The most unsurprising postgame news (Haley DL, Vargas optioned)

[Oldgoat_MN]

Why don't they send Gibson down? It's not like we are anxiously awaiting his next start.

As he does have the potential to be a MLB pitcher I think he should be sent down with the instructions that he will not be back until he can throw first pitch strikes to 6 of 9 batters consistently.

 

This working his way to a 3-2 count on every batter (unless they get a hit first) is ridiculous.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Why don't they send Gibson down? It's not like we are anxiously awaiting his next start.

As he does have the potential to be a MLB pitcher I think he should be sent down with the instructions that he will not be back until he can throw first pitch strikes to 6 of 9 batters consistently.

 

This working his way to a 3-2 count on every batter (unless they get a hit first) is ridiculous.

the cupboard is pretty bare in double A and triple A. Snag 3 guys you don't really want in the bigs and then backfill somehow?

 

I thought Levine was going to send down Gibson in the 6th inning last night. Then 9 innings later and Santiago came in, and things changed.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Wilk could still be added back to the 40-man roster within ten days of being DFAd, so he is a possibility.

This is correct, although the DFA period is now only 7 days, rather than 10, under the new CBA.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Gibson absolutely could have been sent down, with Duffey taking his rotation spot. The stretching out could have already begun, but in any case it could fairly easily be accomplished going forward with an 8-man bullpen (especially if the last 1-2 guys in that pen can be easily swapped with replacements as needed, which seems to be the case).

[Riverbrian]

While I agree with this and it definitely makes sense, you've got to wonder how much of a leash Gibson has. I know schedule has an impact, but I'd say Gibson has done nothing to deserve getting called back up or to stay up.

I agree

 

2017 should be about clearing the non performers out. Gibson has been a non performer... We need to try somebody else. The Twins unfortunately don't have somebody else it seems.

[JustinCB]

I get the circumstances, but is Vargas ever going to get a real chance to show this team what he's got? My God...

Like everybody else said... He ain't that good.

[mikelink45]

It is time for Melotakis and anyone else you can find in the minors under 26 years old with a live arm.  Tepesch is not the guy and the junkpile pick ups like Wilks, Haley, etc are not doing it.  Put the young arms out there and lets stop juggling the mediocre with no future.

 

I hated to see Vargas go down, even though I think the pitching circumstances warrant a change, but what is the message - a bad day at the plate and you are gone - he needs confidence.  On the other hand Gibson has demonstrated that his brief AAA time only confirmed him as a AAAA pitcher and he can move down without affecting the bench and still allowing the arms to come up.  

[DaveW]

Gibson should just be cut. How many more starts are we gonna waste on him?

 

Go out and trade for literally anybody with an arm.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I agree

 

2017 should be about clearing the non performers out. Gibson has been a non performer... We need to try somebody else. The Twins unfortunately don't have somebony else it seems.

They "don't have anybody else" only if they have abandoned the idea of Duffey ever being a starter again in just the last 2 months.

 

Otherwise, they have a reasonably promising candidate to take Gibson's spot.

[DaveW]

Or they could trade for a SP.....

 

Plenty of options besides throwing a 8.00 era guy out every 5th day!

[twins_89]

It really sucks that four of the Twins top relievers in AAA/AA aren't options due to injury. Being able to call up one or two of Chargois, Reed, Burdi, or Jay would be nice. 

[Shane Wahl]

Are people here defending Vargas being sent to AAA?

 

Anyway, it is time for Hildenberger and Melotakis (I know the latter is in AAA). No more proven scrubs.

[Twinsoholic]

Put Curtis on the 25 man roster and call him and either Rosario or Meloticas up.

[bighat]

Wow - I've been watching the Twins a lot the past few weeks.  Vargas, just using the eye test, has been a useful cog on this team.  During some dry stretches he's provided much-needed offense.   Did he really deserve to be optioned?  Geez. I'm very surprised.

[lukeduke1980]

Seems pretty knee jerk - we've got Ervin on the mound today so we shouldn't need the pen

[Riverbrian]

 

Wow - I've been watching the Twins a lot the past few weeks.  Vargas, just using the eye test, has been a useful cog on this team.  During some dry stretches he's provided much-needed offense.   Did he really deserve to be optioned?  Geez. I'm very surprised.

 

He didn't deserve it based on performance but we need a 13th arm and the only players with options are: Sano, Kepler, Rosario, Buxton and Vargas. 

 

Sano, Kepler and Buxton were probably miles from consideration. 

 

That leaves it between Rosario and Vargas.

 

We only have 4 OF's. 

 

It has to be Vargas... Unless they let Adrianaza go. 

 

It's Ok... Vargas will be back.

 

He better be back.

 

 

[Riverbrian]

 

They "don't have anybody else" only if they have abandoned the idea of Duffey ever being a starter again in just the last 2 months.

Otherwise, they have a reasonably promising candidate to take Gibson's spot.

 

I'm guessing that they will have no choice eventually. It's only May and the alternatives have been exhausted. 

 

Otherwise... I've never seen him but based on stats this year. Nik Turley has to be gaining ground in the throw something against the wall and see if it sticks category. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

He didn't deserve it based on performance but we need a 13th arm and the only players with options are: Sano, Kepler, Rosario, Buxton and Vargas.

 

They didn't need 13 pitchers today, they just wanted 2 fresh arms. Optioning Gibson instead of Vargas would have accomplished the same thing.

 

Depending on how the pen was used this week, they could swap out one of those arms again before Duffey's turn in the rotation, or option Vargas at that time if they wanted.

[gil4]

 

Seems pretty knee jerk - we've got Ervin on the mound today so we shouldn't need the pen

As they say about stocks, past performance may not be indicative of future results.  

[ThejacKmp]

 

They didn't need 13 pitchers today, they just wanted 2 fresh arms. Optioning Gibson instead of Vargas would have accomplished the same thing.

Depending on how the pen was used this week, they could swap out one of those arms again before Duffey's turn in the rotation, or option Vargas at that time if they wanted.

 

I think that last part is the problem. We're all hoping Erv and Berrios can soak up some innings but that's not a given. Better to be proactive.

 

Could have optioned Gibson but then they can't bring him up for 10 days (unless someone hits the DL) so they'd need to find another starter for his next two outings. I don't love Gibson but I'm not sure that they have someone amazing to fit in there. Duffey would take more than 5 days to stretch out and while i might be interested in seeing Wheeler/Sledgers/Hurlbut get a shot, I can't get too up in arms about it.

 

The interesting thing to do might have been to take this moment to move Duffey down to AAA and stretch him out to start. That would open up a spot for a fresh arm in the interim. You'd give Gibson one or two more starts and then switch him for Duffey.

[Dr. Evil]

Gibson should just be cut. How many more starts are we gonna waste on him?

Go out and trade for literally anybody with an arm.

Im frustrated with Gibson too.

[Otto von Ballpark]

If you are willing to run a 13 man staff and the last 2 spots are pretty fungible/interchangeable, there is no reason you can't stretch out Duffy in MLB. Molitor has even had plenty of opportunity to start pushing him beyond 2 innings in his last 3 relief outings prior to Sunday's emergency appearance, if he had wanted to start that process already, but it could still be done on the fly.

 

If your pen gets taxed during the week, you can swap out one or two of those arms before Duffey's start so you have plenty of backup / long relief.

 

In a perfect world, obviously you don't like to stretch out a guy to start in MLB, but when you currently have Bad Kyle taking the hill every 5th day, you are obviously not in a perfect world. Relative to the status quo, there is little or no disadvantage from stretching out Duffey at the MLB level right now.

[drjim]

Wheeler and Rucinski it is.

[ThejacKmp]

 

I hated to see Vargas go down, even though I think the pitching circumstances warrant a change, but what is the message - a bad day at the plate and you are gone - he needs confidence. 

 

I think the message is clear and easy to put across: "We had a marathon game and we don't have a day off to rest pitchers for a long while. You're the only one with options, we'll get you back up in 10 days."

 

This will not effect his confidence.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Gibson should just be cut. How many more starts are we gonna waste on him?

 

Go out and trade for literally anybody with an arm.

i would keep him in AAA for depth, but agreed they need to go get an alternative

[DaveW]

They didn't need 13 pitchers today, they just wanted 2 fresh arms. Optioning Gibson instead of Vargas would have accomplished the same thing.

 

Depending on how the pen was used this week, they could swap out one of those arms again before Duffey's turn in the rotation, or option Vargas at that time if they wanted.

Yeah I don't get why they just didn't send gibson down instead of Vargas.

 

Vargas isn't a bonafide stud, but he definitely is a much needed PH/occasional DH guy we need.

 

Now our bench is laughably bad....again.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Wheeler and Rucinski it is.

just call me Sconnie-stradamus

[Otto von Ballpark]

Wheeler and Rucinski it is.

I wasn't expecting greatness, but these are uninspiring choices. Basically two low-upside mop-up men. At least one of these spots should have been dedicated toward trying someone with the upside/stuff to potentially help at the top of the pen soon.

 

Randy Rosario hasn't pitched since Thursday, is averaging 2-3 innings per appearance, and is already on the 40-man.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Yeah I don't get why they just didn't send gibson down instead of Vargas.

 

Vargas isn't a bonafide stud, but he definitely is a much needed PH/occasional DH guy we need.

 

Now our bench is laughably bad....again.

i hope Santana gives another lights out performance today, and Wheeler gets the start tomorrow, goes 7 strong and then the pitching staff goes back to 12.

 

Maybe bring up Palka on Wednesday

[Otto von Ballpark]

If we've got a 40-man roster spot to burn (which we apparently do), and having a stretched out starter is super important, I would have rather seen Gibson optioned for temporary relief help, then that reliever optioned and Turley added to take Gibson's next turn Friday.

 

I get not releasing Gibson because he could bounce back, but keeping him in the MLB rotation right now while optionable is highly suspect. He is not only hurting the team through his starts, but his roster presence between starts is weakening the bench or bullpen too.