Big Day for Buxton/Lead-off hitter

[HitInAPinch]

Was it the careful integration into the Major League's by Paul Molitor, was it the White Sox's or was it a coming of age day for Byron Buxton?

http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/20062-When-Someone-Tellls-You.jpg

 

 

[Vanimal46]

He's too talented not to get things figured out at the MLB level. Keep him at the lead off spot and let him grow the rest of the season!

[Brock Beauchamp]

Maybe it's just me but I don't really give a rat's ass where Buxton bats in the lineup. He should be playing every day in center... Past that, I don't really care much.

[puckstopper1]

Maybe it did impact Buxton hitting in the 9 hole - especially behind a pitcher in St. Louis last week.  NAH! I agree with Brock - just get him in the lineup anywhere and let him play.  Hopefully yesterday was the first of many excellent games for him!

[nicksaviking]

Before yesterday, I was going to suggest hitting him #2.  I started thinking that making him sit on the bench until the 3rd to bat probably was only helping to build up the knot in his stomach.  Batting him leadoff seemed to work as well.

[Mike Sixel]

I never saw the need to hit him 9th or whatever. I don't believe it would change his outcomes/reduce pressure enough to matter. I'm glad he is at leadoff.

[stringer bell]

I think hitting against John Danks and the Chicago bullpen had more to do with his success than where he hit in the lineup. Let's see how he fares against Smarjia (sp) and Sale.

[tobi0040]

 

I think hitting against John Danks and the Chicago bullpen had more to do with his success than where he hit in the lineup. Let's see how he fares against Smarjia (sp) and Sale.

 

I was going to say that.  At this point Buxton could need to go to AAA or make a run at rookie of the year.  We just don't know yet.

 

As far as the batting order, I prefer him at #1 because Dozier should not be there and this gaurantees he gets at least four at bats a game versus three some games, or five versus four.

[stringer bell]

I was going to say that.  At this point Buxton could need to go to AAA or make a run at rookie of the year.  We just don't know yet.

 

As far as the batting order, I prefer him at #1 because Dozier should not be there and this gaurantees he gets at least four at bats a game versus three some games, or five versus four.

I really like Dozier as the leadoff guy. He works counts more often than not, draws the most walks and has the ability to put the club ahead 1-0 pretty often. He hasn't done that well in RBI situations, so I'd rather see him continuing to set the table.

[jimmer]

I think we will be able to do better than a .340 OBP guy in the future, but right now seems Dozier is our best choice for leadoff.

[stringer bell]

A year from now, I would be disappointed if Buck isn't the leadoff hitter. In three years, I'll be disappointed if Buxton isn't hitting third.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

I think hitting against John Danks and the Chicago bullpen had more to do with his success than where he hit in the lineup. Let's see how he fares against Smarjia (sp) and Sale.

John Danks is getting paid $15.75 million this year.

If I were a White Sox fan I would be furious.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Before yesterday, I was going to suggest hitting him #2.  I started thinking that making him sit on the bench until the 3rd to bat probably was only helping to build up the knot in his stomach.  Batting him leadoff seemed to work as well.

That, and he should get the benefit of a few extra PA's at the top.  I was cool with starting him at the bottom, but I like the move up now too.

[tobi0040]

 

I think we will be able to do better than a .340 OBP guy in the future, but right now seems Dozier is our best choice for leadoff.

 

The reality is Dozier is our best player.  So he is both our best OBP guy, our best run producer, and the guy that scores the most.

 

So we have to choose.  I like the prospects of those 39 extra base hits with guys on base.  I would go Buxton, Mauer, Dozier, Plouffe.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

So we have to choose.  I like the prospects of those 39 extra base hits with guys on base.  I would go Buxton, Mauer, Dozier, Plouffe.

Ditto. Get Joe out of the third spot, which allows him to focus on not making outs, easily his best trait as a hitter.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

John Danks is getting paid $15.75 million this year.

If I were a White Sox fan I would be furious.

To be fair, when they signed him to that contract (5/65 covering 2 arb years), Danks was a 26 year old with almost no injury history and a 119 ERA+ over his last 124 starts.  Then, only 2 months into the contract, he needed shoulder surgery.

 

He's definitely the weak link in that rotation now, no doubt.  I'd probably swap him for Erik Johnson.  Carson Fulmer could apply some pressure before too long as well (although they may have to replace Shark next year also).

[spinowner]

 

A year from now, I would be disappointed if Buck isn't the leadoff hitter. In three years, I'll be disappointed if Buxton isn't hitting third.

In three years I'll be disappointed if Buxton isn't leading off, Sano isn't batting third and Vargas isn't batting fourth.

[jimmer]

 

The reality is Dozier is our best player.  So he is both our best OBP guy, our best run producer, and the guy that scores the most.

 

So we have to choose.  I like the prospects of those 39 extra base hits with guys on base.  I would go Buxton, Mauer, Dozier, Plouffe.

I think he's currently performing as our best player, for sure. Not sure what you are using to say he's our best run producer (I'm hoping wRC+, best run creator), but he has hit a lot of extra base hits this year. I think the top 3 of your proposed lineup will be our regular future top 3. Probably 2016.

[DaveW]

FWIW I think your best hitter should hit second, which is why I like Dozier hitting in that spot behind Buxton. Also I think it protects Mauer a bit as well.

[jimbo92107]

Byron Buxton led off the batting order against the White Sox Monday night. Suddenly, he looked totally comfortable, as if he belongs at lead off hitter.

 

Who'd a thunk it?

 

http://puckettspond.com/2015/06/22/minnesota-twins-must-keep-byron-buxton-hitting-leadoff/

 

Okay, somebody thunked it. Apparently, Buxton's minor league stats were screaming for the move, but we all know how quietly writing on paper screams. You can hardly hear it, even when you stare.

 

So, Buxton had three hits (one infield hit, of course), and played great defense. Better still, Brian Dozier seems to like it when there's somebody on base before he cranks a ball over the fence. Gets his RBI numbers up a bit. Both guys seemed happy about it.

 

This Buxton kid seems even luckier for the team than before. I still think we should keep him around for a while, or until somebody better comes along. He's got a nice smile.

[howieramone2]

 

To be fair, when they signed him to that contract (5/65 covering 2 arb years), Danks was a 26 year old with almost no injury history and a 119 ERA+ over his last 124 starts.  Then, only 2 months into the contract, he needed shoulder surgery.

 

He's definitely the weak link in that rotation now, no doubt.  I'd probably swap him for Erik Johnson.  Carson Fulmer could apply some pressure before too long as well (although they may have to replace Shark next year also).

I don't know why we should be fair to a White Sox. Pelfrey was signed coming off Tommy John and was injured all last season. Not a lot of love on the board for Mike. Nolasco had little injury history when signed and is now having difficulty staying healthy after a less than stellar 2014. Many on the board, rather than wait for to him to return to full health, would simply prefer to label him as sunk costs and DFA him.

 

Charity starts at home.

[jimmer]

I have no idea why it would actually matter and I'm not sure one game proves anything.  If Buxton had gone o-fer, it also wouldn't have proven anything.

 

'Better still, Brian Dozier seems to like it when there's somebody on base before he cranks a ball over the fence.'

 

Only 3 of Dozier's 14 HR this year are with men on base.

 

Overall, Dozier is hitting much better with no one on base than he is with runners on base..  

[tobi0040]

 

I think he's currently performing as our best player, for sure. Not sure what you are using to say he's our best run producer (I'm hoping wRC+, best run creator), but he has hit a lot of extra base hits this year. I think the top 3 of your proposed lineup will be our regular future top 3. Probably 2016.

 

Yeah, Dozier's RBI have been hurt by batting first with a bad 7-9.   22 2B, 3 3B, and 14 HR translate to 35 RBI.

[DaveW]

Buxton as the lead off hitter is the right thing to do, if he can lead off a game with a hit or  a walk it presents a quick moment of havoc for the opposing pitcher/team with him on the basepaths and effectively takes the "breaking pitch in the dirt" out of the pitchers arsenal when facing Dozier and Mauer then.

[jimmer]

 

Yeah, Dozier's RBI have been hurt by batting first with a bad 7-9.   22 2B, 3 3B, and 14 HR translate to 35 RBI.

He's hitting much better with no one on base as a whole this year, period.

 

Dozier's RBI numbers have also been hurt by batting .236 with RISP and .250 with men on base.  His OPS in both situations in the high .770s as opposed to his OPS with no one on in the 900s.

 

Dozer is thriving batting 1st this year.  .280/.355/.580.

[Willihammer]

3 hit night was good to see but let's be honest, John Danks is just not good.

[tobi0040]

 

He's hitting much better with no one on base as a whole this year, period.

 

Dozier's RBI numbers have also been hurt by batting .236 with RISP and .250 with men on base.  His OPS in both situations in the high .770s as opposed to his OPS with no one on in the 900s.

 

Dozer is thriving batting 1st this year.  .280/.355/.580.

 

His power numbers are better.  But the .236 and .250 are not much lower than his .261 average.  BA with RISP is a flukey number that tends to smooth out over time.  I am also not a huge believer in looking at a guys numbers in a certain batting position.  Whether he is 1, 2, or 3 his numbers should be very similar over 162 games.

 

Just my opinion.  But he is on pace for 163 hits, 51 doubles, 7 triples, and 33 HR.  The goal should be to get him up with more guys on base.  I don't want him hitting behind Suzuki, Santana/Escobar, etc.

 

 

 

[jimbo92107]

 

Overall, Dozier is hitting much better with no one on base than he is with runners on base..  

Hunter said, "With Buxton on base, I think Dozier gets more fastballs."

 

Dozier looked pretty happy yesterday. Buxton leading off may add 50 RBI to Dozier's season total. Plus you've got Buxton distracting every pitcher, making them throw more fastballs for fear that any off-speed pitch is like handing Buxton a stolen base. Not just more fastballs, either; more fastballs delivered with a rushed motion, possibly off target, or right down the middle. Buxton's crazy speed puts constant pressure on the opposition. Pitchers rush their pitches, throw more fastballs. Infielders rush their fielding, causing mistakes. Even outfielders rush; they aren't sure where to throw the ball, to second or third?

 

It sure is fun to watch Byron Buxton disrupt the opposition.

[jimmer]

 

Hunter said, "With Buxton on base, I think Dozier gets more fastballs."

 

Dozier looked pretty happy yesterday. Buxton leading off may add 50 RBI to Dozier's season total. Plus you've got Buxton distracting every pitcher, making them throw more fastballs for fear that any off-speed pitch is like handing Buxton a stolen base. Not just more fastballs, either; more fastballs delivered with a rushed motion, possibly off target, or right down the middle.

Hunter says a lot of things :-)

 

And I'm sure, in this case, he would see more.  Assuming Buxton actually gets on base, which he needs to prove he can before giving him the more PAs of any player on the team.

[stringer bell]

FWIW I think your best hitter should hit second, which is why I like Dozier hitting in that spot behind Buxton. Also I think it protects Mauer a bit as well.

So you wholeheartedly agree with Rizzo hitting #2 for the Cubs? I thought that was crazy when they had a light-hitting outfielder hitting fourth.