Time for Gibson to go/Gibson optioned to AAA

ashbury · April 29, 2017

What else does Berrios need to do to get Gibson's spot?

Get 8 innings out of his 100-pitch game allotment, as my Adopt-A-Prospect Aaron Slegers did this afternoon, instead of just 6?

yarnivek1972 · April 29, 2017

He doesn't need Gibson's spot. He'll get his own on May 6th.

snepp · April 29, 2017

What else does Berrios need to do to get Gibson's spot?

Attend Nick Punto's seminar on playing time through photographic blackmail.

bighat · April 29, 2017

By the way if anyone does miss the game, MLB.com's "media center" has 10-minute condensed recaps that are pretty cool. Not sure if enough people know about this:

http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?mp4=true#date=4/28/2017

I love those things. Thanks for the reminder!

Danchat · April 30, 2017

What else does Berrios need to do to get Gibson's spot?

With Berrios' terrible 2015, it seems the Twins will wait until Berrios is 'ready' and they won't make that whenever they need him. It's anyone's guess how long this will take, but it'll be difficult to know when he'll be ready because he'll always be tearing up AAA.

jimbo92107 · April 30, 2017

Speaking of "exit velocity..." Heh-heh, I'm so clever.

One guy that will miss Gibson is Royals catcher Salvador Perez. He just loves Gibson's stuff, like a hammer loves nails. Question is, can Gibson be "fixed" in the pitcher sense of the word? You can tell a guy all day not to be Mister Nibbles, but maybe Gibson does that because his only other option is to throw it right down the middle. Maybe Gibson lacks the consistent command that it takes to be a reliable starter. Maybe his future is in the bullpen, period.

At this point if I were Molitor, I'd try swapping Gibson and Bender. Let the curve ball specialist try his hand again, and see if Gibson can be useful in shorter duty. Tyler Duffy could still be a good starter, and his stuff plays better than Gibson's over several innings.

David HK · May 1, 2017

Do you find yourself often getting excited about who the mop up guy in the pen is?

Heh....I do, but it seems kind of moot when then answer to that question is "all of 'em."

David HK · May 1, 2017

Gibson is certainly going to get more starts than we can comprehend but plan B doesn't really exist. Berrios is expected up in place of Mejia and to replace Gibson requires calling Mejia back up right away. If it isn't Mejia then it would be the likes of Tepesch that replaces Gibson and I am not sure that makes the team better.

Yeh, I get that. I think, though, that Mejia could pitch his way back up here sooner than later, especially if Gibby continues in (sadly), what's become his usual mode. By that time, JB may well have had a few starts in #5 position, and let's hope he can maintain it this time.

stringer bell · May 1, 2017

Let's see if I can sum up my thoughts in a paragraph or two. Rules changes and hitting adjustments have made Gibson's bread-and-butter pitch (sinking two-seam fastball) more and more hittable. Kyle has tried to adjust and the results have been dreadful. He also has a major league slider, but he hasn't had sharp command of either of his best pitches. I think any pitcher with Gibson's mix needs great command to thrive.

The Twins likely won't contend this year mostly because of bad pitching. There is not much help down on the farm and the question is whether to give up on Gibson. In a system stacked with high floors and upsides, that decision would be easy. Not so much for your Minnesota Twins. The comparisons to Nick Blackburn seem apt, but Gibson has a little bit better pedigree. I don't think there is much to lose to see if Gibson can "find it" with better command and a bit better pitch mix, but there's limited trade value and upside.

diehardtwinsfan · May 1, 2017

I understand that Gibson hasn't been good, but they have 4 starters right now and just demoted Mejia. I think Gibson will be in the rotation for now, at least until Mejia gets a few solid starts in AAA and Berios doesn't repeat 2016 when he is (presumably) called up in a few days.

stringer bell · May 1, 2017

I understand that Gibson hasn't been good, but they have 4 starters right now and just demoted Mejia. I think Gibson will be in the rotation for now, at least until Mejia gets a few solid starts in AAA and Berios doesn't repeat 2016 when he is (presumably) called up in a few days.

Sounds about right. While Hughes is 4-1, there have been plenty of well-struck balls hit on him. Right now, the reliable starters are Santiago and Santana, both pitching well over their head.

DaveW · May 1, 2017

Hughes hasn't been sexy, but at least he doesn't have complete meltdowns every time something goes wrong. Hughes has pitched like a perfectly acceptable #5, which is fine.

Brock Beauchamp · May 1, 2017

Hughes hasn't been sexy, but at least he doesn't have complete meltdowns every time something goes wrong. Hughes has pitched like a perfectly acceptable #5, which is fine.

Yeah, I don't know if he can keep it up but his results have been acceptable. He'll likely never be the pitcher he was in the past but if he can hold down a 4.50 ERA and 150+ innings, so be it. He's not killing the team at that point and can stay in the rotation.

Mike Sixel · May 1, 2017

I see no reason to cut Gibson.

Call up Berrios, give him the year.

See what Gibson does for 4-8 more starts. There is no one knocking down the door to be here. Someone will get hurt. Someone will flame out. Someone might get traded.

DaveW · May 1, 2017

Yeah, I don't know if he can keep it up but his results have been acceptable. He'll likely never be the pitcher he was in the past but if he can hold down a 4.50 ERA and 150+ innings, so be it. He's not killing the team at that point and can stay in the rotation.

Yup, also I know wins are pretty pointless when evaluating pitchers. But there is something to be said about a guy that won't give up leads and will "manage" the bad innings.

I think Hughes settles in with a 4.30-4.60 ERA. Again, which is fine, you can make the playoffs if that is your #5.

clone52 · May 3, 2017

Hopefully that is the LAST we will ever we gibson in a Twins uniform. Goes down as another bust in a long list of Twins first round busts. Berrios time!!!

Forever? You mean, he can't even come back for an Old Timers game?

Man, you're harsh.

Doomtints · May 3, 2017

Hopefully that is the LAST we will ever we gibson in a Twins uniform. Goes down as another bust in a long list of Twins first round busts. Berrios time!!!

Calling him a bust is not fair or accurate. He had a decent rookie season and a good sophomore season. Last year he declined, but not as bad as the rest of the team not named Santana, as he and everyone else suffered in front of one of the worst defenses in recent history.

What's going on this year is out of character for him. Rather than throwing him out, spend some time figuring out what's going on....

yarnivek1972 · May 3, 2017

Calling him a bust is not fair or accurate. He had a decent rookie season and a good sophomore season. Last year he declined, but not as bad as the rest of the team not named Santana, as he and everyone else suffered in front of one of the worst defenses in recent history.

What's going on this year is out of character for him. Rather than throwing him out, spend some time figuring out what's going on....

Gibson has been in steep decline since the 2015 all star game, for which he may have been a legitimate snub. Since then he has an ERA well north of 5. That sample size represents 40% of his career.

Halsey Hall · May 3, 2017

I agree we/he should try to figure why he has been so awful this year and last, but at the MLB or AAA level? He has 2 options left. I think he shoudl be optioned down to AAA in favor of Berrios and give both of them some time at their new level.

I agree, send him down and let him work on his problems in Rochester. He won't dominate like Berrios has.

drivlikejehu · May 3, 2017

Gibson has been terrible for too long to just keep throwing him out there.

DaveW · May 3, 2017

Gibson has been terrible the last 2.5 years, he is 30 (i think) it's time to just stop wasting time and effort on the problem, bring up some youngsters and see if they will stick. Do Gibson a favor and cut him, he will certainly land somewhere (NL) and maybe on a contending team as well.

No need for him on a rebuilding club, and not worth the arb number he will command next year anyways.

drew_7726 · May 4, 2017

They probably will just move him to the bullpen and DFA Tonkin.

Willihammer · May 4, 2017

Gibson today: 4.0, 8 hits, 4 ER, 3 walks, and 3 Ks in a four hour snoozer.

Good enough for another start?

yarnivek1972 · May 4, 2017

The clinical definition of insanity is doing something over and over and expecting different results. You know, like sending Kyle Gibson to the mound and expecting him to pitch well. Or more accurately, better than he has for nearly the last 2 years.

drjim · May 4, 2017

Gibson optioned. The long nightmare is over.

grumperopinion · May 4, 2017

Hopefully that is the LAST we will ever we gibson in a Twins uniform. Goes down as another bust in a long list of Twins first round busts. Berrios time!!!

Gibson has to pitch at the black lines around the plate. He dishes up too many meatball heaters.

yarnivek1972 · May 4, 2017

Praise be to allah.

Hard to say who they might call up, especially with Buxton's status unknown. But if Buxton has to go on concussion protocol, that would allow for a roster move as well. Could be Adrianza. Could be Palka. Don't think Granite is quite ready yet. I would assume the Twins wouldn't call up another starter until whatever day they want him to start. Perhaps Haley will magically be healed. Can't be Boshers. Could be Mejia I guess. Really no one else on the 40 man at the AAA level.