Berardino: Buxton in Good Defensive Company

[Seth Stohs]

Byron Buxton was named the Twins Defensive Player of the Year for 2016 (Jim Kaat Award) by the Twin Cities chapter of the BBWAA recently.  Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press spoke with Buxton about his defense gave several examples of great play by the youngster. He also brought up areas he'd like to improve. 

 

 

“I’ve watched Pillar and Kiermaier a little bit (on video),” Buxton said of those study sessions with Twins outfield/baserunning coach Butch Davis. “Their first step is quick. I just want to keep getting better and push myself toward that direction.”

 

Maybe it's just me, but I happen to think that Buxton's going to get a few Gold Glove awards in his career... Not 1, Not 2, Not 3... 

 

http://www.twincities.com/2016/10/19/minnesota-twins-byron-buxton-in-good-defensive-company/ 

[HitInAPinch]

Transitioning from using raw talent..... 

[twinssporto]

The kid is going to be a super star.  What a great attitude.  I think his confidence level doubled when he was up in September.

[DocBauer]

We've long heard about the tools and the potential, and we've seen what he could do in the minors. There is no doubt that he disappointed some last season, we all wanted him to come up and be ready from day one. Not necessarily be an all star complete package, but ready to really contribute. But the defense and speed were there, and you could still see the potential at times. You have to remember how young he still is, the fact that he did miss some developmental/experience time, and could argue he was rather aggressively moved along at times.

 

I don't believe his final month was simply a hot SSS. It was an indicator of his true potential once he began to relax and play his game. (Something he himself stated). I believe he may still be a season or two away from being a "finished" product, but I think we'll see a lot more good than bad from Buxton in 2017.

[Monkeypaws]

 

I don't believe his final month was simply a hot SSS. It was an indicator of his true potential once he began to relax and play his game. (Something he himself stated). I believe he may still be a season or two away from being a "finished" product, but I think we'll see a lot more good than bad from Buxton in 2017.

Exactly my feel on the guy, well said Doc.

[bluechipper]

 

Would like Buxton to study the at bats that Pillar takes too, not just the defensive positioning and footwork.

Buxton had a higher OPS this year than Pillar has had in either of his two full years. I might pick someone else to study when it comes to hitting.

[twinsnorth49]

Would like Buxton to study the at bats that Pillar takes too, not just the defensive positioning and footwork.

Yeesh, why would we want that? I think his sights are set a little higher than a guy with a career sub .700p OPS.

[GP830]

We've long heard about the tools and the potential, and we've seen what he could do in the minors. There is no doubt that he disappointed some last season, we all wanted him to come up and be ready from day one. Not necessarily be an all star complete package, but ready to really contribute. But the defense and speed were there, and you could still see the potential at times. You have to remember how young he still is, the fact that he did miss some developmental/experience time, and could argue he was rather aggressively moved along at times.

 

I don't believe his final month was simply a hot SSS. It was an indicator of his true potential once he began to relax and play his game. (Something he himself stated). I believe he may still be a season or two away from being a "finished" product, but I think we'll see a lot more good than bad from Buxton in 2017.

Sorry- I gotta ask. I see people use the abbreviation SSS on this board all the time and cannot for the life of me figure out what it stands for. Can someone please explain? I have a feeling I'm gonn feel silly for asking...

[jimmer]

 

Sorry- I gotta ask. I see people use the abbreviation SSS on this board all the time and cannot for the life of me figure out what it stands for. Can someone please explain? I have a feeling I'm gonn feel silly for asking...

Small Sample Size

[big dog]

Aii I wanted was unanimous Rookie of the Year.  Was that too much to ask???

 

OK, maybe.

[theBOMisthebomb]

He appears to have the work ethic to fulfill his potential. Here's hoping Sano is paying attention.

[goulik]

Aii I wanted was unanimous Rookie of the Year.  Was that too much to ask???

 

OK, maybe.

Lol, Exactly what I actually wanted but how often do we get what we want? I still believe he is going to be a super star recognised around the league. His defense alone will make him an ESPN staple on top defensive plays of the week.

[DocBauer]

Aii I wanted was unanimous Rookie of the Year.  Was that too much to ask???

 

OK, maybe.

LOL

 

And that's what kills me about posts I read here and there about how the team should be blown up, start over, Buxton is a bust, so are Sano and Rosario and Berios, etc. We ARE in the middle of a "blow up" of the roster. It began last season. Yes, there are still some veterans around, such as Mauer and Santana, and the team is, more or less, stuck with Hughes, which could be a good thing in the long run, and Perkins, who may be done, but Plouffe and Suzuki are probably gone.

 

Now, positionally speaking, we've gotten younger quicker, obviously. Some of that is just the nature of top position players in the Twins system being ready before the pitchers. But to be down on these guys so young, and with so little ML service time is nuts. Rosario and Sano have 788 and 716 official ML at bats and are the most tenured of all the Twins young players. Buxton has a total of 427. When you consider that a healthy, full time starting ML player should have over 500 AB on a season, and 550-600 is not a bit uncommon, you realize how young these guys really are.

[GP830]

Small Sample Size

THANK YOU!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Sorry- I gotta ask. I see people use the abbreviation SSS on this board all the time and cannot for the life of me figure out what it stands for. Can someone please explain? I have a feeling I'm gonn feel silly for asking...

dont feel bad. There's a lot of jargon and acronyms on this site. At one point a few years ago someone linked to a crib sheet, I think from baseball reference. I can't seem to find it now...