Article: Twins To Name Gibson Fifth Starter

[jokin]

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.

 

I think you nailed it. Barring some unlikely trade for RPs like Burton and Duensing, guys with options like Pressly and T-Bar are likely to get sent in favor of Deduno, and maybe even Diamond.

[Thrylos]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Deduno setting up all year. He really adds a new dimension to the bullpen.

 

Sometimes I just do not understand the Deduno love

 

Did you check his appearance last night? I would have a hard time to think that a guy who is prone to throw the wild pitch should be in close situations, esp. with runners at third base or at second with one out.

 

Deduno's track record (despite all the love) is just not there...

[stringer bell]

It is spring training but it was a competition and Gibson clearly outpitched Worley and Diamond. Certainly, Deduno has also pitched well, but as pointed out above, he's not completed a season yet and he is 30 years old.

 

Let's face it, there are no sure things in the rotation. Nolasco and Correia have been very durable, but often without great results. Pelfrey is coming off a poor season while recovering from TJ and Hughes is coming off a bad season in the Big Apple. The odds of all staying healthy and pitching well enough to stay in the rotation is pretty high.

 

Meyer, Deduno and others will get starts. I personally haven't given up on Diamond, although he hasn't pitched that well this spring. I do see that his ceiling isn't that high and if he is lost there are three lefties in Rochester with similar profiles.

[dgwills]

Assuming it happens this way, I love the move. I've always thought Deduno would be better in the bullpen due to his high pitch counts. Gibson has the best chance of being in our rotation if/when we are a contender. It's time to see what he has.

Side note: I put a 100 bones on the twins winning the world series today. I'm a sucker for a long shot

[nicksaviking]

This is great news. With the will they/won't they saga regarding his call up last year, he was beginning to get kind of a "savior" tag. He shouldn't have to play with those expectations now.

[Guest USAFChief]

My guess would be Deduno is more likely to assume a long man role in the pen than a setup role. Seems more suited to that role to me, and keeps him a little more stretched out and closer to a return to the rotation when an opening occurs, which is almost a given.

[Brock Beauchamp]

My guess would be Deduno is more likely to assume a long man role in the pen than a setup role. Seems more suited to that role to me, and keeps him a little more stretched out and closer to a return to the rotation when an opening occurs, which is almost a given.

 

This.

[DocBauer]

A few thoughts.

 

This is not only exciting, but the right move. He needs to be in MLB. This spring he looks the part. Also, this is a transition year, building to something, and you can't move forward if always looking over your shoulder.

 

Deduno looked mortal the other night, can't be perfect every time, but has had a good spring, following a good, occasionally great 2013 and OK 2012. Seems to have shown himself to be a legitimate late bloomer. I am shocked he hasn't received a start yet this ST. Not only based on what he did last season, or how he's pitched so far, but also due to comments made previously by Gardy and Ryan. I HAVE to believe this is a two-fold plan. 1-despite being healthy and throwing well, it allows the team to watch and build his shoulder with no rush. 2-it allows the team time to monitor Gibson and the rest of the rotation and have another SP to slide in when/if necessary. Possibly due to future trade.

 

I have nothing against Correia. Having him as a 4th starter is NOT a bad thing. If he throws as well as last year, with better all around support and play from the team, he can be solid, eat innings, and even win some games. But, he just doesn't fit in to long term plans. Now, with so many teams suddenly hurting in their rotations, or a month or so in, I'd like to see him moved and Deduno in the rotation. He's talented enough, more than Correia, has some upside, is younger, and has a small price tag. He CAN be part of the Twins next evolution, even for a couple of years.

 

Stinks for Tonkin, who has nothing left to prove, is part of our future, deserves a spot, and hopefully won't have to wait long for a promotion back up where he belongs.

 

I have always disagreed with those who are anti-Duensing. He's done whatever is asked of him without complaint. Mostly, when allowed to just stay in the pen, he's been solid. No he hasn't had the best ST so far. But when dealing with a veteran, you not only make a few allowances for past production, but you also wonder if results in ST are more the result of just getting in work, and working specifically on certain aspects.

 

Diamond has been erratic this spring. He's shown nothing special or consistent. Hey, I was rooting for him last season and this ST. But what has he shown to make anyone confident? Yes Duensing allowed 3 runs to score in relief, but are we really going to ignore the fact that Diamond walked THREE batters to load the bases in the 5th before being relieved? How is that acceptable? So he should have a spot in the pen over someone like Thielbar who pitched great last year, is having an excellent spring, and is a better piece to build the future? Like Tonkin, he has riven himself thus far, deserves a spot, and if sent down, will hopefully be back soon.

[PopRiveter]

Yuck. Deduno is the only one of the seven who I actually look forward to watching start. Looks like a summer's worth of dvr-ing games to watch offensive halves of innings.

I see the value in all these guys, but I literally have no interest in actually watching any member of the rotation.

I haven't felt that way about a Twins rotation since I started following the team as a grown-up (2000.)

Lame.

[Halsey Hall]

Gibson won that competition, so good for him. Deduno never was in it. We'll need long relief this year and that's where he should help til we need him in the rotation.

[jokin]

My guess would be Deduno is more likely to assume a long man role in the pen than a setup role. Seems more suited to that role to me, and keeps him a little more stretched out and closer to a return to the rotation when an opening occurs, which is almost a given.

 

Yep. He needs to be "less than a phone call away".

[TheLeviathan]

Well I hope that Antony comment was just in the spirit of keeping up the competition and not a sign of throwing rain on my Gibson parade.

[LaBombo]

My guess would be Deduno is more likely to assume a long man role in the pen than a setup role. Seems more suited to that role to me, and keeps him a little more stretched out and closer to a return to the rotation when an opening occurs, which is almost a given.

Sounds right.

 

Fans of most organizations would be asking 'How many other teams use two bullpen slots on long relievers who can give you two good innings per appearance instead of one great one?'

 

Twins fans wonder how many other teams need two.

[Bark's Lounge]

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.

 

I'm with RB on Deduno. I also believe he has the potential to be our best starting pitcher this season.

 

This shouldn't be an equation that hurts Gibson's chances - he should have a spot, he's earned it. It is a political decision more or less based on the shoe-in spots given to Correia and Pelfrey.

 

Oh well, I can live with it. My guess is that Samuel makes a fare amount of starts this season.

 

Depth is a good thing.

[JDW]

My guess would be Deduno is more likely to assume a long man role in the pen than a setup role. Seems more suited to that role to me, and keeps him a little more stretched out and closer to a return to the rotation when an opening occurs, which is almost a given.

 

I agree. And to speculate, I wonder if the club will try to trade Swarzak. I believe he's got a good enough track record the last two years to find a willing trade partner.

[twinsnorth49]

My guess would be Deduno is more likely to assume a long man role in the pen than a setup role. Seems more suited to that role to me, and keeps him a little more stretched out and closer to a return to the rotation when an opening occurs, which is almost a given.

 

This.

 

 

Only this.

[Guest USAFChief]

Sounds right.

 

Fans of most organizations would be asking 'How many other teams use two bullpen slots on long relievers who can give you two good innings per appearance instead of one great one?'

 

Twins fans wonder how many other teams need two.

My reaction was more "only ​two"?

[cmathewson]

My guess would be Deduno is more likely to assume a long man role in the pen than a setup role. Seems more suited to that role to me, and keeps him a little more stretched out and closer to a return to the rotation when an opening occurs, which is almost a given.

 

Nick's notebook from today confirms this.

[ashbury]

My guess would be Deduno is more likely to assume a long man role in the pen than a setup role.

 

The long man role has an element as a fireman coming in with men on base. He might let too many inherited runners score while he gets comfortable, then go on to shut them down for some innings with the damage already done. OTOH the setup role won't let him get enough innings to really make a mark. And the long man is often the swing man for the odd start here and there. A dilemma.

[jokin]

The long man role has an element as a fireman coming in with men on base. He might let too many inherited runners score while he gets comfortable, then go on to shut them down for some innings with the damage already done. OTOH the setup role won't let him get enough innings to really make a mark. And the long man is often the swing man for the odd start here and there. A dilemma.

 

Possible answer to the dilemma? Randy Johnson was coming back from a season-long injury back in the late 90s with the Mariners. It was only 6 games or so (one against the Twins), but Johnson was a game-changer in a role coming in in relief and dominating 3-4 middle innings in close games. Deduno is definitely a very good pitcher his first time or so through a lineup- no reason he couldn't try out that role for potentially up to twice a week or so. Most of Swarzak's long relief innings are in low-leverage situations. I think Deduno might be able to handle a slightly heavier load than that.

[ashbury]

Possible answer to the dilemma? Randy Johnson was coming back from a season-long injury back in the late 90s with the Mariners. It was only 6 games or so (one against the Twins), but Johnson was a game-changer in a role coming in in relief and dominating 3-4 middle innings in close games. Deduno is definitely a very good pitcher his first time or so through a lineup- no reason he couldn't try out that role for potentially up to twice a week or so. Most of Swarzak's long relief innings are in low-leverage situations. I think Deduno might be able to handle a slightly heavier load than that.

 

Fair enough. Though, if we need 3-4 middle innings of relief twice a week or so, Deduno will find himself in the rotation again.

[jokin]

Fair enough. Though, if we need 3-4 middle innings of relief twice a week or so, Deduno will find himself in the rotation again.

 

True that. But then again, that's the point of having him already stretched out and ready to grab the reins of a SP role when/if the inevitable happens. As much as the SP's have been upgraded overall, it's still probably a fairly reasonable shot that one of the 5 sustains an injury or falters with a couple of consecutive clinkers between now and Meyer time. It would be comforting to know that someone capable, when fully healthy, of dominating in the short-term is less than a phone call away, already throwing to major leaguers.

[Reider]

Moving Deduno to the bullpen and giving Gibson the 5th spot makes sense for a few different reasons. Deduno is obviously good enough to be a starter or pitch out of the bullpen, but I like the depth that this move provides. The possibility of the starting rotation and bullpen both improving over last year is something I won't argue with.

[longstrangetrip]

I love the optimism in this thread, provided Diamond doesn't slip into that 5th spot. My initial reaction to Sammy going into the pen was mixed, because he was my favorite Twin last year...I love seeing opposing hitters shaking their heads going back to the dugout after another weak roller. But I like Gibson and he has thrown well this spring. He deserves a shot.

 

Frankly, 5th starters don't get that many starts early in the season with the built-in off days, so Deduno may actually get more opportunity to show off his funky movement out of the pen. It's difficult as a fan to cheer for a long reliever to come into the game though, because it means our starter has been shelled.

 

Anyway, as others have pointed out, the real message here is the impressive depth in starting pitching. Rotations just don't stay intact for a season...things happen. But now, rather than PJ Walters and Liam Hendricks lurking as potential fifth starters, we have Deduno and Meyer. What a positive development!

[LaBombo]

My reaction was more "only ​two"?

Yeah, Cuellar has probably already had a talk with his all of his guys about the uniquely challenging work environment pitching behind a Twins rotation, and having enough gas in the tank for more than 3 outs if needed. All of them except the one with 44 career MLB starts, that is.

[LaBombo]

it's still probably a fairly reasonable shot that one of the 5 sustains an injury or falters with a couple of consecutive clinkers between now and Meyer time.

Yup. In addition to being utterly dominating, the Tiger starting 5 was also essentially bulletproof last season. Yet they still ended up giving 6 starts to something called Jose Alvarez.

 

Deduno will probably see at least a half dozen starts this season unless the wheels fall completely off his wagon. Which is always a possibility for guys with wacky, seemingly unsustainable success relative to their peripherals.

[jokin]

Yup. In addition to being utterly dominating, the Tiger starting 5 was also essentially bulletproof last season. Yet they still ended up giving 6 starts to something called Jose Alvarez.

 

Deduno will probably see at least a half dozen starts this season unless the wheels fall completely off his wagon. Which is always a possibility for guys with wacky, seemingly unsustainable success relative to their peripherals.

 

I'll take "something called" Samuel Deduno to pick up those here and there spot starts over the likes of who they trotted out last year, Pedro Hernandez, or this year's other likely emergency guys, Swarzak or Duensing, until of course, Deduno sustains his annual injury. By which time, I am hoping that Meyer is more than ready to claim a rotation spot.

[old nurse]

I'll take "something called" Samuel Deduno to pick up those here and there spot starts over the likes of who they trotted out last year, Pedro Hernandez, or this year's other likely emergency guys, Swarzak or Duensing, until of course, Deduno sustains his annual injury. By which time, I am hoping that Meyer is more than ready to claim a rotation spot.

 

Look at the liked thing. Off topic, but does Best Steak House still have the $2.00 Ribeye?

[jokin]

Look at the liked thing. Off topic, but does Best Steak House still have the $2.00 Ribeye?

 

Hey, as often as we are both on the same page, I'm buying! (But not Manny's or Murray's or Ruth's Chris..... Best Steak House for the Lunch Special? Why not? Do they have a bus to Target Field?)

[longstrangetrip]

I'm starting to see why Gardy was so angry at LaVelle for tweeting that Gibson was going to be the 5th starter. I'm starting to see a different conclusion here. I seems to me that the only thing that has been announced is that Deduno is going to start the year in the bullpen. With Gardy saying today that they're only going to carry 12 pitchers, it seems they may not think they need to carry a 5th starter in the early weeks because of the off dates. They can always do the Rochester shuttle when they finally need a 5th. If that means Gibson can stay sharp starting at Rochester, that's probably good news.