Article: Twins To Name Gibson Fifth Starter

[Riverbrian]

I'm happy for Gibson and excited for him to reach his potential. If he does... He will be a big boost for this club.

 

However... I still think Deduno has the potential to be our best starter in 2014. I think he has the stuff to be.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Congrats to Kyle, and way to go Twins. They really played their poker face on this one! Antony barely mentioned him in that interview. Still seems like they were giving Worley/Diamond every opportunity to claim the job, but glad to see Gibson was indeed a realistic option.

 

Didn't they previously express concerns about Deduno coming out of the pen? I seem to recall something like that from the past two years. Not sure whether it was his warmup routine, recovery rate, mediocre K/BB rates, something?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Also, the best part of this move may not even be Gibson or Deduno. It effectively moves Meyer up a few spots on the depth chart, hopefully first in line assuming he makes a smooth transition to AAA.

[bird]

Good.

 

Don't be so damned effusive in your praise, Mr. Wins.

 

 

Oh oh, here comes an infraction.

[PseudoSABR]

The Twins aggressiveness with a prospect makes it all the more bittersweet that Sano is out for the year. Good for Gibson!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Like the rest of you, I'm glad to see Gibson make the team. He's earned it and he's finally ready and I hope the best for him.

 

Without wishing ill on any of the other starters, I'd also like to see Deduno get some starts now. Go team!

[ashbury]

The Twins aggressiveness with a prospect

 

This is Gibson's age-26 season. Give him slack for the surgeries, but still, they're not exactly pushing the calendar to give him his chance (again) with the big club.

[mcrow]

Good for him, I was hoping he'd step it up and earn a spot on the roster.

 

So far I'm fairly pleased with the way the rotation is setting up. Maybe not going to make a big enough jump to contend for the playoffs but should be a significant increase in wins. It is just spring training but I feel good about the progress with the pitching.

[SydneyTwinsFan]

Great move. I was advocating this but pleasantly surprised the Twins have actually done it

[pierre75275]

Im excited to watch Kyle Gibson pitch for the big club. My questions are what to do with Diamond and who gets the first call if a starter is needed? Meyer? or Deduno?

[Deduno Abides]

This is good news. Assuming Gibson sticks in the rotation, it starts a march of major league quality pitchers from the minors to the rotation. Next is Meyer, and there are some very promising arms in the lower levels. (I predict May can be a major league quality reliever, but not a starter. Think Latroy Hawkins.) It has been a few years since home grown pitchers with more than a hope of sticking started appearing in the rotation.

 

Also, the fact that there is debate about a pitcher people think is deserving but who didn't make the rotation (Deduno) is great circumstantial evidence of progress. By the way, long relief is a good role for Sam at the start of the season, based on his injury last year and possible changes to the rotation as the year goes on.

 

This could be the Twins' strongest rotation in several years.

[Squirrel]

Initially, I thought the fifth starter job would go to Deduno but upon further thought, this makes more sense...

 

Starting off the season with Gibson as the fifth starter gives him regular innings in the majors, something Kyle badly needs to succeed in the long-term.

 

Deduno, on the other hand, is more experienced and should be able to shift from long relief to spot-starting without much difficulty, plus it mitigates some of his injury risk.

 

I don't think either option is a bad one but I am happy to see the front office show confidence in Kyle.

This, this, this!

 

I had said in another thread Gibson for the 5th spot and Deduno out of the pen with occasional spot starts. Mostly I questioned Deduno's shoulder going forward as a starter, at least for now. And I just felt that Gibson was right for the 5th spot; if not now, when? So this is good all around.

[Willihammer]

It is so rare to get through a season without an injury to a starter, I'm sure Deduno will get 10+ starts before its said and done. I am just happy to have a little depth for once. Should make the season a lot more bearable.

[Danchat]

I really hope Gibson can shake off his troubles from last year. I recall it he had some anxiety issues, and perhaps he has overcome them.

 

I wonder if Deduno will get better now that he's in the bullpen... though he's already a good starter, now he's got the potential to be a deadly reliever. He's also a great long relief option because he can pitch several scoreless innings and keep us in the game.

 

Huh. I think I actually like this call. I gotta give you credit when it's due, TR.

[Willihammer]

This is good news. Assuming Gibson sticks in the rotation, it starts a march of major league quality pitchers from the minors to the rotation. Next is Meyer, and there are some very promising arms in the lower levels. (I predict May can be a major league quality reliever, but not a starter. Think Latroy Hawkins.) It has been a few years since home grown pitchers with more than a hope of sticking started appearing in the rotation.

 

Also, the fact that there is debate about a pitcher people think is deserving but who didn't make the rotation (Deduno) is great circumstantial evidence of progress. By the way, long relief is a good role for Sam at the start of the season, based on his injury last year and possible changes to the rotation as the year goes on.

 

This could be the Twins' strongest rotation in several years.

 

Relevant username if there ever was one.

[twinsnorth49]

Great news, another promising young player we get to see hopefully develop, certainly beats watching a guy who has a limited future at his expense.

 

Deduno will undoubtedly get a number of starts this year as well as being a good option in long relief, right handed and all. It's refreshing to see the Twins looking at the available options to them and show confidence in the players that need it.

[Physics Guy]

Very surprised here, as I assumed #5 would be one of the three without options. I guess it makes sense considering Deduno hasn't been starting and the other two have stunk up the joint.

[Halsey Hall]

Im very happy with this but how in the heck did Pelfrey earn a spot over Deduno.

 

Trevor, just watch, Pelfrey will be one of our best pitchers this season if not the best.

[Thrylos]

Please let this be the case. I just don't trust Duensing. The runs charged to Diamond last night belong to Duensing.

 

In which way?

 

You can argue that ERA is a bad metric (very true) but those are Diamonds runs. If the bases were empty, there would had been no runs.

[cmb0252]

This news really excites me. Gibson, Hicks, and Arcia all look to have starting spots with Pinto and Tonkin fighting for spots. A big rush of talent. This is something the Twins have been missing for awhile. With Buxton, May, Meyers, Rosario, and Sano right behind them this team is going to look real different soon.

[Thrylos]

Im very happy with this but how in the heck did Pelfrey earn a spot over Deduno.

 

By his career numbers. And the fact that he was re-signed to a 2 year contract. And the fact that the Twins count him to be the number 3 pitcher. And the fact that Deduno has still to complete a major (or minor, or WBC) league season without hurting himself. And the fact that he simply is a better pitcher any way you measure it.

[Shane Wahl]

Very smart decision. It will be interesting to see how they use Deduno in the bullpen and who is going to be the odd man out down there. Diamond needs to get an injury.

[Thrylos]

OOPS.

 

Allegedly, according to Rob Antony, Diamond is still in the mix and the Gibson anointment was a bit premature.

[Thrylos]

Diamond needs to get an injury.

 

Sir,

it is really bad karma to wish injury to anyone. Diamond needs to get traded.

[Squirrel]

OOPS.

 

Allegedly, according to Rob Antony, Diamond is still in the mix and the Gibson anointment was a bit premature.

Argh

[TKGuy]

Count me as shocked also, but I love Deduno in the bullpen. Does that mean Pressly gets sent down? Gibson certainly earned it, along with Hicks.

[cmathewson]

I hoped all along that they would do this, in part, because I always hope they would do what is best for the team, now and in the future. When it was clear that they would keep Deduno in the pen, Gibson was the clear choice.

 

Diamond has has trade value. I'm sure they're trying to make a deal. I wouldn't be surprised to see Deduno setting up all year. He really adds a new dimension to the bullpen.

[jorgenswest]

The optimism of spring has me envisioning Gibson as the number 5 starter and Meyer pitching so well he pushes Correia to the pen in May.

 

This won't be a result of Correia pitching poorly but rather at his career norm. It was a sign of the Pirate turn around when he was moved to their pen during the 2012 season.

 

Correia's ability to hold on runners and retain his level of performance with runners on base makes him a good fit for the pen.

[jokin]

I hoped all along that they would do this, in part, because I always hope they would do what is best for the team, now and in the future. When it was clear that they would keep Deduno in the pen, Gibson was the clear choice.

 

Diamond has has trade value. I'm sure they're trying to make a deal. I wouldn't be surprised to see Deduno setting up all year. He really adds a new dimension to the bullpen.

 

Whither "old dimension" Burton? Trade bait, as well?

[jokin]

The optimism of spring has me envisioning Gibson as the number 5 starter and Meyer pitching so well he pushes Correia to the pen in May.

 

This won't be a result of Correia pitching poorly but rather at his career norm. It was a sign of the Pirate turn around when he was moved to their pen during the 2012 season.

 

Correia's ability to hold on runners and retain his level of performance with runners on base makes him a good fit for the pen.

 

I fully agree that it would be awesome to see Meyer kick the doors down. But what about trading Correia before the deadline? Doesn't a move to the pen diminish what ever (any?) value he might get in return?