Article: NYY 7, MIN 2: It Was Close, Until It Wasn’t

[Tom Froemming]

We saw plenty of flashes of how good Kyle Gibson could be coming into this year, but the end result was still a grand total of 127 starts and a 4.70 ERA. Of course, the year he finally puts it all together, so many of his teammates experience a similar backslide that Gibson was once known for.

 

Gibby had another strong start tonight, but the bats and bullpen squandered any hope of victory.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Gibson: 54 Game Score, 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 53.4% strikes (63 of 118 pitches)

Home Runs: None

Multi-Hit Games: Polanco (2-for-4), Forsythe (2-for-4), Grossman (2-for-4, 2B)

WPA of 0.1 or higher: Gibson .169

WPA of -0.1 or lower: Astudillo .103, Busenitz -.268

Download attachment: WinChart910.png

After holding the Yankees to one run over 5 2/3 innings, Gibson’s ERA is down to 3.67 this season. He gave up four hits, walked four and struck out five. The only run he surrendered was a solo homer by Gary Sanchez in the sixth inning.

 

Gibby exited and the game went haywire. Alan Busenitz walked the first two batters of the seventh inning and the Yankees wound up scoring six runs on five hits and four walks just in that frame alone. It seemed to be the half inning of eternity.

 

None of the pitching mattered a whole lot anyway because the Twins couldn’t score. New York had already built a 7-0 lead by the time the Twins finally scratched across a pair of runs in the eighth inning.

 

The Twins have been averaging just 3.90 runs per game since the Eduardo Escobar trade. You’re not going to win many games in the American League with an offense like that.

 

Robbie Grossman was 2-for-4 with an RBI double. Logan Forsythe and Jorge Polanco also collected a pair of hits each. Polanco committed his 11th error in just his 58th game at shortstop this season.

 

Next Three Games

Tue vs. NYY, 7:10 pm CT: TBD vs. Sonny Gray

Wed vs. NYY, 7:10 pm CT: Jake Odorizzi vs. Luis Severino

Thu at KC, 7:15 pm CT: TBD

 

Last Three Games

MIN 3, KC 1: Walk-Off Willians

KC 4, MIN 1: Good, Great, GRAND, WONDERFUL!

MIN 10, KC 6: It’s a Lot Easier to Beat Bad Teams

 

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[h2oface]

This team didn't have room for Aaron Hicks. What a shame, and how foolish it was and is.

 

10 walks. Wouldn't it be nice if the farm was even close to ready when the get the opportunities.

 

Call me depressed and disgusted with this team.

[SF Twins Fan]

Man it seems like this team has just stopped playing.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

"Don't ever give up." Jimmy V.

[MN_ExPat]

Kudos to Gibson.   Even though he labored at tad bit (4 walks), he still turned in a solid start against a very potent lineup.

 

Felt bad for Busenitz (don't judge, I will always stand up for pitchers).   He just couldn't locate his offspeed stuff last night, and when that happens hitters are just going to sit on the FB.   Makes for a rough outing and night. 

[Doomtints]

 

Kudos to Gibson.   Even though he labored at tad bit (4 walks), he still turned in a solid start against a very potent lineup.

 

Felt bad for Busenitz (don't judge, I will always stand up for pitchers).   He just couldn't locate his offspeed stuff last night, and when that happens hitters are just going to sit on the FB.   Makes for a rough outing and night. 

 

If you can notice that Busenitz can't locate a pitch, why can't Molitor and the rest of the coaches? Why not pull him rather than wait for the inevitable?

 

Do Molitor's bosses ever ask him questions like this, I wonder?

Edited September 11, 2018 by Doomtints

[bobs]

Kyle Gibson may be the #2 highlight of the season (behind Rosario).  He may not be an ace that will be THE solution, but he certainly is not part of the problem moving forward.  

[MN_ExPat]

 

If you can notice that Busenitz can't locate a pitch, why can't Molitor and the rest of the coaches? Why not pull him rather than wait for the inevitable?

 

Do Molitor's bosses ever ask him questions like this, I wonder?

That seems to be the millions dollar question at times .   Although, with the season essentially done for a while now,  why not leave him in that situation for a bit and let him figure it out.   I know that is not always a popular decision, and as fans we usually don't want to see that, but the team can take that data and what they see with their own eyeballs and make a better informed decision in the offseason (hopefully ).

Edited September 11, 2018 by MN_ExPat

[jimmer]

Kyle Gibson may be the #2 highlight of the season (behind Rosario). He may not be an ace that will be THE solution, but he certainly is not part of the problem moving forward.

the problem comes up when the team decides to pay him a big money contract in the off-season due to one good season in the last three and the clock strikes midnight next year. Will the new FO repeat the mistake Ryan made with Phil Hughes?

[Mike Sixel]

Polanco might not be a short stop. Is he playing second at all right now, because maybe he should be.

[bobs]

 

the problem comes up when the team decides to pay him a big money contract in the off-season due to one good season in the last three and the clock strikes midnight next year. Will the new FO repeat the mistake Ryan made with Phil Hughes?

  Instead of looking it as one good season in last three, I prefer to look at it as development.  Gibson has been good since the AS break 2017.  He is a different pitcher.  I think this is who he now is.  I wouldn't have a problem with a 3-yr extension for him.  HOWEVER, in today's baseball climate, he'll likely have to sign a one or two-year deal after next season.

[yarnivek1972]

Instead of looking it as one good season in last three, I prefer to look at it as development. Gibson has been good since the AS break 2017. He is a different pitcher. I think this is who he now is. I wouldn't have a problem with a 3-yr extension for him. HOWEVER, in today's baseball climate, he'll likely have to sign a one or two-year deal after next season.

It’s worth remembering that Gibson will be 31 at the end of October. He may be a different pitcher, but that isn’t going to prevent an inevitable age based decline. He’s under team control in 2019. After that, QO him. If he accepts, fine. If not, take the pick and let someone else pay for his declining years.

 

 

Since Phil Hughes’ name and contract were mentioned, he was only 28 when he signed the 5 year extension. I didn’t like it at the time, but paying a 28 year old makes more sense than a 31 year old.

Edited September 13, 2018 by yarnivek1972