Article: NYY 4, MIN 3: Rodney Spoils Great Gibby Start, Twins Swept

[Tomj14]

 

I think a better defender at 3rd or SS makes the Stanton play but even if he doesn't that still doesn't mean Rodney is to blame.

 

Sometimes you make a bad pitch and it's gets crushed. That is clearly on the pitcher. Sometimes you make a great pitch and the hitter still puts it in play. That is what we saw in the 9th inning. These are professional hitters out there and what's more, these are some of the best of those professionals. They are going to hit balls they shouldn't. When it happens you have to tip your cap to them. Well played Stanton and Sanchez. Well played.

I would probably give you that except for the fact he has blown 3 saves out of 5.

I also don't believe any 3B or SS make that play on Stanton with were they were playing (deep).

[ewen21]

 

It's too bad this game went south because that bad end overshadowed Gibson's excellent performance. He's now got a 3.33 ERA and 10.0 K/9. The funny part about his success is that he's not exactly thriving in a few aspects people seem to fixate on with him.

 

His strike percentage on the year is two points below his career average and his first-pitch strike percentage is in the bottom 10 in the AL. It's funny what a 13.1% whiff rate can make up for.

I would agree, but a good team doesn't waste a start like that.

[h2oface]

Take that performance, Gibson haters!

[Mr. Brooks]

That just simply isn't true according to Sanchez statcast page. His average exit velocity on pitches in similar locations, inside and on the hands, was 86-89 mph well below his average exit velocity. In fact Sanchez has average exit velocities up to 100 mph on pitches in the zone. Could that pitch have been better placed, sure. Was it "definitely not a good pitch". No. Was it "right in his wheel house"? The statistical evidence doesn't support your claim.

Well I'd have to see where these similar pitches were.

This one wasn't nearly far enough inside, IMO.

[h2oface]

 

Why wasn't Escobar playing 3B in the 9th inning? The defensive substitutions are a head-scratcher to me.

 Totally agreed. Totally unnecessary, especially at that point in the game. I don't know that it would have changed anything, though. Escobar has very little range.