Byron Buxton

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Has to be a confidence thing.  He can hit AAA pitching, and hard.  He's got the tools, but you can see it when he gets in the batting box:  he knows something bad is about to happen.

 

At some point, he has to simplify and put the bat on the ball.  Look to line it up the middle, have a plan.

 

My God, if he can't make it at the plate, that really puts a hole in the Twins' plans.

 

I doubt it is that simple. Part of it is establishing good habits. At the ML level, it's win now believe it or not and when you don't have good habits, it is really easy to get out of them. Buxton clearly needs more time working on advanced pitching, and even though he has shown he can hit AAA pitching, I don't think that he's in the 'nothing left to learn' category, especially given how badly he's performed at the major league level.

 

My biggest concern with him to be honest is that he is a really good example of poor management. He was an early add to the 40 man and then saw his first option burned last season. His second was burned this season and while he's improved, it has only been marginal.  Next year is his last options year, and I really hope the Twins new brass doesn't make the same mistake as the old brass in handing him the CF job despite his continued inability to hit major league pitching. If that means he spends most or all of next year destroying AAA, then so be it. 

[Kwak]

At some point people have to forget the hype that was force-fed to everyone about how Buxton (and for that matter, Sano) were future HOF and would lead the Twins to the promised land of consistent winning and a World Series. Improvement?--Sure, but forget the fantasy that was created about Buxton's future. He will be a defense first OF who hits occasionally--not another Mays or Griffey Jr., or Steve Trout!

[Eris]

 

It is almost always coaching... l

 

 

Seriously. You don't have to be Parker Hageman to see this. Any high school coach would have him shortened up by now.

 

Yes.  And many others (Twins Daily participants, radio announcers, my high school son) have pointed out the flaws in his swing.  My guess would be that this information has been clearly conveyed to Buxton along time ago, but for some reason he is not able to make the adjustments.  I am not sure what those reasons are (these would range from not being willing to listen to not able to adjust).  Others have pointed out his lack of bunting ability.  Talent is much easier to judge than coach-ability.  Sad from a fans perspective.  He is becoming the second coming of Aaron Hicks, with the exception that Buxton plays much better defense.

[ashbury]

he has shown he can hit AAA pitching

In 188 total plate appearances. That's still Hurricane Hazle territory.

 

I don't know whether three weeks in Rochester will cure anything, but total mastery of AAA is not a reason to not try it.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Maybe he needs Joboo?

I think he needs marbles.

[Riverbrian]

1. He has one of the worst K% in the league

 

1A.  He has 1 homerun in 218 AB's

 

2. He has one of the lowest GB% in the league

 

2A. He is one of the fastest players in the league

 

 

Lost doesn't begin to describe what is happening here.

 

How anybody in the front office assessed him as ready during the off season is beyond me. 

 

[gil4]

 

His swing is long, yes but his real problem is pitch recognition.  Too many swings at balls out of the zone.  Not sure anything but time is going to fix that.  They seem pretty content with letting him take his lumps in the majors and figure it out on the job.

That long swing has to play a big part in the poor pitch recognition.  He has to get it started before he has a chance to identify the pitch.

[Eris]

 

 

 

How anybody in the front office assessed him as ready during the off season is beyond me. 

 

I think it is more about failure to plan viable CF options and this dates to the Span and Revere era.  The choices were Buxton, Hicks, D. Santana, or spend money on a short term free agent.  The front office opted for Buxton and "hoped" he would be ready.  The front office failure in CF goes beyond just their assessment of Buxton.

[D. Hocking]

 

I think it is more about failure to plan viable CF options and this dates to the Span and Revere era.  The choices were Buxton, Hicks, D. Santana, or spend money on a short term free agent.  The front office opted for Buxton and "hoped" he would be ready.  The front office failure in CF goes beyond just their assessment of Buxton.

 

Yes - and they wanted someone with speed who could cover a lot of ground to help compensate for Sano in right field.  You can kind of see why Terry Ryan is gone.

 

 

 

At some point people have to forget the hype that was force-fed to everyone about how Buxton (and for that matter, Sano) were future HOF and would lead the Twins to the promised land of consistent winning and a World Series. Improvement?--Sure, but forget the fantasy that was created about Buxton's future. He will be a defense first OF who hits occasionally--not another Mays or Griffey Jr., or Steve Trout!

 

 

I was guilty of eating this up.  I think during the bad stretch of 2011 to 2014 it was something positive to talk about and hope for, since there was not much positive that was currently on the field.  They are young yet, so hopefully if the team gets better around them, they won't feel the pressure of having to elevate the team themselves and will reach more of their potential.

[Mr. Brooks]

1. He has one of the worst K% in the league

 

1A. He has 1 homerun in 218 AB's

 

2. He has one of the lowest GB% in the league

 

2A. He is one of the fastest players in the league

 

 

Lost doesn't begin to describe what is happening here.

 

How anybody in the front office assessed him as ready during the off season is beyond me.

It's possible to be ready and still fail. Hitting MLB pitching is really hard.

He could go down, he could stay up, I don't know.

But, there is no guarantee that some magic number of AAA at bats is going to suddenly make him a good mlb hitter.

[jorgenswest]

There isn't a magic number but it is important that the stretches at a level are long enough to see that performance is stable. He didn't have that chance this year. He won't get it by being sent down now. The Twins called up too early and then bounced him back and forth.

[ScrapTheNickname]

This may sound illogical, but Buxton swings fast. He swings as fast as he runs. It's like his bat is a wand. His arms look too strong. He swings at one speed only (100 mph), same as he runs.

 

What can be done?

 

Well, a fast swing is better than a slow swing to begin with. How to slow that bat down? Stop lifting weights? Meditate on daisies standing quietly in a meadow? Swing a heavier bat? Change his stance? Wait, Bryon (like Mollie did) and then wait again. Go the other way, not as a rule, but as a response to your natural ability to swing fast.

 

[ND-Fan]

He needs to shorten the swing up and try to make some contact. All these kids are being told by their agents that they go to hit for power to get the big bucks. Also they get this mind set of what other prospects have been doing and if they are hitting for power and getting on they try to force it too. Major league pitching will just take advantage of this and pretty soon they got these kids all mixed up. Also I think they the coaching doesn't understand them and pretty soon you got player all mixed up. I just wish these kids could quit worry about there contracts and just play the game. Same thing for Sano he playing all right but if he would start working to reach next level he could be super star. I think the Twins need veteran super star that can relate to these kids and get them to next level. Joe Mauer is veteran but according reports he's not that out going player these kids nee. I think that was what Tori Hunter brought to the Twins. He was somebody that had gone through what these kids are now experiencing and he could communicate with them, Some of these kids will just play themselves out major league baseball with the talent to become super star.

[Riverbrian]

It's possible to be ready and still fail. Hitting MLB pitching is really hard.

He could go down, he could stay up, I don't know.

But, there is no guarantee that some magic number of AAA at bats is going to suddenly make him a good mlb hitter.

I'd like to see him get his major league swings but I was pointing out some pretty severe contradictions that shows he's got a ways to go and I seriously question his breaking camp as the guy because of this.

 

I think the Twins should have known better

[Riverbrian]

 

I think it is more about failure to plan viable CF options and this dates to the Span and Revere era.  The choices were Buxton, Hicks, D. Santana, or spend money on a short term free agent.  The front office opted for Buxton and "hoped" he would be ready.  The front office failure in CF goes beyond just their assessment of Buxton.

 

I agree

[kab21]

The problem isn't that Buxton was called up with very little AA/AAA experience but rather that he has remained up. Some players are able to make the jump but others are not. It is one reason that I was never in a hurry to bring Berrios back up. There seems to be this weird infatuation that prospects can only learn at the MLB level and any time in the minors is time wasted.

 

Buxton should have been back in AAA over a month ago. He hasn't mastered it. He had a hot streak with iffy plate discipline.

[Dr. Evil]

He swings like he is trying to crank every pitch. Build him from the ground up. Level off his swing and correct his swing plane. His goal should be barreling up line drives up the middle. He swings like he is in a slow pitch softball game.

[h2oface]

.......but forget the fantasy that was created about Buxton's future. He will be a defense first OF who hits occasionally--not another Mays or Griffey Jr., or Steve Trout!

Does that Trout guy know Sazuki?

[glunn]

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that his approach to bunting could be greatly improved. If so, then there has been a failure to adequately coach/develop this player.

 

I wish that Parker would do one of his amazing articles analyzing Buxton's swing, including his bunting.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I still believe Buxton is a victim of his own success. It's hard to learn when you're facing inferior opponents who allow you to thrive using only natural talent.

 

Let him play in Minnesota. Continue doing so until he either succeeds or hits 1000+ PAs and becomes who he will always be.

[LaBombo]

Official now, Buxton down as Plouffe is reactivated.

 

My preference was for them to do what's best for his development and not concern themselves at all with what's best for a team that's competitive again but still going nowhere in 2016. If this is what he needs, great, but I have my doubts.

[Comrade Bork]

We have swung so wildly back and forth this year on our depth. Too many outfielders then too many infielders. It's been such a bizarre year

[FargoFanMan]

I seem to remember that another highly touted center fielder had some troubles figuring it out at the major league level. He was a defensive wizard who had a lot of potential with the bat. He came up as a 21 year old and would go up and down trying to figure things out. Finally as a 25 year old he was the face and leader of a franchise on the brink of contraction. He had a solid season and helped lead the team into the playoffs for the first time in a decade and made this franchise relevant again. He turned out to be a pretty good player. Over 2000 hits. 350 home runs. 277/ 331/ 461 career. Great in the clubhouse and great for the game. This guy struggled for years as a young player. Many seen the potential if he could just figure it out at the plate. Up and down. Seemed lost at times. Then boom! It clicked. Without this player maybe there is no Minnesota Twins anymore. Talk about pressure. If you haven't figured it out yet its torii hunter. Does his story sound familiar? I guess what I mean to say is. I'm not worried. I probably won't be worried until this is still happening next year at this time.

[Mr. Brooks]

Ok, I was fine either staying or going.

But, now he needs to stay down until he is ready to come up for good, even if that means letting him struggle for 1000 consecutive PA's, regardless of the results.

No more yo yo ing back and forth.

[stringer bell]

Ok, I was fine either staying or going.

But, now he needs to stay down until he is ready to come up for good, even if that means letting him struggle for 1000 consecutive PA's, regardless of the results.

No more yo yo ing back and forth.

Except there's only three plus weeks remaining in the AAA season. The Twins are probably duty bound to recall Buxton on 9/1 or after Labor Day. Perhaps they would keep him down for the IL playoffs if the Red Wings make it.

[Mr. Brooks]

Except there's only three plus weeks remaining in the AAA season. The Twins are probably duty bound to recall Buxton on 9/1 or after Labor Day. Perhaps they would keep him down for the IL playoffs if the Red Wings make it.

Should have just kept him up then.

He's not going to learn anything in 3 weeks. They don't have to bring him up when rosters expand.

Can't they send him to the facilities in Ft Myers for some swing coaching once the Red Wings season is over?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Should have just kept him up then.
He's not going to learn anything in 3 weeks. They don't have to bring him up when rosters expand.
Can't they send him to the facilities in Ft Myers for some swing coaching once the Red Wings season is over?

It'd be foolish not to bring him up. Flailing at MLB pitching is better than sitting at home or taking hacks in a cage.

[Mr. Brooks]

It'd be foolish not to bring him up. Flailing at MLB pitching is better than sitting at home or taking hacks in a cage.

Ok, but then they should have just left him up and then started him in AAA to open 2017.

 

If they think he only needs 3 more weeks to conquer AAA for good, then ok, makes sense.

 

But if he needs more than 3 weeks in AAA to rebuild his swing, then calling him back up here for a month right in the middle of that is doing more harm than good.