Article: Friday Notes From Ft. Myers: You Got Cervelli'd

[Nick Nelson]

Kyle Gibson hadn't given up a single home run in his first three starts this spring, but surrendered two today, both to Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli, who has 10 homers in 250 career MLB games.

 

In spite of that, Gibson's pitches looked sharp. He touched 94 MPH on the scoreboard regularly with his fastball and induced several swings and misses with his offspeed stuff, helping him notch four strikeouts over his 4 2/3 innings of work in a 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh.* Gibson rarely used his change-up against right-handed hitters last season, but says he's working on implementing it more frequently now. One of Cervelli's homers came on a change that hung over the plate, but Gibson says he's undeterred.

 

"That's the first one I've been beat on."

 

* It was an uncharacteristically tough day for the righty from a command standpoint. He issued three walks, one more than his previous three starts combined. The most damaging free pass came against pitcher Gerrit Cole with the bases loaded, scoring a run.

 

Don't expect it to be an enduring problem. Last year he walked only 57 batters in 179 innings for the Twins, and in the minors he averaged 2.5 BB/9IP.

 

* In Cole's second at-bat, Joe Mauer made a diving play to his right, stabbing a grounder and flipping to Gibson at first for the out. It was the second or third time I've seen Mauer lay out to make a slick play over there this week, and that's been a noticeable contrast compared to last spring, when I was surprised by the number of grounders that sneaked by him.

 

"He's a lot more comfortable, I know that," Paul Molitor said. "He's a lot more confident."

 

"He made a nice play over there in the three-hole, even though it was on a pitcher," he added with a chuckle.

 

* Eddie Escobar: Spring Slugger. He drove in his team-leading 10th RBI with a run-scoring single in the fourth. He also paced the Twins in RBIs last spring with nine. No word on whether Molitor is considering him for the cleanup spot.

 

* Michael Tonkin pitched the seventh inning, allowing a run on two hits with a strikeout. Following the game he was optioned to Triple-A.

 

"He needs to become more efficient with his secondary pitches," Molitor said. "It seems to me that his trouble getting through innings is that people can look for that fastball and pretty much know they're going to get one at some point."

 

* Alex Meyer was optioned to Triple-A just before the game in the wake of a wild outing on Thursday afternoon.

 

"He's behind quite a few guys," Terry Ryan said. "We all know that there are guys that it takes a little more time than others and he's one of them, because mechanically, he's a big man, there's a lot of moving parts."

 

Still, Ryan has plenty of hope for the big right-hander.

 

"You've seen the pitches," he said, speaking of Meyer's power fastball, filthy curve and developing change. "It's obvious he can strike people out. Now it's a matter of not getting into so much trouble."

 

Molitor believes that Meyer would benefit from carrying more of a bulldog demeanor on the mound.

 

"I don't think anyone likes to face him," the manager said. "He has to start understanding that. He can take command of those situations."

 

* Although Ricky Nolasco gave up a few hard-hit balls in Thursday's start against the Rays, including a two-run homer that ended his day in the fourth inning, Ryan went out of his way to praise the right-hander today.

 

"I just thought he threw the ball wonderfully yesterday, regardless of that home run," the GM said. "He should have never been in that predicament in the first place. We gave them way too many outs."

 

Ryan added that Nolasco's stuff has looked noticeably better this year.

 

"His fastball's crisper, his breaking balls -- he's got more command … I've got no complaints."

 

* Tomorrow, Mr. Bonnes takes over with your spring training coverage from Ft. Myers. Thanks to all who have read and commented this week, and thanks as always to the Twins for the hospitality.

 

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[Paul Pleiss]

With Bonnes taking over the report from the fort, can we expect any gout related news? Or at least a review of some local brews? Maybe BOTH!

[Wookiee of the Year]

Terry Ryan: "He should have never been in that predicament in the first place. We gave them way too many outs."

 

Sounds like a good mantra for 2015...

[curt1965]

Nick- anyone else sent down today?

[JB_Iowa]

Meyer needs confidence lessons from Berrios.

[John Bonnes]

Meyer needs confidence lessons from Berrios.

 

Well, they'll have time together in Rochester this year for some of it to rub off....

[Seth Stohs]

 

Meyer needs confidence lessons from Berrios.

 

Meyer and Berrios are kind of one and the same. Both have good confidence. Meyer doesn't post stuff on Twitter and Facebook, but he know he's good. They're both also very humble, very good people. 

 

Meyer will be at AAA. Berrios is likely going to start at AA.

[JB_Iowa]

 

Meyer and Berrios are kind of one and the same. Both have good confidence. Meyer doesn't post stuff on Twitter and Facebook, but he know he's good. They're both also very humble, very good people. 

 

Meyer will be at AAA. Berrios is likely going to start at AA.

 

I got a little concerned about his confidence level after reading Molitors comments in the Berardino article:

 

“I don’t think anybody likes to face him,” Molitor said of Meyer. “He has to start understanding that. He can take command of those situations. It’s going to be more about confidence for him to develop that presence. “

 

Seems like it is a matter of it all coming together for him.

 

http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/2015/03/20/twinsights-paul-molitor-on-alex-meyers-missing-swagger/