Article: 2017 Twins Player Predictions: Byron Buxton

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm just trying to figure out how he looked so good in ST and is suddenly looking like he's overmatched.  Last year in ST, by the way, he looked terrible.

 

He was taking good at bats and driving the ball when he made contact.  Now, he's flailing away like I'd expect the average 15 year old kid to do when facing a major league starter.

[Vanimal46]

I'm just trying to figure out how he looked so good in ST and is suddenly looking like he's overmatched. Last year in ST, by the way, he looked terrible.

 

He was taking good at bats and driving the ball when he made contact. Now, he's flailing away like I'd expect the average 15 year old kid to do when facing a major league starter.

It's almost like ST doesn't matter... Weird!

[drjim]

 

It's almost like ST doesn't matter... Weird!

 

Why isn't Park on this team!

[Pius Jefferson]

ST doesn't matter but Buxton had a strong finish last year.It looks like he forgot how to hit over the off-season.

[Vanimal46]

ST doesn't matter but Buxton had a strong finish last year.It looks like he forgot how to hit over the off-season.

The one game I paid attention to it looks like he lost the leg kick again.... He needs to find a method and stick to it.

[Taildragger8791]

 

The one game I paid attention to it looks like he lost the leg kick again.... He needs to find a method and stick to it.

 

He changes the leg kick usage from pitch-to-pitch at this point. No consistency. He'll use 2-3 different kicks/toe taps in the same at-bat. Definitely something going on there that needs to settle down.

[Pius Jefferson]

Just one strikeout this afternoon. Something positive long term or simply he can't strikeout in every  at bat?

[gunnarthor]

Late to this thread. I think Buxton will be somewhat mediocre in April but figure it out fairly soon and have a solid season with the bat - an OPS around 100+ and all world defense. He's a stud. We'll be fine.

[drjim]

Late to this thread. I think Buxton will be somewhat mediocre in April but figure it out fairly soon and have a solid season with the bat - an OPS around 100+ and all world defense. He's a stud. We'll be fine.

I generally agree with all of this as the likely outcome, but still early to say "he'll be fine". There is a way too high probability that he just never figures out his contact issues.

 

But I'm still very high on him, think we see multiple 7-8 WAR seasons (but not this year).

[lukeduke1980]

 

He changes the leg kick usage from pitch-to-pitch at this point. No consistency. He'll use 2-3 different kicks/toe taps in the same at-bat. Definitely something going on there that needs to settle down.

Agree - he's overthinks- decides to swing before the pitch is even thrown.

[mikecgrimes]

I never make the same people saying A are also saying B argument because it's often mostly different people, but if you argued for Park to be up and Buxton to be down I don't get it.  Buxton's outfield defense is more valuable then Parks occasional Home run and Buxtons offense and Park's non home run offense are about equal with the difference being Buxton will improve.

[Doomtints]

He still looks just as lost at the plate as Aaron Hicks looked.

 

Gotta drop him down the order again until he calms down.

[Loosey]

First of all it's only 3 games.  Yes, it the first 3 games which exacerbates it, but lots of players go on 1-15 stretches.  

 

The strikeouts and swings and misses on off-speed stuff is somewhat concerning but overall I like that his swings are more aggressive this year compared to last year's timid defensive swings.  

 

He could hit the ball in Spring Training.  I know Spring Training stats are meaningless, but going from hitting the ball relatively hard consistently to striking out 70% of the time shouldn't happen and is hopefully a small sample of bad AB's.  I think he is pressing a bit and trying to do too much.  One or two hard hits and I think he will progress more towards last September's performance instead of continuing with his old listless AB's.

[gunnarthor]

I agree that some of this is just in his head.  If he can have a 3 hit day, maybe the pressure comes off and he's good to go.  Hopefully the White Sox can help him tonight.

[bluechipper]

 

I agree that some of this is just in his head.  If he can have a 3 hit day, maybe the pressure comes off and he's good to go.  Hopefully the White Sox can help him tonight.

He's facing the right team to get on track. A mediocre veteran tonight and then a Double-A pitcher tomorrow. Too bad they won't get to see James Shields this series.

[Loosey]

 

I agree that some of this is just in his head.  If he can have a 3 hit day, maybe the pressure comes off and he's good to go.  Hopefully the White Sox can help him tonight.

I just don't understand how he could hit an offspeed pitch a week ago, and now they are like a mystical thing he has never seen before without it being all in his head.  When he struck out in his first at bat of the season I was concerned he might subconsciously start pressing to prove he is better than that and it would snow ball.

 

 

[TheLeviathan]

 

I just don't understand how he could hit an offspeed pitch a week ago, and now they are like a mystical thing he has never seen before without it being all in his head.  When he struck out in his first at bat of the season I was concerned he might subconsciously start pressing to prove he is better than that and it would snow ball.

 

Pitchers are often not attacking the same way in ST.  They are working on pitches or locations and not approaching at-bats as they typically would.  

 

I'm not as worried about him being 1-15 or whatever.  I'm worried about how he got there and how he got there is not a new issue for him.  I think he needs to be up and working on it, but I'd prefer a little less pressure on the kid while he does so.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'm not as worried about him being 1-15 or whatever.  I'm worried about how he got there and how he got there is not a new issue for him.

Yep. When I saw Buxton flail hopelessly at a few pitches, then lose the leg kick, then bring it back, that's when I started becoming concerned. It's his process that worries me, not the early results.

[DJSim22]

.059 with a strike out rate at 70%