outbidding other clubs by giving him a six-year, $30.25 million contract. Clubs salivated over the lefty because of his size and ability to routinely throw fastballs at speeds over 100 mph. But that was no parlor trick. While other flamethrower relievers often struggle with command, Chapman was able to develop his, and his appearances became appointment viewing. That was especially true when he became the Reds’ closer in 2012 and went to four straight All-Star Games.

During his tenure in Cincinnati -- which included three playoff seasons -- Chapman is third among relievers with 546 strikeouts, and his 15.4 strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio is best all-time in franchise history. He’s fourth on the club all-time with 146 saves, and he posted a 2.17 ERA. Impending free agency and a domestic violence incident after the ’15 season expedited Chapman’s trade to the Yankees for four players -- none of whom panned out successfully. According to Statcast, Chapman topped his fastest-pitch mark at 105.7 mph with the Yankees in '16.

2. Rob Dibble, 1988-93
Key fact: Was the Reds’ first-round pick (20th overall) in the 1983 MLB Draft -- secondary phase.

One-third of “The Nasty Boys” trio of Reds relievers, Dibble was 8-3 with a 1.74 ERA, 11 saves and 136 strikeouts over 98 innings in the 1990 World Series-winning season for the club. Overall in six seasons, the hard-throwing right-hander recorded 88 saves with a 2.74 ERA.

Enjoying the role of an intimidator, Dibble was not afraid to plunk hitters and instigate benches-clearing incidents. He was infamously involved in a clubhouse fight with his own manager, Lou Piniella, in ’92. In ’91, after recording a save but angry because he gave up some runs, Dibble fired the final-out ball into the center-field seats and inadvertently struck local teacher Meg Porter -- resulting in a four-game suspension.

3. Danny Graves, 1997-2005
Key fact: The only Major League player who was born in Vietnam.

The franchise’s all-time leader with 182 saves, Graves arrived from Cleveland as part of Trade Deadline acquisition on July 31, 1997. From 1998 until 2002 -- before an ill-fated decision to make him a starter in ’03 -- the right-hander posted a 3.23 ERA. Named the closer in ’99, he was a ’00 All-Star. Upon returning to the bullpen in ’04, he recorded a career-high 41 saves and made his second All-Star team.

4. Jeff Brantley, 1994-97
Key fact: Led the National League in saves during the 1996 season.

The Reds' single-season record holder with a career-high 44 saves in ’96, Brantley had a 2.64 ERA and 88 saves during his four seasons with Cincinnati. Part of the ’95 NL Central champions, as he posted 28 saves in 56 appearances, Brantley threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the NL Championship Series despite his club being swept in four games by Atlanta. He also earned a Game 2 save and closed out the Reds' sweep of the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NL Division Series.

5. John Franco, 1984-89
Key fact: MLB’s all-time leader among left-handed pitchers with 424 saves, which is good for fifth overall.

Franco recorded 148 saves with the Reds and represented the club in three of his four All-Star Games. In 1988, he led the NL with 39 saves. Over 393 career games with Cincinnati, Franco was 42-30 with a 2.49 ERA. He finished 286 of those games. Franco was traded to the Mets ahead of the ’90 season and pitched another 14 seasons with his hometown club.

Honorable mentions

Pedro Borbon (1970-79) was a key reliever for the 1970s dynasty teams, and he is the franchise’s all-time leader with 531 games pitched. … Wayne Granger (1969-71) notched 73 saves in three seasons, including a Major League-leading 35 in 1970. … Clay Carroll (1968-75) was 71-43 with a 2.73 ERA and 119 saves over 486 games. A two-time All-Star, he led the NL with 37 saves and 65 appearances in '72. … The other two “Nasty Boys” were Norm Charlton (1988-92) and Randy Myers (1990-91). Charlton had a 3.14 ERA in 240 games and was a ’92 All-Star. Myers posted a 2.08 ERA and 31 saves in 66 games during his ’90 All-Star season. … Francisco Cordero (2008-11) is second to Graves on the club all-time list with 150 saves and had a 2.96 ERA in 283 games.