You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?781-Kyle-Gibson-Makes-First-Rehab-Start

very good news.

Happy happy joy joy.

 

Move Span for a pitcher, pick up a decent starter in the offseason, get Gibson healthy, and this team has the makings of a non-embarrassing starting rotation.

Additionally John Shipley reported his velocity was 91-94. I assume he threw all fastballs.

That is great news! Go Gibson!!!

Additionally John Shipley reported his velocity was 91-94. I assume he threw all fastballs.

I was going to ask whether anyone had any first hand information about velocity, but I saw this. I am sure that Shipley's info is second hand the best. The only way to get velocity info for GCL games is by standing behind the table with the radar, just outside the fence where they are charting the pitches. and peek. Wonder if anyone around here did that for Gibson's appearance

As is written above, Shipley is getting the information from Rob Antony. I'm not certain if Antony is in Ft. Myers, but he would be the most knowledgeable person about what happened in Ft. Myers.

I have been completely discounting Gibson from making a contribution before two years post-surgery, if ever. So progress like this is really a welcome bit of news, which I will try to continue discounting for a while yet.

while it's nice to see him back, let's temper things a bit... 1 inning against rookie league competition where his fastball velo looked good.... he still has a long long long way to go.

while it's nice to see him back, let's temper things a bit... 1 inning against rookie league competition where his fastball velo looked good.... he still has a long long long way to go.

No one is saying that he's ready to come up and start on Friday for the Twins. But as written, it's another step in the process, a successful step. It's the normal process, and it is good news. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Greinke, diamond, Gibson, (FA Lefty), Hendriks. Next season!! Too wishful of thinking, not if Terry can copy Chuck Fletcher!!

Wow, this is awesome that he is already throwing in live games. Even if the results were 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER I'd still be happy. The fact he looked solid on the mound is icing on the cake.

 

While a septemeber callup would be nice, I am pumped at the thought of him competing (and most likely earning) a spot in the rotation out of spring training next year. People seem to forget he was the #34 prospect in baseball before the injury. And though his 2011 ERA etc don't look the most impressive, his perphrials actually looked very impressive, including his increased k/rate.

 

I still have faith he can become a very nice #2 in the major leagues with his GB% and his improved strike out rate. A poor mans #1 isn't completely out of the question as well!

I am very happy to read this. Even a #3 starter would be a blessing next year.

Greinke, diamond, Gibson, (FA Lefty), Hendriks. Next season!! Too wishful of thinking, not if Terry can copy Chuck Fletcher!!

Wishful thinking, indeed. Would love to see it, though. Am I wrong in thinking the Twins payroll on the books for next year is around 65 million? I know that's without counting arbitration salaries, but that should leave quite a bit of payroll if we stay around 100 million. So.. Enough money for Greinke?

 

Wishful thinking...

 

EDIT: Yeah, just read Bonnes' recent payroll post. I was quite a bit off.

Edited July 11, 201214 yr by raindog

Wow, this is awesome that he is already throwing in live games. Even if the results were 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER I'd still be happy. The fact he looked solid on the mound is icing on the cake.

 

While a septemeber callup would be nice, I am pumped at the thought of him competing (and most likely earning) a spot in the rotation out of spring training next year. People seem to forget he was the #34 prospect in baseball before the injury. And though his 2011 ERA etc don't look the most impressive, his perphrials actually looked very impressive, including his increased k/rate.

 

I still have faith he can become a very nice #2 in the major leagues with his GB% and his improved strike out rate. A poor mans #1 isn't completely out of the question as well!

Yes, I do hope he returns to the top 100 in the near future, and while his peripherals were excellent, he needed more time in the minors. Instead he lost that to TJ. The Twins would be wise to plan on him spending 2013 in Rochester to get used to piching again and to get a bit more polish. Expecting him to start in Minnesota in 2013 is not wise. Yes, he could prove me wrong, but I'd say the odds are not in favor of him doing so.

If the Twins don't sign a big name free agent pitcher, and it's likely they will not, they are going to get so much pressure from the fan base to bring up Gibson. Unless he's dominating AAA, I hope they don't cave, but barring a setback, I doubt they will be able to resist a callup any later than the All-Star break 2013.

Edited July 11, 201214 yr by nicksaviking

I think an innings limit for Gibson next year would be a good plan.

I just keep hoping Grienke will want to stay in a smaller market and the Twins will do something out of character for not one of there own!!

today, Gibson .2 IP 2h/R/BB/Solo HR

Why would it be good to have him in Rochester next year? He was ready this year, probably, pre-injury. Now he'll do rehab for almost half a year. Why wait another year, if he's ready?

I think an innings limit for Gibson next year would be a good plan.

Last Twins starter that had TJ surgery was Francisco Liriano. He threw a combined 199.2IP in that first year back after 18 months or so of rehab & his arm was sound. Liriano problems have been command, not arm.

Will be interesting if the do the same with Gibson & possibly Baker or take what I percieve as the wimp way out as Washington is

Why would it be good to have him in Rochester next year? He was ready this year, probably, pre-injury. Now he'll do rehab for almost half a year. Why wait another year, if he's ready?

I'm not sure he was "ready." His peripherals looked great but the results did not match up. I'm not one to buy this as "unlucky" as much as I am that he still needed to work on a few things before the results start showing up in the stats. Now you have a major injury that essentially takes him out for a year adn typically takes another half season or so to develop. As such, I'd let him work those kinks out in Rochester... certainly if he's dominating you can rethink the issue, but expecting him to contribute in Minnesota come next year is not wise.

Last Twins starter that had TJ surgery was Francisco Liriano. He threw a combined 199.2IP in that first year back after 18 months or so of rehab & his arm was sound. Liriano problems have been command, not arm.

Will be interesting if the do the same with Gibson & possibly Baker or take what I percieve as the wimp way out as Washington is

 

Do you really think the Nationals will shut down Strasburg in the midst of a pennant race? I'll believe it when I see it. Every time I have heard Strasburg himself questioned about an innings limit this year he has responded that no one has spoken to him about it. In the long run it would probably be better for him, but that is sometimes a difficult decision to make. What is best for the long term development of the player vs what the team needs in the game today, tomorrow and the rest of the season.

only cause they did the same with Jordan Zimmerman, tho it wasnt in a pennant race

They pitched him 70.2 combined IP in 2010 & 160 in 2011. Dont believe it has to be so cut & dry but depending on how the circumstances are with the pitcher (performance, how seasons goin, is he tiring)

Strasburg did 44.1 combined IP in his first year back last season....both had ACL surgeries about the same time of the yr (aug/sept) as Gibson.

Again MNs history was to go fullbore with Liriano when he was back...we'll see next yr I guess

I'm not sure he was "ready." His peripherals looked great but the results did not match up. I'm not one to buy this as "unlucky" as much as I am that he still needed to work on a few things before the results start showing up in the stats. Now you have a major injury that essentially takes him out for a year adn typically takes another half season or so to develop. As such, I'd let him work those kinks out in Rochester... certainly if he's dominating you can rethink the issue, but expecting him to contribute in Minnesota come next year is not wise.

I think he was injured before he completely blew out his elbow and that probably explains the poor results. He had been shut down at one point IIRC. Here are his splits in 2011

 

April - 3.15 ERA - 26% K rate - 5% BB rate

May - 3.86 ERA - 26% K rate - 5% BB rate

June - 5.17 ERA - 18% K rate - 9% BB rate

July - 11 ERA - 11% K rate - 11% BB rate

 

He was ready imo. Hopefully he can get back to that point and be a May/June callup next year.

 

One other complaint in this thread - Why does Joe Mays name get brought up? Yes, he had TJ but he was awful before TJ. He's not an example of someone that didn't recover from TJ. He's somebody that wasn't as good as Blackburn that came crashing back to earth and TJ was blamed for his crash.

I think he was injured before he completely blew out his elbow and that probably explains the poor results. He had been shut down at one point IIRC. Here are his splits in 2011

 

April - 3.15 ERA - 26% K rate - 5% BB rate

May - 3.86 ERA - 26% K rate - 5% BB rate

June - 5.17 ERA - 18% K rate - 9% BB rate

July - 11 ERA - 11% K rate - 11% BB rate

 

He was ready imo. Hopefully he can get back to that point and be a May/June callup next year.

 

One other complaint in this thread - Why does Joe Mays name get brought up? Yes, he had TJ but he was awful before TJ. He's not an example of someone that didn't recover from TJ. He's somebody that wasn't as good as Blackburn that came crashing back to earth and TJ was blamed for his crash.

Mays was a one yr wonder (one yr..01.. was All Star yr tho) so I wouldnt degrade him that much, but he had really lost his stuff the 2 full yrs before the surgery

Mays was a one yr wonder (one yr..01.. was All Star yr tho) so I wouldnt degrade him that much, but he had really lost his stuff the 2 full yrs before the surgery

Joe Mays before surgery

4.37 ERA

5.56

3.17

5.38

6.30

surgery

 

He was bad before his one good year and he was bad after. He shouldn't even be mentioned as someone that didn't make it back from TJ.

 

Neither should Liriano. He came back from TJ surgery with his man weight. Does anybody remember/have the picture in spring training? The problem was that his man weight was 20-30 lbs of baby fat because he sat around eating Ho-hos instead of doing rehab. I really wish I had that photo. It pretty much explains my dislike for Liriano and it's not a surprise that he is absolutely awful at the beginning of every season.

Do you really think the Nationals will shut down Strasburg in the midst of a pennant race? I'll believe it when I see it. Every time I have heard Strasburg himself questioned about an innings limit this year he has responded that no one has spoken to him about it. In the long run it would probably be better for him, but that is sometimes a difficult decision to make. What is best for the long term development of the player vs what the team needs in the game today, tomorrow and the rest of the season.

All indications are that they will, IP is a weird thing to judge by, they should have a "pitch limit" if I were the Nationals I would find a reason to DL him for a couple weeks, then give him extra rest between starts(skip when they can). If I were them I would give him 11 more starts this season with capping the majority at 5 or 6 IP. Then you at least leave a few starts left for the playoffs if need be.

 

Would be interesting if it came down to the playoffs if they would stick him in the pen (if he was right on that IP limit)

Joe Mays before surgery

4.37 ERA

5.56

3.17

5.38

6.30

surgery

 

He was bad before his one good year and he was bad after. He shouldn't even be mentioned as someone that didn't make it back from TJ.

 

Neither should Liriano. He came back from TJ surgery with his man weight. Does anybody remember/have the picture in spring training? The problem was that his man weight was 20-30 lbs of baby fat because he sat around eating Ho-hos instead of doing rehab. I really wish I had that photo. It pretty much explains my dislike for Liriano and it's not a surprise that he is absolutely awful at the beginning of every season.

I am agrreing with ya that Mays was horrible the 2 yrs before/after his all star yr....so he just got back to his bad yrs after TJ surgery.

Liriano was excellent in his first yr back. His first 3 MN starts were horrible, but after rehabbing in ROC, his numbers after his recall were his best in his MN yrs.

11 starts 6w 1L 65.2IP 59h .236BAA 2.74ERA 60k 19bb

This was his best yr with the Twins since TJ surgery

I am agrreing with ya that Mays was horrible the 2 yrs before/after his all star yr....so he just got back to his bad yrs after TJ surgery.

Liriano was excellent in his first yr back. His first 3 MN starts were horrible, but after rehabbing in ROC, his numbers after his recall were his best in his MN yrs.

11 starts 6w 1L 65.2IP 59h .236BAA 2.74ERA 60k 19bb

This was his best yr with the Twins since TJ surgery

Further evidence that Liriano isn't a great example of a pitcher that struggled because of TJ?