Article: MIN 6, BAL 2: Good Gibby Rides Again!

[Tom Froemming]

How ‘bout that Kyle Gibson!? Gibby pitched six no-hit innings and struck out six Baltimore batters. Ryan Pressly recorded another five outs before the Orioles finally broke up the no-no. The bats also had a big night too, as the Twins hit their first three homers of the season.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Download attachment: Snapshot331.png

This was Gibson’s first start of the year, temps were in the 50s and he entered the game with a 5.66 ERA at Camden Yards in four career starts. He struggled to hit his spots at times, and by his mannerisms on the mound you could tell he wasn’t pleased with his command.

 

And he still shoved anyway.

 

A big narrative about Gibson’s second-half surge revolved around the use of his four-seamer. Earlier today, Matthew Lenz did an excellent job at detailing some of those key changes he made.

 

Gibson established his four-seam fastball in the early innings. Over the first three innings tonight, he used that pitch 38.2 percent of the time (21 of 55 pitches, per Baseball Savant). He switched gears over the final three frames and only threw the four-seamer 17.0 percent of the time (8 of 47 pitches).

 

Hard to argue with the results.

 

At the end of the day, Gibson actually had a 50/50 split between four- and two-seam fastballs thrown (29 of each). In total, Gibson threw 40 curveballs and changeups and got 13 swinging strikes on those pitches. Excuse me while I wipe the sweat off my brow.

 

Gibby was lifted after throwing 102 pitches. Pressly came in and carried the no-hitter until the O’s finally broke through with a single when there were two outs in the eighth inning.

 

Oh! I almost forgot about the dinger party! Miguel Sano hit the first Twins homer of the season …

.... followed by Jason Castro ...

… and then Max Kepler.

 

Postgame With Molitor

 

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days (includes the exhibition at WAS):

Download attachment: Bullpen331.png

Next Three Games

SUN: at BAL, 12:05 pm CT

MON: at PIT, 12:05 pm CT

WED: at PIT, 5:05 pm CT

 

Most Recent Game Recaps

THU: BAL 3, MIN 2: Opening D’oh!

 

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***UPDATE***

Parker fired up the Starship!!!!

 

Click here to view the article

[BoofBonser]

Go Gibdaddy!

[ashbury]

The ball had very nice movement. A lot of walks but pinpoint command has never really been his calling card.

[tvagle]

Gotta give props to Castro tonight...blocking everything coming his way including 50 foot strike three on Beckham (who was probably too concerned about AllwaysInModeration finishing his story)

 

Castro must be a Twins Daily reader

[beckmt]

If Gibby can pitch close to that this year, he will have a nice contract this offseason.

[EddieMatthews]

Glad the Twins opened on the road.  It's not nice in Minnesota right now.  No warm weather in sight either.  

 

[AlwaysinModeration]

Gotta give props to Castro tonight...blocking everything coming his way including 50 foot strike three on Beckham (who was probably too concerned about AllwaysInModeration finishing his story)

 

Castro must be a Twins Daily reader

I’m not sure I’m in Beckham’s head...yet.

[yarnivek1972]

Glad the Twins opened on the road. It's not nice in Minnesota right now. No warm weather in sight either.

Too bad they’ll be at home for two straight weeks in 5 days too. Highs in the 30s for the home opening weekend. Rain and or snow the following week. Welcome home!

[TheLeviathan]

I've never seen Gibson's stuff look that lively.  It manifested some walks, but I'll take something like this every night from him, he was filthy.

 

Also...Max Kepler is going to be a star.

[Dantes929]

While I applaud the use of a new fastball to keep batters guessing I don't think enough has been made of his breaking pitches.    As I said in another post it used to look on TV like he threw the same stuff over and over again.    Now its not just the 4 seamer they have to look for but a change up and a pretty nasty breaking ball as well.    After his best start (and maybe the only good one) in the first half last year he talked about how he threw more curve balls than he ever had and I thought "alright.  maybe the light has come on"  but it must take a while to sink in because he didn't throw it again much until the 2nd half.     All of a sudden he is using all the weapons we thought he had in the first place.   

 

And yeah... has anyone ever seen someone swing at a ball as far off the plate as the one Beckham swung at?   

[Dantes929]

Our #4 and #5 starters...    12 innings of shutout ball.  Suck it Cleveland!

[glunn]

That was the best game summary that I have ever seen, Obviously this took a lot of work, and the result was excellent.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

I've never seen Gibson's stuff look that lively.  It manifested some walks, but I'll take something like this every night from him, he was filthy.

 

Also...Max Kepler is going to be a star.

It's unusual and exciting how Kepler can generate those 400-foot bombs on such low pitches without the upper cut swing, just using his regular level swing, it's a gift. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Too bad they’ll be at home for two straight weeks in 5 days too. Highs in the 30s for the home opening weekend. Rain and or snow the following week. Welcome home!

Yah they pretty much have no choice but to play those games, too, even though it's supposed to be cold all the way through next weekend because their first two home opponents do not make second trips to Target Field all season (great foresight by teh mlb schedulers)

[Tom Froemming]

 

While I applaud the use of a new fastball to keep batters guessing I don't think enough has been made of his breaking pitches.    As I said in another post it used to look on TV like he threw the same stuff over and over again.    Now its not just the 4 seamer they have to look for but a change up and a pretty nasty breaking ball as well.    After his best start (and maybe the only good one) in the first half last year he talked about how he threw more curve balls than he ever had and I thought "alright.  maybe the light has come on"  but it must take a while to sink in because he didn't throw it again much until the 2nd half.     All of a sudden he is using all the weapons we thought he had in the first place.   

 

And yeah... has anyone ever seen someone swing at a ball as far off the plate as the one Beckham swung at?   

Absolutely, the fastballs are just all about setting up the breaking pitches. Of those 58 fastballs he threw, he got just two swinging strikes (3.4%), but he got 14 whiffs on his 44 curves/changeups/sliders (31.8%). That's insane!

 

He didn't have all his pitches working for him tonight, but he made it difficult for batters to get comfortable (as you suggested). Here is the breakdown of what he used tonight per Baseball Savant: 29 four-seamers, 29 two-seamers, 22 curveballs, 18 changeups and four sliders.

 

He typically throws more sliders than curveballs, so it'll be interesting to see what he leans on in his next start.

[jimbo92107]

It looks like Gibson has finally turned the corner to become a very dangerous pitcher. Clearly the Orioles' hitters were unable to read his pitches, which means Gibson is hiding the ball well and also releasing different pitches from the same spot, giving hitters very little information to cheat. This approach makes all his pitches more effective, resulting in what we saw today.

 

In fact, Gibson may actually get better, as he gains confidence in this more deceptive approach. Maybe there's no need to steer clear of guys like Machado. No more free passes, even for the best hitters. Time to get a little arrogant, Mr. Gibson!

[theBOMisthebomb]

Yah they pretty much have no choice but to play those games, too, even though it's supposed to be cold all the way through next weekend because their first two home opponents do not make second trips to Target Field all season (great foresight by teh mlb schedulers)

Bring back the Metrodome!

[highlander]

NO, NO AND NO!!! DO NOT BRING BACK THE DOME!!! JUST KNOW NO NO NO NO

[TFRazor]

Gibby!!! We are not worthy!

[Mr. Brooks]

If Gibby can pitch close to that this year, he will have a nice contract this offseason.

Gibson still has a year of team control remaining.

[Blake]

 

Absolutely, the fastballs are just all about setting up the breaking pitches. Of those 58 fastballs he threw, he got just two swinging strikes (3.4%), but he got 14 whiffs on his 44 curves/changeups/sliders (31.8%). That's insane!

 

He didn't have all his pitches working for him tonight, but he made it difficult for batters to get comfortable (as you suggested). Here is the breakdown of what he used tonight per Baseball Savant: 29 four-seamers, 29 two-seamers, 22 curveballs, 18 changeups and four sliders.

 

He typically throws more sliders than curveballs, so it'll be interesting to see what he leans on in his next start.

I believe it's been reported the new FO is putting an emphasis on pitchers being able to throw the curveball. 

 

Anyway, it was fun to watch Gibson last night. I was never really nervous watching him, as I have been in the past, except for the pitch count. But, even with the pitch count climbing, Gibson still made it through the sixth.

 

I remain cautiously optimistic about Mr. Gibson.

[bighat]

A pleasure to watch Gibson last night - great game!  I was going to say "Top of the order looked great"...but then I realized that the bottom 3rd of the order includes Kepler/Castro, so I guess I'll change that to "offense looked great".  A shaky start for Moya, and so far the bullpen's given up all the runs this year.

 

Nitpicking: did you all see that inning where the Twins loaded the bases with no outs, but didn't score? Kind of a bummer there. Buxton struck out a coupla times. Remember last year's 2-39 start for Bux and the mental battle he had to endure? Here's hoping the kid relaxes and just starts putting the ball in play.

[Rosterman]

Gibson was good. Wild enough to confuse the hitters. Workhorse coming out of spring training. Glad he didn't stay in and throw 160 pitches, though.

[Old Twins Cap]

Early. 

 

The hitters will get stronger with better timing.

 

Pitchers will get sore and tired and lose their edge.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

If Gibby can pitch close to that this year, he will have a nice contract this offseason.

he’ll need to improve the Bb side of the k/Bb ratio in order to sustain, but he was immensely better than this time last year.

Great to see

[AlwaysinModeration]

If Gibson record three more consecutive no-hit innings, he gets credit for the no-hitter, right?

[Tibs]

When Miguel Sano hits a home run, I think to myself "yes".

[Kirbek]

Score one for the Gibber!!!

 

 

[rdehring]

Now that wasn't what you expect from your #5 starter.  Or is it?

 

[Dantes929]

 

Now that wasn't what you expect from your #5 starter.  Or is it?

I guess we should all temper our enthusiasm a little bit.   I remember Blackburn had a nice 3 start stretch early in a season and everyone called him ace.    Its just nice to see after the good stretch in the 2nd half last year.     Just maybe cut him a little slack if he has a clunker or two also cuz everyone has em.   Fans point out he should attack the zone more but while he was wild he really   wasn't wild in the zone.  He was hitting corners or was out of the strike zone.    That many walks will not be a good recipe for success in the future.    Keeping hitters off balance will be.