MIN 6, CLE 3: Anything is Possible

Heck of an opportunity, beating Kluber to open the series. Maybe we can do some damage this weekend after all?

My only question is where Magill was. Up by five with six outs to get? When else is he going to get work?

For some: Mauer went 0-4?  Bench the bum, cut him, sent him to Peoria....make him retire.

For the rest of us:   "WELCOME BACK JOE"

You ain't done, and your story is not yet written.....

Were not both their errors by Lindor?  I am sure he will survive.

Man, where would the Twins be without Rosario this year? He and Escobar seem like the only guys who can consistently hit the ball.

I read somewhere that Polanco recently smashed his hand in a door, and is going to lose some rehab time.... but supposedly that will not affect when he is going to be able to come come back, just how ready he will be.....  

Well, that qualifies as an "ouch" in more ways than one. Hopefully, that won't delay his return to the team even further. Even though, it's different type of "return" what's the latest on Pineda? Will he start a rehab stint anytime soon?

Gibson has been pretty darn good this year.

Gibson haters are sure eating a lot of crow this year. I can hear him, still saying..... bite me!

A little crow, but still not quite ready to declare him finally the pitcher we'd hoped. He's had nice runs before.

The walks are still an issue; he dodged out of trouble last night, but walks nearly ended his night early. I get nervous that the wheels are going to fall off the wagon when he's walking 3.9 per 9. But his approach is overall much better, he's keeping the ball in the park, and trusting his stuff to get more Ks. It's finally a workable formula and he pitched well last night.

Offense still needs serious work, but it's good to see Dozier rip a dinger last night. Maybe that will help him kickoff a second half run a little earlier this year?

Gibson has been pretty darn good this year.

Not only this year. This is going back to June/July last year.

He's on to something, here. He's got the stuff. It looks sustainable. Now, there is always another shoe that hasn't dropped.

Gibson has a 3.27 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and is striking out a batter an inning (8.8 K/9) this year in 82 IP..... and he just picked up his second win. As if we needed more stats telling us how bad this offense is.

Now that was an enjoyable game to watch.

Add Gibson to the list of players who will need an extension this winter, along with Rosario and Berrios.  Gibson, Romero and Berrios can form the nucleus of a playoff caliber rotation.  Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see them extend Lynn as the veteran part of that group. 

The other player that needs to be extended, this summer, is the Mighty Mouse.  All the other young guys can wait another year...or longer.

Since the start of the 2nd half of 2017, Gibby has a ERA of 3.50 in 159.2 IP in 27 starts.    Walks are a bit too high.    But he may be finally "getting it".   

As others have said in the game thread last night.   He has been spectacularly above average.   And has been for some time.

My only question is where Magill was. Up by five with six outs to get? When else is he going to get work?

Because Molitor believes a team needs an 8 man bullpen but should only use the same 4 pitchers every single game.

It would also be the perfect scenario to get Reed out there (if he hadn't thrown 30 pitches the day before). 

My opinion: the walks aren’t exactly intentional, but not exactly unintentional either. They’re a byproduct of his changed approach. Instead of the previous regime’s “pitch to contact and avoid walks AT ALL COSTS” approach, he’s not throwing a cookie every time he falls behind 1-0 or 2-1. He’s still trying to throw a pitch on the edge of the zone. Sometimes he misses and walks guys...sometimes he hits a corner and gets back in the count. Either way, there’s fewer “sinkers” in the whomp-em zone.

Walks are less damaging than hits. Giving up 2 walks more per game, but 2 fewer hits works in a pitchers favor every time. He’s also K’ing more hitters, which helps.

Give me this approach every time over that pitch to contact mantra we’ve lived with for years.

Well some of that is true.   The knock on Gibson (as I remember) was never that he was pitch to contact but that he was a guy that tried to peck at the corners rather than trust his stuff.   Fell behind in counts and then had to groove one.   My own knock on him was that he seemed to throw the same pitch over and over again when he appeared to have a really nice curveball that he rarely used.   The pitch to contact failed because we didn't have guys who were good at it.   Gibson's stuff now would have played well any year.    Or do you think his stuff now is the same as it was in the past?  I think he went whole games without throwing a ball that bends as much as he threw to nearly every guy last night.  If the mantra of the past was truly throw the same pitch at the same speed every time so you don't walk anyone then I am with you.   

Well some of that is true.   The knock on Gibson (as I remember) was never that he was pitch to contact but that he was a guy that tried to peck at the corners rather than trust his stuff.   Fell behind in counts and then had to groove one.   My own knock on him was that he seemed to throw the same pitch over and over again when he appeared to have a really nice curveball that he rarely used.   The pitch to contact failed because we didn't have guys who were good at it.   Gibson's stuff now would have played well any year.    Or do you think his stuff now is the same as it was in the past?  I think he went whole games without throwing a ball that bends as much as he threw to nearly every guy last night.  If the mantra of the past was truly throw the same pitch at the same speed every time so you don't walk anyone then I am with you.   

Is it just me or is his curve ball a lot better than in years past? I just don't remember seeing it break as much as it has this year....

As Dozier goes, so go the Twins.