Souhan: Buxton Deserves A Look in CF

[Seth Stohs]

I am as high on Byron Buxton as anyone, and even I can't get behind this Jim Souhan article. 

 

Is he the best choice? Arguable.

Is he ready? I don't think so, but maybe not terribly far off.

Does he "deserve" it? I can't think of a reason why.

 

Maybe that one word is what spoils the article for me. Deserves?

 

Is Schafer an ideal starting CF? Of course not. He had a nice run as an every day player last year and with his past as a top prospect certainly deserves an opportunity for now.The Twins know that he's not a long-term answer.

 

Robinson's a 4th/5th outfielder.

 

Hicks isn't hitting at Rochester.

 

Rosario isn't hitting much at Rochester.

 

But Buxton isn't hitting at Chattanooga, and he missed a lot of time last year. He needs time, and his overall, long-term development should be all that matters with the timing of his promotion.

 

But, I'm willing to hear other's opinions. 

[Tibs]

I'm not going to read the entire article as it won't change my mind. In no way does Byron Buxton deserve a spot on the 25 man roster right now. The way he is hitting right now he wouldn't do any better than Schaefer, Robinson, or Hicks offensively. Defensively is different, but you don't call up the top prospect in baseball to play defense. Let the guy put together a good month or two then write this article.

[Seth Stohs]

I assume most agree that it's not the time... but figured I'd post it to see if anyone thinks that now is the time for Buxton. 

[jimmer]

 

I assume most agree that it's not the time... but figured I'd post it to see if anyone thinks that now is the time for Buxton. 

He's not ready.  He may not be ready at all this year.  I have zero issues with him not being up.

 

I would argue, though, that a player can be brought up just on defense.  Simmons is an elite defender and was brought up after only two plus seasons in the minors (62 games at RK, full seasons at A+ and 44 games in AA before being promoted same year).  Offensively speaking, Buxton was better at rookie level and way better at A+ level.  He's just hit AA.

 

I don't think the Braves regret bringing Simmons up.  Are we concerned that the level headed, hard working Buxton will have his offensive development stunted if brought up this year for defense?  I don't know.  

[brvama]

While we all would like to push Father Time for Buxton's arrival, most are likely to say not yet and so do I. Returning from a year away from most anything sets one back. I hope he can push the envelope, but I'm totally ok waiting. Would like to see him at least in Sep to give him a start for 2016.

[Winston Smith]

Kind of concerning none of these "great prospects" is forcing the issue. It would be nice if some these guys would start doing that.

[jimbo92107]

At least a few times already this season I have seen balls hit to center drop in front of Shaefer, and thought to myself, "Buxton would have caught that." I also noticed that Shaefer's arm is nothing special, either.

 

I fully acknowledge my new-kid bias, but it's not just a matter of speed. Shaefer appears to lack confidence in himself going after balls hit in front of him. As a result he doesn't get as quick a jump on those balls as would a slightly faster, more confident Byron Buxton.

 

On the other hand, if Buxton's not hitting in AA, then there's no reason to rush him up. We already know that Aaron Hicks is a better CF than Shaefer, and he won't look any worse at the plate. Hicks is at least as fast, has a slightly better glove, more confidence going after balls in front of him, and a much better arm. If the Twins want to shore up their CF defense, then bring up Hicks, not Buxton.

[bird]

I thought it was telling that Souhan proffered four options and none of them was to call up Rosario as the placeholder. 

[dgwills]

From what the way I read the article he said that if buxton does well in AA ball they should bring him up. I think thats what the title implies as well.

[Thegrin]

In fairness to Souhan (who I think is a waste of space as a columnist), he did not say to bring up Buxton NOW!!! I think most would agree that Buxton should be brought up as soon as he shows he is ready, but now is not the time. (Thinking about it, this is another example of Souhan wasting space.) 

 

[HitInAPinch]

Souhan only writes to get reactions.  Doesn't really need to make any sense.

[DJSim22]

What is laughable is that the paper thinks Souhan is a credible columnist who knows baseball.  Buxton is not ready, I would argue a kid striking out over 1/3 of the time in AA is no where near ready.  Maybe he gets a cup of coffee in Set. if he gets his groove back.  Expectations for a kid missing the majority of last season have been unfair.

[big dog]

 

Kind of concerning none of these "great prospects" is forcing the issue. It would be nice if some these guys would start doing that.

I would like Meyer to force the issue, right now.

 

For Buxton and Sano, I'd be happy to have them get a month or so under the belts after being out most or all of last year before I had any concern at all.

[mikelink45]

I like Souhan's article and he did not say immediately.  If Buxton puts together two solid weeks, give him a shot.  Then if it is too much send him down, but give him a taste of the bigs, give us a sense of what he brings and move all those mediocre options off the table.  

 

A taste of the bigs is not a disastrous thing.   If the team handles it right and lets him know he is coming up for just two weeks, handles his expectations right, they can send him back without damage, and, if he does light it up - welcome.  I remember when Griffey got up and they wanted to send him down.  But he would not let them, his performance kept him in the league and everyone benefited.

[HitInAPinch]

 

 

I assume most agree that it's not the time... but figured I'd post it to see if anyone thinks that now is the time for Buxton. 

Ya know, Seth, if I'm the guy pulling the trigger to fix the CF mess, I'd probably go back to what worked last year:  Danny Santana in CF and Eduardo Escobar at short. 

[jimmer]

 

Ya know, Seth, if I'm the guy pulling the trigger to fix the CF mess, I'd probably go back to what worked last year:  Danny Santana in CF and Eduardo Escobar at short. 

I still think that's going to happen.

 

Not sure that I'd say it worked necessarily. Santana wasn't good out in CF, either (though he's not a OF so one shouldn't expect him to be good out there). Santana's flaws on defense and offense were overlooked because his unsustainable BABIP made him look like he's a better offensive player than he is. If he plays CF defense like he did last year and, on offense, carries a league average BABIP and no walks, he's likely not going to look good to anyone.

[mudcat14]

Obviously there are light-years of difference between AA & Major League pitching. That said, I don't think there are many pitches in the majors that Buxton hasn't already seen. Just not with anywhere near the frequency or consistency. I'm not certain that batting ninth and struggling in the majors would be that detrimental to Byron's development, as opposed to leading off and fairing somewhat better in AA. In addition to having unfettered access to daily mentorship from the likes of Molitor, Brunansky, Hunter & Mauer, he would also have use of what I can only assume are superior video and training facilities at the big league level. Whether in Mineapolis or Chattanooga or Rochester, he's still gonna need to learn which pitches he can handle and which ones to let go.

 

In spite of all that I think the Twins best option if Schaeffer isn't cutting it, is to go with Hicks to buy time. We know the defense would be adequate and if he tanks again quite frankly, who cares? Three strikes and 'yer out! This is baseball afterall.

[Tibs]

 

He's not ready.  He may not be ready at all this year.  I have zero issues with him not being up.

 

I would argue, though, that a player can be brought up just on defense.  Simmons is an elite defender and was brought up after only two plus seasons in the minors (62 games at RK, full seasons at A+ and 44 games in AA before being promoted same year).  Offensively speaking, Buxton was better at rookie level and way better at A+ level.  He's just hit AA.

 

I don't think the Braves regret bringing Simmons up.  Are we concerned that the level headed, hard working Buxton will have his offensive development stunted if brought up this year for defense?  I don't know.  

 

I would argue that a player can be brought up just on defense, but not the top prospect in baseball who has the offensively potential that Buxton does. Simmons wasn't the top prospect in baseball nor does he have the potential on offense as Buxton. He also didn't basically miss the entire previous year.

[jimmer]

 

I would argue that a player can be brought up just on defense, but not the top prospect in baseball who has the offensively potential that Buxton does.

Not sure I understand that reasoning. Why would it be okay for Simmons and not Buxton? If anything, the fact that lower level prospect like Simmons can still be a very valuable MLB player based on his superior defense alone should mean a top notch prospect like Buxton, also with superior defense, would be an even better player since he was/is the better offensive player in the minors.

 

Is you point that Simmons already reached his offensive potential in the minors and wasn't going to get any better so why not promote him while Buxton, though also a superior defender and better offensive player,  can't be a MLB player yet because his offensive potential won't be able to be reached?

 

I'm still fine with Buxton being down, though.  I don't envision him being up before September at the earliest.  Maybe not until around this time next year (Kris Bryant).

[nater79a]

No question Buxton has three elite tools that would play right now in a major league outfield: speed, arm and range. The power I'm not worried about because it usually comes with age. If he can just just cut down on his K's a little his batting average would be much higher. Just making contact on a consistent basis would allow him to leg out a lot of hits.

 

So I say no, wait awhile.

[Blake]

From what I understand, the Twins are currently carrying two 4th outfielders at the MLB level. Considering that Schaefer is not hitting, might as well put the better defender out there, which I understand is Robinson. 

 

At some point, someone needs to be DFA'd and someone else brought up. Losing is losing, whether you lose with a top prospect or mediocre talent. I can understand wanting to be cautious, but, with the current lack of talent in center field, why not let someone learn at the MLB level?

 

If I'm not mistaken, the 87 Twins brought up the core that won the Series a year or two before and lost a lot of games before things turned around in 87. 

 

 

[jokin]

 

In spite of all that I think the Twins best option if Schaeffer isn't cutting it, is to go with Hicks to buy time. We know the defense would be adequate and if he tanks again quite frankly, who cares? Three strikes and 'yer out! This is baseball afterall.

 

 

If?

[jokin]

 

Not sure I understand that reasoning. Why would it be okay for Simmons and not Buxton? If anything, the fact that lower level prospect like Simmons can still be a very valuable MLB player based on his superior defense alone should mean a top notch prospect like Buxton, also with superior defense, would be an even better player he was/is the better offensive player in the minors.

 

Is you point that Simmons already reached his offensive potential in the minors and wasn't going to get any better so why not promote him while Buxton, though also a superior defender and better offensive player,  can't be a MLB player yet because his offensive potential won't be able to be reached?

 

I'm still fine with Buxton being down, though.  I don't envision him being up before September at the earliest.  Maybe not until around this time next year (Kris Bryant).

 

I don't think Buck has a bigger backer than myself, and there's no doubt in my mind that, as of April 19, 2015, defensively he is by far the superior choice for the Twin's CF spot in the entire organization, and also that, by the end of the season he would be regarded as one of the elite defensive CFers.  But that's not to say that now is the time for a call-up.  

 

Three injuries in 2014- both wrists plus a concussion- are likely the worst possible combination of maladies facing a hitter in terms of a setback from where they once were as a hitter.  (Given that no two concussions are the same, but how many years had it been for a proven hitter to come back just from a concussion in the case of Morneau?).  There's no doubt that he's currently struggling at the plate in AA- a jump that would have proven problematic- even if Buxton were 100% healthy and hadn't needed to shake off the rust of a lost year's worth of development.

 

As alarming as his current 31.7% K-rate is, he's also carrying a paltry 2.4% BB rate.  His K/BB ratio is a whopping 13.00 vs. career 1.73 before this season, his current whiff rate is 23.5% vs career 14.1%.    As of today, major league pitchers would eat him alive. While I think it's possible that Buxton can turn things around quite suddenly, and well before September,  patience is paramount at this point in time, and it wouldn't be the end of the world if he goes the way of Kris Bryant in early 2016. 

[Tibs]

 

Not sure I understand that reasoning. Why would it be okay for Simmons and not Buxton? If anything, the fact that lower level prospect like Simmons can still be a very valuable MLB player based on his superior defense alone should mean a top notch prospect like Buxton, also with superior defense, would be an even better player since he was/is the better offensive player in the minors.

 

Is you point that Simmons already reached his offensive potential in the minors and wasn't going to get any better so why not promote him while Buxton, though also a superior defender and better offensive player,  can't be a MLB player yet because his offensive potential won't be able to be reached?

 

I'm still fine with Buxton being down, though.  I don't envision him being up before September at the earliest.  Maybe not until around this time next year (Kris Bryant).

 

Simmons was ready to play when he was called up. Buxton is not. I'm not saying Buxton can't be a MLB player right now at all. I have no doubt he would do better over the course of a season than what we have right now. What's the point of having a minor league system if you aren't going to use it for players to prepare for the majors?

[jimmer]

'Simmons was ready to play when he was called up. Buxton is not.'

 

I'm not trying to be argumentative and I agree Buxton isn't ready, I've said that before (and it's mostly based on missing so much last year), but how do you know Simmons was ready?  Did you know Simmons was ready before he was brought up and, if so, what was that based on? What did you see about him that made you think he was ready as opposed to Buxton? He was 22 and only had 2 plus seasons in the minors with only about 40 games above A+ ball.

[nicksaviking]

I also don't like Souhan's assertion that he deserves the job, but only because deserve has little place here. Baseball is so often broken down to human interest levels so we look at individual players and say "Matt Albers deserves the call up," or "Mike Pelfrey deserves another shot." Both are nice, compassionate thoughts, but why are we looking at what is deserving for one guy? The big picture should be what the entire organization and fan base deserves. 3M would never say Bill from accounting has been here for 30 years and has had a pretty good year so far, let's make him the CFO.

 

If calling up Buxtin is best for the team, organization or fans go right ahead. It might not be.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Maybe that one word is what spoils the article for me. Deserves?

 

Is Schafer an ideal starting CF? Of course not. He had a nice run as an every day player last year and with his past as a top prospect certainly deserves an opportunity for now.

Weird that you object to the word "deserves" but then apply it Schafer.  Dude has 6+ years, over 1400 MLB PAs and another 500 in the minors in that time, that clearly demonstrate he does not deserve an MLB starting opportunity anymore.  (Not to mention his defensive credentials, which suggest he is stretched in CF.)

 

Also, in defense of Souhan, the word "deserves" is only in the headline, which he likely did not write.  The word does not appear in the article.  The strongest statement that Souhan seems to make is "the Twins might have to consider rushing Buxton to the majors."

[jokin]

 

Weird that you object to the word "deserves" but then apply it Schafer.  Dude has 6+ years, over 1400 MLB PAs and another 500 in the minors in that time, that clearly demonstrate he does not deserve an MLB starting opportunity anymore.  (Not to mention his defensive credentials, which suggest he is stretched in CF.)

 

Also, in defense of Souhan, the word "deserves" is only in the headline, which he likely did not write.  The word does not appear in the article.  The strongest statement that Souhan seems to make is "the Twins might have to consider rushing Buxton to the majors."

 

Yep, great point, that was definitely sourced from a headline writer who clearly understands the meaning of the word "clickbait".

[NDTimIrish]

After 3 years of coming to this site on a daily basis, I finally was compelled to create an account just to say that Jim Souhan is THE WORST! It's amazing how I can disagree with his position in every single article. I was neutral on calling up Buxton but once Souhan said it was a good idea, I'm firmly against the notion.

 

Boy that felt good.

 

 

 

[ashbury]

I'd want my evaluators to tell me he's laying off the sliders etc in the dirt. If so, I give a promotion some thought. If not, major league pitchers will eat him up a la Hicks. Shoot, AAA pitchers were eating him up in March. Stats by themselves won't tell me what I need to know. And few love their stats more than I.