BD57

we're nibbling again ...

you can say a guy's "snakebit" - but some guys seem to be more "snakebit" than others ....

We're through 7 ... I hope we have someone up in the pen.

what a friggin' surprise - Gibson's got the tying run at the plate.

Umm ... we aren't up by two touchdowns, so I'd vote "no" on Gibson. Better have someone else "up" at the first sign of a baserunner.

How big of a bus? If it's small enough, maybe even then ....

I don't want Perez or Gibson pitching any high-leverage innings the rest of the year, regular season or "post." Shoot, I wouldn't give either of them the ball as a reliever in a post-season game with a 6 run lead, for fear they'd make a game of it. And I'm good with starting Dobs - he's been put out there more than once and done a good job with it more than once.

looks like everyone can throw 95+ now ...

This guy's debut was 9/5 against the Tigers and his ERA is over 6? Ahem ...

Geez ... did Eddie have a shot at that ball?

Following up ... I have no ill-will toward Kyle. By every appearance, he's a good man, someone you'd want representing your baseball team off the field, and I've never read a word about him being anything other than a good teammate. He had a run where he was a very effective pitcher - it looked like he'd figured things out, gotten some "swagger," some belief in his stuff, where he'd go after hitters and get them out. That's gone now, and has been for a while. He pitches as if he believes every single mistake he makes is going to wind up in the upper deck; he just doesn't seem to believe his stuff is good enough to get guys out. Long time ago, I heard Frank Viola tell a story, about when he was "green," wondering it he could get major league hitters out, and having trouble throwing strikes because of it. His catcher at the time - whoever it was - basically told him "we're throwing it down the middle, whatever we throw tonight." Frank complied, discovered his "stuff" was pretty good, and gained the confidence to go after hitters. Once Frank got to where he wasn't so afraid of making mistakes, he made fewer of them, and his "good stuff" became even more effective. Kyle simply doesn't believe in what he's doing. At least, that's what I see.

i dunno, Nick ... to what would you attribute Kyle losing all contact with the strike zone when he gets runners on base (as he did tonight)? It's been happening way too often the last couple of months. If he's not healthy, we shouldn't be running him out there.

As thin-skinned as today's umpires are? Absolutely. If the batter doesn't turn around, he might have a chance of sticking.

Did anyone actually think the Tigers were going to be competitive this year?

sometimes, the ump thinks "if the catcher catches it in the air, it must be a strike."

Gibson (a) nibbles too much to get close calls; and ( doesn't throw enough strikes to get close calls.

If Cleveland catches us, Gibson's fingerprints will be on the murder weapon.

Every time we put him out there, he puts us in a hole.

I'm not interested in seeing him in a Twins uniform 5 minutes from now. Pitches scared the minute he gets a baserunner.

it's 3 inches outside .... when you don't throw strikes, you don't get that pitch

he has no confidence in his stuff - perhaps deservedly - and therefore does not want to throw strikes.

he's afraid to throw strikes

nibbling again .....

One way of looking at it ... where is he among #3's on playoff caliber teams, because that's what we're trying to be.

Turned out that way, thank goodness. If he'd hit Kepler in the head or the wrist and he wound up missing significant time as a result, it wouldn't be.