Buxton....

[KirbyHawk75]

I know this is silly, but is it concerning at all that Buxton has struck out 6 times out of 10 at bats so far?

[jokin]

 

I know this is silly, but is it concerning at all that Buxton has struck out 6 times out of 10 at bats so far?

 

No. Give it at least 20 ABs before hitting the panic button.

[Thrylos]

Nope.  It is concerning that he has no clue on what to do with a breaking ball.  I hope that there is a coach who can teach him.  Not sure that Chad Allen is that.

[ashbury]

It's a continuation of what could be observed all spring in Ft Myers. Not a matter of hitting the ball on the nose but it goes right at a fielder, he is swinging at balls in the dirt. It's still a relatively small sample to comment from, and it's probably something that players work out on their own all the time. Nevertheless I choose to be a little concerned.

[jimmer]

I'm looking forward to the time we get to see him in the majors for good.

[Secondary User]

Does anyone think that Buxton is feeling a lot of pressure to rebound in a big way?

[Hrbowski]

He hit one out today.

[Secondary User]

 

He hit one out today.

And also had two lineouts for what that is worth

[jimmer]

 

Does anyone think that Buxton is feeling a lot of pressure to rebound in a big way?

I don't know.  I hope not.  I hope he just plays the game in the way that suits his skills the best and doesn't worry about expectations.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

He hit one out today.

And that might be what he needs to get the monkey off his back.  Kid knows he has alot of pressure on him to perform and has missed time, he's likely pressing but ashbury john was right that Buxton was overmatched but usually by the older pitchers in camp and with breaking balls.  Towards the end of camp, he started looking better, hitting a homer off of Pelfrey.  My biggest concern and the difference I saw in his swing this year was that it seemed like he was going for more longballs. He had been getting most of his hitting advice from Torii Hunter this spring...I didn't see Chad Allen working with him much at all

[Secondary User]

 

I don't know.  I hope not.  I hope he just plays the game in the way that suits his skills the best and doesn't worry about expectations.

 

Easier said than done, that is for sure

[h2oface]

I am more concerned about what the Twins hitters look like at the plate. Buxton just needs games. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The homer off Pelfrey shows he can hit major league pitching.

[huhguy]

 

I know this is silly, but is it concerning at all that Buxton has struck out 6 times out of 10 at bats so far?

Buxton is concerning period.   He lived up to the hype early but has not in at least a year...I think he he is greatly over-rated

[jokin]

 

The homer off Pelfrey shows he can hit major league pitching.

 

Buxton is concerning period.   He lived up to the hype early but has not in at least a year...I think he he is greatly over-rated

 

 

Pelfrey,   "major league pitching"... Er, sort of...    

 

He more than lived up to the hype when he was completely healthy-   he hasn't been healthy in a year.  I respectfully and confidently say that your fears and suppositions will be proven unfounded.   He did have the unfortunate circumstance to get injured multiple times during the most critical transition year of a minor leaguer-  ie, making the jump to AA pitching.   And wrist injuries, on both hands are very tricky body parts to get healed properly, and are obviously critical for hitting success.  (FWIW   Concussions and sugically repaired fingers aren't minor injuries, either)

 

Important to note,   given that he had 3 hard hit balls this evening, including a long ball, I think he's already in the process of shaking off the accumulated rust, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he is posting Top Ten Southern League batting lines in multiple categories by mid-June-  even while still being some 3 years younger than league average. 

 

Buxton will be fine, and eventually a very good major league player, as long as he stays healthy.

[nytwinsfan]

Nope, no concerns yet. He is understandably probably rusty, and is facing what is essentially a new level. Plus, even if those two things were not true, a sample size of three games in which he walked and got two hits, one a HR, wouldn't be by itself be a concern.

[brvama]

We are one week into the season and already we're worried about Buxton, and every one else. Come on, let's give it some time. Buxton lost a whole year, as did Sano. These people are not robots and we need to be a bit more patient before we call 911.

[kab21]

I might be concerned at the end of May but right now I could care less.  He was promoted aggressively and is probably a little rusty still.  My only concern is that he gets injured again.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

The homer off Pelfrey shows he can hit major league pitching.

 

I thought the forum universally agreed Pelfrey had no business being on a major league roster

 

Honestly with Buxton, I suspect it's a bit of all of it.  Pressing, having trouble with breaking pitches, etc.  We got a bit spoiled by his 2013.  It may take some time...

 

That said, every time I say something remotely negative, he turns around and proves me wrong... Therefore... Buxton sucks. 

[HitInAPinch]

I'm a doubter when it comes to Buxton.  I don't always believe the hype, especially when we're only talking about the 2013 A - A+ stats.  And they were REALLY good stats.  Another 218 AB's at Fort Meyer verifies he can hit A-ball pitching.  And only that.  Can't count 2014 at all.  Too few AB's and in those 124 AB's, I don't know how many times he was injured.

 

I like that the Twins aggressively promoted Buxton after 270 AB's at Cedar Rapids and the jump to AA this year.  At AA-ball, he's facing pitchers with a whole different skill set:  breaking balls.  After 14 AB's, nobody can say for sure how he's gonna hit.  If he's hitting under .250 at the end of an injury-free year, then it's another year at AA.

[Halsey Hall]

I too don't swallow all the hype on Buxton.  Watching him 2 springs in a row, he hasn't shown me anything out of the ordinary.  Time will tell, but at this point I don't see him being what's projected. 

[John Kelsey]

I just want him to stay healthy, the results will come. 

[cmb0252]

I honestly clicked on this thinking it would be a joke thread..... You guys are a tough crowd to please. Small sample sizes anyone?

[jimbo92107]

I just hope the hitting coaches are telling all the minor league guys what Molitor told Vargas during batting practice: It's fine to hit homeruns during BP, but make them line drive homers, not mortar shots. If these guys learn to drive the ball mostly flat, they'll have better batting averages. Lifting the ball too much just gets you a lot of pop ups in games.

 

With guys like Buxton and Sano, I just hope they learn to play the count and the situation with the same level of savvy that Brian Dozier has developed. Dozier became a home run hitter after Bruno got him to understand the strategy of hitting, then actually use that strategy during his at-bats. Dozier has learned to read the situation so that he can guess when that high inside heater is probably coming. He's ready to turn on that pitch before the pitcher lets it go.

[walt-o-meal]

He's done.  Trade him to the angels for an autographed Mike Trout baseball.

[Pius Jefferson]

Two more strikeouts on Sunday.

 

It's not any reason for concern yet but it's a worrisome that a player like Buxton is striking out so often. 

[adorduan]

Obviously a SSS, but Buxton (and Sano) are not striking out against big K/9 pitchers either. I looked and most of the starters they have faced are 5.5 to 6.5 K/9 guys.

[John Kelsey]

He's 2-2 so far today with a double and a single. The Lookouts are up 6-0 in the second inning.

 

This team is going to be scary good when he and Sano heat up. 

[gunnarthor]

I think everyone needs to calm down a bit.  He'll be fine.  

 

Does anyone remember fretting over him hitting .216 in the Gulf Coast league in 2012?  Or his slow start in A+ a year later?  He hit .245/.295/.337 in his first 23 games. He hit .392/.503/.583 in his next 34 games to finish the year.  He never really got going last year and he's making the jump to AA.  Give him time.  The talent will win out.

[tobi0040]

Now he is 3-5, 2 singles and a 2B.  Average went from .160 to .250, OPS is at .697.  Maybe it was a small sample size.

 

The other thing about this kid, he won't need to hit .330 with 30 HR to make an impact.  He is going to steal 40-50 bases a year and provide 2-3 wins a game with his defense in CF.