Buxton

[Primetime82]

Is it just me or has he looked terrible at the plate? Also, I don't know why but the eating of sunflower seeds while bating drives me nuts!!! He's at the plate spitting them while the pitch is being thrown.

[gil4]

 

 Also, I don't know why but the eating of sunflower seeds while bating drives me nuts!!!

He does need to bulk up a bit.  Maybe he should bring a cheeseburger up there instead.

[kab21]

The only thing that this tells me is that he isn't a lock to be opening day starter like many are penciling in (or flat out demanding).  He still has a month to show something but I am guessing that he opens in AAA next year.

[gopherman23]

I thought he looked better at the plate his first 5-6 games since he was back up here, but the last three games, he has not looked good. As we saw tonight, however, he has tremendous range in the OF, so he still has some value even when he is struggling at the plate.

[Willihammer]

Yes, he has had some ugly PAs. At least Molitor has finally dropped him to 9th. Hicks will be returning soon enough thankfully.

[TwinsCD]

This was what I was concerned with when they decided to bring him up.  Other than his speed, he really hasn't shown anything at the plate.  He looks lost back there on pitch recognition.  It's reminding me too much of what Hicks was when he first started.

 

However, I love the way Bux has played center field.  It feels like every time a ball is hit to center, he's going to get it.  I'm hoping the bat catches up to his fielding ability.

[Turd Furgeson]

 

This was what I was concerned with when they decided to bring him up.  Other than his speed, he really hasn't shown anything at the plate.  He looks lost back there on pitch recognition.  It's reminding me too much of what Hicks was when he first started.

 

However, I love the way Bux has played center field.  It feels like every time a ball is hit to center, he's going to get it.  I'm hoping the bat catches up to his fielding ability.

 

Yeah, and Hicks was worse still. He had a .356 OPS through 20 games. He then improved a lot the rest of the year, but was still behind and remember, Hicks was 23 and Buxton is 21. Buxton may need more development and that's fine he missed almost a year of development and he's young. 

[Twins7]

So does Buxton go down when hicks returns?

[twinsnorth49]

 

So does Buxton go down when hicks returns?

What for? Where?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Buxton is an interesting dilemma for the Twins. When Hicks returns, how often do you play him? The Twins are in a playoff race, after all. Buxton needs development time but the Twins need to field the best team possible.

[HitInAPinch]

 

He does need to bulk up a bit.  Maybe he should bring a cheeseburger up there instead.

There are feedbags that can make that happen

[HitInAPinch]

I believe the Twins have already talked to Hicks about playing a corner OF position.

 

Paul Molitor:  “We’ll probably expose him to a little defense other than center field,” the manager said, “just to give us flexibility.”

[Otto von Ballpark]

Buxton is an interesting dilemma for the Twins. When Hicks returns, how often do you play him? The Twins are in a playoff race, after all. Buxton needs development time but the Twins need to field the best team possible.

It's not much of a dilemma. He can develop fine taking Robinson's starts, plus a few more if Hunter's bat doesn't heat up. He can also see action from the bench through aggressive pinch running and defensive substitutions.

[HitInAPinch]

 

 

Buxton is an interesting dilemma for the Twins. When Hicks returns, how often do you play him? The Twins are in a playoff race, after all. Buxton needs development time but the Twins need to field the best team possible.

I was always against the notion of moving Hicks out of CF for Buxton, the unfinished product.  September is almost here:  Do you send him back to AAA to work on his hitting or leave him where he is to work with Bruno?  I don't think tuning Buxton's approach and swing should be that big of a deal.

 

And, yeah!  The MN Twins are still in the wildcard conversation!

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's not much of a dilemma. He can develop fine taking Robinson's starts, plus a few more if Hunter's bat doesn't heat up. He can also see action from the bench through aggressive pinch running and defensive substitutions.

That's my thinking as well but if he doesn't play every day, you know people are going to complain about it.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I was always against the notion of moving Hicks out of CF for Buxton, the unfinished product. September is almost here: Do you send him back to AAA to work on his hitting or leave him where he is to work with Bruno? I don't think tuning Buxton's approach and swing should be that big of a deal.

 

And, yeah! The MN Twins are still in the wildcard conversation!

The AAA season is winding down. There's no real reason to send him down at this point.

[Twins7]

I do like the idea of a hicks-Buxton-Rosario OF...

[Otto von Ballpark]

That's my thinking as well but if he doesn't play every day, you know people are going to complain about it.

Given his performance, I think the complaints will be muted as long as Robinson isn't starting over him, and as long as Hunter doesn't continue his hitting slide.

[Dantes929]

People forget the mental part of the game.    He is pressing, unless every scout that has seen him is totally clueless.    Tell him he is going to play every game the rest of the year so he isn't afraid of making an ou and being benchedt.   His defense will save runs and its not like Hunter has been doing much.    

[Seth Stohs]

Note:

 

In his last 14 games, Shane Robinson has hit .333/.405/.424 (.830) with several extra base hits. 

 

 

Buxton was doing alright until the last three games. He's 0-11 with 7 Ks in those game and is missing pitches that are very hittable. Before that, he had multiple hits in 4 of 5 games. 

 

We said all along that his offense was behind. The two times he's come up, it's been out of necessity, not out of readiness... So you take the incredible defense and really hope that his athleticism helps him on the offensive side of things. 

[big dog]

Yeah, I'd like to see Buxton play at least 2/3 of the games from now on, with Rosario/Hicks getting most of the time as well.   Hunter plays as much as he's playing now, Robinson pinch-runs.

[Dantes929]

 

The only thing that this tells me is that he isn't a lock to be opening day starter like many are penciling in (or flat out demanding).  He still has a month to show something but I am guessing that he opens in AAA next year.

Have not seen anyone demanding that.    Next year is a new year and if he gets out of the gates fast this slump might just be an ancient memory.   And its not like he can't turn it around this year.    In a week this slump might be an ancient memory.   

[Badsmerf]

When hicks comes back it will be good to give buxton a few days off to clear his head. He isn't looking like a fool at the plate, just looks off. Hopefully it doesn't turn into sporadic playing time in favor of Hunter. Going forward even with buxton struggling now, I think the odds of him adding more value to the team is better.

[big dog]

Rosario could probably use a little time off to work in the cage a little- right now it seems like he's swinging at anything with two strikes, no matter what.  A mental break and extra work might be good for him.

[Danchat]

When Hicks comes back, you put Hicks in Buxton's current spot and Buxton in Robinson's current spot. Buxton will still get 3 or 4 games to play a week. Hicks plays every day or at the very least 6/7 games a week.

 

Continue this through September and then re-evaluate the situation in 2016.

[rghrbek]

Per Aaron Gleeman:

Byron Buxton through 18 games:  .225 AVG,  .257 OBP,  .296 SLG
Kent Hrbek through 18 games:  .196 AVG,  .255 OBP,  .314 SLG

 

Byron Buxton through 18 games:  .225 AVG,  .257 OBP,  .296 SLG
Mike Trout through 18 games:  .200 AVG,  .262 OBP,  .364 SLG

 

I believe Buxton has now played 19 games (so stats are slightly worse), but it still doesn't change that with elite prospects comes a little patience.   

 

My hope is the Twins are committed to playing Buxton, even during the WC race.  If he needs a game off here and there so be it.  If anyone should lose playing time, when HIcksy comes back, it should be Hunter.   Heck Robinson has been earning his playing time compared to Torii.

 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Note:

 

In his last 14 games, Shane Robinson has hit .333/.405/.424 (.830) with several extra base hits.

That's 10 starts. And anytime your description of a player encouragingly notes 3 doubles in nearly a month, that is probably not a player you want to roll the dice on in a pennant race if you can help it.

[Shane Wahl]

It is really early to get all ridiculous about Buxton's play. He clearly should be batting 9th, but there is no way in hell Shane Robinson should ever start instead of him.

[Shane Wahl]

Double in first at bat today. Maybe we can hold off on this "talk" right now.

[Seth Stohs]

 

That's 10 starts. And anytime your description of a player encouragingly notes 3 doubles in nearly a month, that is probably not a player you want to roll the dice on in a pennant race if you can help it.

 

Someone has to play when the starters get their needed days off, and I guess I prefer when they perform in those limited opportunities. Robinson is a pro, perfect for that role.