What's Gotten Into Kyle Gibson?

I still go back to the game last season against, I believe it was Seattle, where he was staked to a BIG lead and kept letting the Mariners nibble away at the lead. Molitor came out for a mound visit, not the pitching coach, and it felt like a take but public tongue lashing. He was sent down soon after, or right after that game. When he came back, and began his impressive second half run, one of the things he talked about was taking a different demeanor to the mound.

For those of us old enough to remember, (man I hate using that phrase!) Frank Viola found a similar epiphany, though at a younger age. Despite not having an exploding FB, Frank became convinced he was a "power" pitcher. He began to attack more and maintained that kind of mentality. I've even heard broadcasters other than those of the Twins speak about Gibson's stuff and if he could harness it. Later than we would have liked, but I think Gibson has developed a more confident, bulldog or attacking mindset.

At this point, I don't think we are talking SSS any longer. I think we are actually looking at the maturation of a MLB starter.

Are you telling me Lance Lynn is not "must watch" baseball?! It's kinda like watching David Wells run a marathon, it's a total train wreck but so hard to look away

Right now, when Santana or May are ready, Lynn is on the outside looking in. Hopefully we can correct him so to speak...enough that someone might take him off our hands for a C prospect. But given how Romero, Gibson, Berrios, and Odorizzi are pitching, Lynn should be nervous... especially if he wants that payday.

I've always felt that Gibson has really​ good "stuff", just that his ability has never really matched his output in the field and that he was his own worst enemy.   Perhaps as you say Cody, he has reached a point in his career where he just "gets it" more.   I certainly hope so, because he's really fun to watch right now.

Agreed on his stuff.  I always thought that his issue was between the ears.  He got flustered rather easily and then imploded.  The stuff has always been good though.

Nice to see.

Right now, when Santana or May are ready, Lynn is on the outside looking in. Hopefully we can correct him so to speak...enough that someone might take him off our hands for a C prospect. But given how Romero, Gibson, Berrios, and Odorizzi are pitching, Lynn should be nervous... especially if he wants that payday.

Lynn is that one year great deal like Kendrys Morales was a one year great deal.  Nothing better than FA to fix your team.  Keep bringing up the young guys.

Baseball is full of players who learned how to master their "stuff" later in their career - look at Sandy Koufax and his initial struggles, Randy Johnson took time to become a good then great pitcher.  The issue for the Twins is his age, how much do they invest in Gibson beyond this year.  Downward trends can happen as quick as upsurges. 

I love having the homegrown Berrios, Romero, Gibson going well, but I will not be satisfied until Gonsalves joins them. 

No, 2020.

 

If Romero is legit and the Twins get back a healthy May, this offseason should be very interesting.

 

They'll have four pitchers with one remaining year of control: Gibson, Odorizzi, Santana, and May.

 

None of them will bring back a king's ransom but we may be looking at the Twins dishing off some starting pitching this offseason, as weird as that is to say.

I'm not as convinced as you are that Trevor May belongs in this discussion but the Twins actually have control of him through the 2020 season, so two more years after this one.

 

They'll have four pitchers with one remaining year of control: Gibson, Odorizzi, Santana, and May.

 

 

Not Santana.  I just cannot see them picking that option up.  So those 3, Pineda, Berrios and Romero will likely be the conversation for the Twins' rotation in 2019

What's gotten into Gibson:

a. He is thinking less, letting it go more and has more confidence.

b. He is not afraid to throw balls.  Like the rest of the Twins' pitchers this season.  This has been the biggest transformation of the staff:  Instead of "pounding the striking zone all the time" and inducing ground balls with either sinkers (Andy) or change ups (Allen), get ahead and then make them chase out the zone.