Stop What You Are Doing And Watch Byron Buxton

[Parker Hageman]

Byron Buxton is pretty good at defense, that much is true. Check out the coverage on this catch here: 

 

https://twitter.com/ParkerHageman/status/778419665915645952

 

It doesn't seem scientifically possible. Per Statcast's data, Buxton got up to 22.1 MPH, which, I'm sure all of you reading this can manage with ease. Additionally, he covered 80 feet of ground with a route efficiency of 96% (that other 4% he spent lollygagging). 

 

 

Oh, and he's hitting .297/.348/.672 with six home runs over his last 70 PAs since his recall.

[mickeymental]

so maybe the twins actually DID handle him right?

[gunnarthor]

If he could just hit .297/.348/.672 for the next decade, I'd be pretty happy.

[Linus]

Unbelievable catch. Makes me wonder how he could loaf his way to a fly ball and 3 hop a throw to 3rd and not get Miggy.

[Parker Hageman]

 

Unbelievable catch. Makes me wonder how he could loaf his way to a fly ball and 3 hop a throw to 3rd and not get Miggy.

 

For those who didn't see Buxton's five hopper throw to third to not get Miggy tagging up, here's the video: http://m.mlb.com/video/v1178050183/detmin-miggy-uses-legs-to-create-run-in-4th/?c_id=mlb

 

He gets behind the throw and seems like he's in good position to make a strong throw but the camera cut away, so I'm not sure if he stuttered or what. 

[Doomtints]

 

If he could just hit .297/.348/.672 for the next decade, I'd be pretty happy.

 

 

Buxton over the past 14 days:  .184/.262/.395.

 

People gotta stop grabbing these tiny sample sizes for Buxton and then acting disappointed when the full sample size settles in.  He was good for 1 week after he came back.

 

His defense is great but he needs to hit.  This is nothing new.

[Parker Hageman]

 

 

People gotta stop grabbing these tiny sample sizes for Buxton and then acting disappointed when the full sample size settles in.  He was good for 1 week after he came back.

 

 

That is exactly what you just did.

[rghrbek]

 

Buxton over the past 14 days:  .184/.262/.395.

 

People gotta stop grabbing these tiny sample sizes for Buxton and then acting disappointed when the full sample size settles in.  He was good for 1 week after he came back.

 

His defense is great but he needs to hit.  This is nothing new.

 

uh...pot...kettle...black

[ashbury]

 http://m.mlb.com/video/v1178050183/detmin-miggy-uses-legs-to-create-run-in-4th/?c_id=mlb

Gah. The full sequence in that clip is galling. Three guys had a chance to get him out; Polanco by not keeping the tag on him, Buxton with the throw, Murphy so far in front of the plate (I know the rules forbid blocking it) and not getting the tag down far enough soon enough. Gah.

[ashbury]

That is exactly what you just did.

http://cdn.bluegrasstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/deliv01-W5401.jpg

Dueling SSS.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

That is exactly what you just did.

Think he was just making a point with similar logic. Not saying I agree that he is either guy, probably somewhere in between those small samples.

[Doomtints]

 

uh...pot...kettle...black

 

Not really.  I'm saying to stop crowning him as "fixed" based on one week of good play.  People have been doing this all year.  Give the kid some breathing room before cracking open the champagne.  

 

When he plays well for 6-8 weeks then it would make sense to begin saying he is *starting*  to turn the corner.  

[Parker Hageman]

 

Think he was just making a point with similar logic. Not saying I agree that he is either guy, probably somewhere in between those small samples.

 

 

First of all, over the last 14 days Buxton has hit .214/.283/.500 (Per Fangraphs).

 

I'll take the power and process now over what he was doing prior to September.

 

In regards to Buxton, specifically, I agree. We haven't had a full season of him hitting in order to make a large enough judgement. Right now, I fully embrace his process and the hitter he has become -- the guy who is going to take a full hack with 2-strikes instead of just trying to make contact. He still strikes out a ton but that will hopefully subside over time. Right now, this is a big positive for his confidence to take into the offseason. 

 

 

[rghrbek]

 

Not really.  I'm saying to stop crowning him as "fixed" based on one week of good play.  People have been doing this all year.  Give the kid some breathing room before cracking open the champagne.  

 

When he plays well for 6-8 weeks then it would make sense to begin saying he is *starting*  to turn the corner.  

 

Haha, I didn't say I was agreeing or disagreeing, but you used a smaller sample size than Parker did, to prover your point, that's all.

 

If you simply would have mentioned the quoted post above, I think your point would have been taken more seriously.

[mickeymental]

seems like the only applicable numbers are the entire (albeit small) sample since his recall on sept. 1: hitting .297 in 64 at-bats with .348/.672/1.020 including four walks, 22 strikeouts and no stolen bases.

[nicksaviking]

 

For those who didn't see Buxton's five hopper throw to third to not get Miggy tagging up, here's the video: http://m.mlb.com/video/v1178050183/detmin-miggy-uses-legs-to-create-run-in-4th/?c_id=mlb

 

He gets behind the throw and seems like he's in good position to make a strong throw but the camera cut away, so I'm not sure if he stuttered or what. 

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjcifmvhqHPAhWKpx4KHWqqB80Q3ywIHTAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqwpRHrAh3pk&usg=AFQjCNHXERDklaPJsdqh8DDNmHWc3_f5FA

 

NSFB (Not safe for birds)

[Doomtints]

 

First of all, over the last 14 days Buxton has hit .214/.283/.500 (Per Fangraphs).

 

 

 

What you are posting there is last 7 days, not last 14.

 

 

[Loosey]

 

If he could just hit .297/.348/.672 for the next decade, I'd be pretty happy.

ONLY a decade?

[Parker Hageman]

What you are posting there is last 7 days, not last 14.

 

Nope.

 

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

That is exactly what you just did.

But only to demonstrate that statistics are by their nature malleable - ask any politician at any level in any country. Any stat can be chopped into a small bit and then expanded upon my large prose.

 

[h2oface]

Haha, I didn't say I was agreeing or disagreeing, but you used a smaller sample size than Parker did, to prover your point, that's all.

 

If you simply would have mentioned the quoted post above, I think your point would have been taken more seriously.

He was mirroring the original post on purpose, and quite cleverly, to help point out the small sample, which was apparently too hard to see for some to see.

[ashbury]

He was mirroring the original post on purpose, and quite cleverly, to help point out the small sample, which was apparently too hard to see for some to see.

Moderator's note: OK, I contributed to some of this bickering too, in fun - and Parker injected the (in hindsight) red-meat tangent about hitting at the end of his original post which was mainly about a nice piece of defense - but now it's really crossing a line. Please, let's put this discussion about SSS aside. And keep posts respectful toward one another.

[Parker Hageman]

 

He was mirroring the original post on purpose, and quite cleverly, to help point out the small sample, which was apparently too hard to see for some to see.

 

My original post did not offer a conclusion out of the stat line. It's stating what he has done since he returned, which was apparently too hard to see for some to see.

 

Look, this wasn't meant to be a discussion about Buxton's current status as a hitter and that stat line wasn't offered to say BUXTON'S TURNED A CORNER EVERYONE BUY HIS JERSEY AND PRINT MVP AWARDS. Since we're here: As always, I will point to the process over the results and the process -- in terms of his swing mechanics -- is significantly better. He has proven he has work to do with other areas, like the existing zone judgment and pitch selection. I completely agree that he needs to perform over a longer period of time (it's not his fault the season is ending) but I hope this provides him with some confidence headed into the winter. 

 

 

 

 

 

[ashbury]

Look, this wasn't meant to be a discussion about Buxton's current status as a hitter

Unless Parker types really really fast, his post crossed in the mail with mine. Rather than remove it, let me just highlight the above sentence, and ask that we all move on.

[Craig Arko]

Unless Parker types really really fast, his post crossed in the mail with mine. Rather than remove it, let me just highlight the above sentence, and ask that we all move on.

As long as we don't move on to Joe Mauer.

[Mike Sixel]

 

As long as we don't move on to Joe Mauer.

 

so glad I am on mute on this call...

[twinsnorth49]

What's wrong about with getting a little excited about Buxton since his return? I mean, is it not allowed? You can see the big picture and  allow yourself a bit of joy at the same time, it's ok.

[jimmer]

yeah, that catch made by Buxton last night was so very awesome!  Lots of ground covered and it looked like his route was perfect, or very close to it.

 

As far as his offense since he's been back, he had very good first week back (which makes his 70 PA since he's been back look great as is often the case in SSS) and has been meh since, but great plays like this here and there are very fun to watch.

[Parker Hageman]

(which makes his 70 PA since he's been back look great as is often the case in SSS)

 

 

Yup, plus an improved process at the plate and there's reason to be optimistic about his future. 

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

I wish that that would try batting him leadoff or second for the rest of the season. Get him a handful more looks and maybe give him a little "reward" confidence to build off of. Not saying we need to dot that to start next season, but there is no reason he should. If he getting more at bats than other dudes in the lineup right now, if we're trying to develop him.

 

Preferred 1st or 2nd, with who behind, or infront of him?

 

Also, no SB's since back, right? Guessing this is a health thing or not wanting to lose any more development time, but maybe he will just never be a high volume SB guy?