Recap: Polanco Homers Twice as Twins Split Doubleheader

Don't know if this is where I should post this but I just saw where Melvin Upton opted out of his minor league agreement. Good defense- runs well - hits better against lefties- I think we still have one 40 man roster spot- I could see being able to use him since Sept 1st. is so close. Any thoughts?

If you go just by results, Gee and Slegers should be in the rotation. Gibson, not so much. Santiago, no way. Then it's a matter of finding a fifth pitcher. Gonsalves or Jorge?

Gee has earned another start or two, at least.

If you go just by results, Gee and Slegers should be in the rotation. Gibson, not so much. Santiago, no way. Then it's a matter of finding a fifth pitcher. Gonsalves or Jorge?

If Gee and Slegers remain in, aren't there already 5? Or are you advocating removing Colon?

Gee has earned another start or two, at least.

So did Slegers. Yet the decision makers decided to keep Gibson and have him start tonight instead. If the Twins lose tonight's game, it is all on Falvey.

Gibson has been supposedly pitching for his job all year. He's been terrible all year other than a handful of starts. Yet for some inexplicable reason, they keep giving him the ball.

Looks like Polanco homered from both sides of the plate yesterday!

So did Slegers. Yet the decision makers decided to keep Gibson and have him start tonight instead. If the Twins lose tonight's game, it is all on Falvey.

Gibson has been supposedly pitching for his job all year. He's been terrible all year other than a handful of starts. Yet for some inexplicable reason, they keep giving him the ball.

If they win the game tonight does Falvey get all the credit?   I'm more annoyed with the Melville start.   Had never heard of him before this week and checked his minor league and major league stats and was quite underwhelmed.    Would have preferred Gibson on short rest since he only went 4 innings and maybe his sinker benefits by it and then go with Slegers tonight.    

Still irritated about game 1.

Looking back, between the Detroit walkoff debacle because of the refusal to address the bullpen in the offseason (putting the numerous other losses early aside for now) and yesterday's game 1....they may be the difference between the playoffs and not.

They really should be 3.5 back if the Indians, .5 back of Yankees, and 2.5 ahead of the Angels. That is a huge difference.

That's why I never understand the reluctance to call up prospects that can help, etc early in the year. Every game is important, could be the difference, and out of respect for the fans paying their salary, and taxpayers who payed for their stadium, should be treated as such.

If Gee and Slegers remain in, aren't there already 5? Or are you advocating removing Colon?

I can't count, but actually (now that I think about it for the first time), it might be better to use Gee as a starter and find one more long man for the pen, using him as an occasional starter. Slegers could do that. The Twins appear to need at least three "relievers" that can pitch five innings when one of the starters implodes early. Gee might fit that role, but after his first start, you've got to put him into the rotation. Slegers has mechanics that look relatively easy on the arm, so maybe he could fit the long-man / starter role. Jorge has an easy motion, too....

Let's say the Twins lose 1-0 tonight, with Gibson going the distance. The run scores when a runner gets on by a passed third strike, a steal of second, takes third on a grounder to first, and then scores on a fly out where the outfielder throws up the line. Is it still Gibson/Falvine's fault?

If they win the game tonight does Falvey get all the credit?   I'm more annoyed with the Melville start.   Had never heard of him before this week and checked his minor league and major league stats and was quite underwhelmed.    Would have preferred Gibson on short rest since he only went 4 innings and maybe his sinker benefits by it and then go with Slegers tonight.    

Yeah, Gibson went 4 last time.  And threw more pitches than Selgers, who went 6 1/3. As for giving credit to Falvey if the Twins win, I'll keep an open mind if  

A) Gibson actually pitches at least 6 innings - something he has done in less than 1/3 of his starts this year

B ) the Twins offense scores fewer than 8 runs - in other words, Gibson actually had to keep the Sox offense in check.  He's given up 5 runs or more in 1/3 of his starts this year.  He's only made 3 starts in which he gave up fewer than 3 runs.

Gibson isn't good.  Hasn't been good for more than 2 years now.  I have no idea if Slegers will stick long term as a starter for the Twins (or anywhere else).  But right now I think he gives the team a considerably better chance to win.  It baffles me that the decision makers who have watched these guys pitch, don't see it that way.

Yeah, Gibson went 4 last time.  And threw more pitches than Selgers, who went 6 1/3. As for giving credit to Falvey if the Twins win, I'll keep an open mind if  

A) Gibson actually pitches at least 6 innings - something he has done in less than 1/3 of his starts this year

B ) the Twins offense scores fewer than 8 runs - in other words, Gibson actually had to keep the Sox offense in check.  He's given up 5 runs or more in 1/3 of his starts this year.  He's only made 3 starts in which he gave up fewer than 3 runs.

 

Gibson isn't good.  Hasn't been good for more than 2 years now.  I have no idea if Slegers will stick long term as a starter for the Twins (or anywhere else).  But right now I think he gives the team a considerably better chance to win.  It baffles me that the decision makers who have watched these guys pitch, don't see it that way.

Gibson was good two years ago and I have given him more benefit than most but I agree he just hasn't been good.   He sometimes appears to be victim of bad D or bad calls or bad luck but this is no longer SSS.    He had a really good game early in the year where he threw his curve ball a lot but doesn't appear to throw it much anymore.    Bad Nick Blackburn for a while now.   2015 he had 17 quality starts out of 32 and many were better than just 6 innings 3 runs that qualify.   Last year was a poor 8 out of 25 and this year he is 4 of 21.   In his wins two years ago his ERA was a ridiculously low 0.71 so essentially when he was on he was putting up Cy Young type numbers even though he was only on every other game.   This year in his wins his ERA is 4.91 so even his best has been pretty poor.

Just baffled about the Tim Melville callup. This guy's minor league numbers are bad. He's been an unsuccessful pitcher at every level. Like these-numbers-get-you-cut-before-high-A bad. 

Minor league career ERA of 4.58, WHIP of 1.43. What are they seeing? The article mentions a 96 mph fastball, but since it's never translated to outs...

I get that they are grasping at straws on a doubleheader day, but this decision has no base. With this track record, I probably wouldn't let him start for the Saints.

Super confused.

Gibson was good two years ago and I have given him more benefit than most but I agree he just hasn't been good. He sometimes appears to be victim of bad D or bad calls or bad luck but this is no longer SSS. He had a really good game early in the year where he threw his curve ball a lot but doesn't appear to throw it much anymore. Bad Nick Blackburn for a while now. 2015 he had 17 quality starts out of 32 and many were better than just 6 innings 3 runs that qualify. Last year was a poor 8 out of 25 and this year he is 4 of 21. In his wins two years ago his ERA was a ridiculously low 0.71 so essentially when he was on he was putting up Cy Young type numbers even though he was only on every other game. This year in his wins his ERA is 4.91 so even his best has been pretty poor.

If you dig a little further into 2015, you will see very good first half, bad second half. Indeed, the first half of 2015 is the only substantial period of Gibson's career when he wasn't average to poor.

Still irritated about game 1.

Looking back, between the Detroit walkoff debacle because of the refusal to address the bullpen in the offseason (putting the numerous other losses early aside for now) and yesterday's game 1....they may be the difference between the playoffs and not.

They really should be 3.5 back if the Indians, .5 back of Yankees, and 2.5 ahead of the Angels. That is a huge difference.

That's why I never understand the reluctance to call up prospects that can help, etc early in the year. Every game is important, could be the difference, and out of respect for the fans paying their salary, and taxpayers who payed for their stadium, should be treated as such.

That logic isn't a fair way of looking at things. We can't pretend it is as if we have won every single game we should have won and lost every game we should have lost.

Looks like Polanco homered from both sides of the plate yesterday!

Dialled in! He was probably pretty shook up for awhile. He is showing his fortitude now. I like that the FO can be plain spoken at times. Levine said Polanco was a second baseman but if nothing else he would benefit from his time at short. I think his future is bright.

If you dig a little further into 2015, you will see very good first half, bad second half. Indeed, the first half of 2015 is the only substantial period of Gibson's career when he wasn't average to poor.

Well the first round pick was quite a bit better than average or poor during that stretch, definitely looks the part and appears to have some talent. People complain they gave up on Ortiz so quickly and Gibby? It's been hard for some to come to the conclusion that's it's time to cut bait. If it keeps going the way it has and he shows up in the rotation next year then I will be steamed.

You guys clearly aren't reading the minor league reports. Melville has a 2.70 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 8.6 K/9 for Rochester. He went seven innings and gave up one run or less in four of his 10 starts there. Just for context, Aaron Slegers has a 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 6.7 K/9 at the same level this year, and everybody's dying to see more of him.

You are right.   I read the minor league reports but mainly for the names I want to see.   I looked at his baseball reference page and his minor league and major league totals are unimpressive.    I trust your stats for his recent performance and stand corrected.

If you dig a little further into 2015, you will see very good first half, bad second half. Indeed, the first half of 2015 is the only substantial period of Gibson's career when he wasn't average to poor.

If you dig a little further he had a bad August where he had two quality starts in 6 attempts but he had 5 quality starts in 6 tries in September.   The whole year we either got great starts from him or bad but not a whole lot in between.    I was ok with that then and would love to see it now.       4 quality starts in 21 tries just doesn't cut it. 

I looked at the results of the 181 games he pitched prior to his callup, not just the last 11.

I can't see how anyone would have enough confidence to assign him to face an mlb lineup after such a short stretch of competence when it follows a long, poor track record.

That's my point.

They lost the game and I'm already over it.

Kind of sad when you face Mike Pelfrey, who's been dumped by the Tigers and demoted to the pen and realize his numbers are good enough he'd be the Twins fourth best starter if he was still here.

Ouch.