Buxton/Grossman

[DaveW]

Love the kid, but completely lost at the plate and eventually these strikeouts with RISP is gonna cost us games.

 

Move him to the 9 hole and let him regain confidence.

 

Also: Grossman shouldn't be playing everyday, call up Park to be the everyday DH. twins have come out of the gate strong, they need to make sure to put the best possible

Lineup out every day IMO.

[drock2190]

The sad thing about Buxton is he hasn't exactly been facing tough pitchers.

 

I bet he would strike out 8 out of 10 times if he FACED the Twins pitchers.

[DaveW]

He's not even close.

 

You can't have him batting 3rd anymore. If he keeps this up for another week or two you prob have to send him down to AAA, it kills you defensively, but we got to make sure this kid learns how to hit.

 

I don't want to over react, but 11ks in 15 AB? That is very very concerning.

[TheLeviathan]

He needs to figure this out in the big leagues, but yeah....hitting third has to end.

[DaveW]

He needs to figure this out in the big leagues, but yeah....hitting third has to end.

I tend to agree, but man, if he continues to have a >50% k rate for the next 10-15 games? I think you need to seriously think about sending him down.

 

Hopefully he figures it out. Moving Him to 9th wouldn't hurt imo. He would at least have Dozier hitting behind him effectively.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I tend to agree, but man, if he continues to have a >50% k rate for the next 10-15 games? I think you need to seriously think about sending him down.

Hopefully he figures it out. Moving Him to 9th wouldn't hurt imo. He would at least have Dozier hitting behind him effectively.

 

I agree, at some point we'd have to have that conversation.  What I need to see from him is a consistent approach at the plate.  Even if the results stink, his approach has to stay consistent.

 

For that I'd send him down, but I might give it until June or so before I reach that conclusion.

[bluechipper]

Agree on Buxton moving down in the order, but Grossman has been fine for now. He had a real nice day at the plate tonight.

[DiscGolfer]

I fear that "what to do with Buxton?" will be a season long debate.  I actually like seeing him in the 3 hole and think he is protected most in that spot.  Give him as many AB's as possible to figure this thing out.  I think his defense is too valuable to send him down and if he does figure out how to get on base he can be so dangerous on the bases.  For now keep things consistent for him hopefully he figures it out soon.

[zchrz]

Buxton seems to change his approach a lot.  Ive seen a couple abs where the leg kick only shows up with 2 strikes which is kinda the reverse of what you want.  Its a weird situation because he can do so much damage free swinging and aggressive and strike out a ton.  On the other hand if you sap some power potential for contact he might be a .280 hitter beating out grounders, nubs, and bunts with his speed. 

 

The batting 3rd experiment needs to end, he can get plenty of protection with Dozier batting behind him 9-1.  The defense is ridiculous, if he had a clone we could play a 2 man outfield and nothing would drop.

[jokin]

Definitely concluding where Buxton hits in the order based on meaningless games in September was more wishcasting and pleasing Dozier than using good sense. It's clear now that Buxton is prone to getting into bad funks ala his debut season- falling into familiar 0-2 holes and literally looking lost at the plate without a plan.

 

Get him down to the bottom of the order to work this out in real time while "hiding" in plain sight- also hitting in front of a high OBP guy might help him some in avoiding swinging futilely at those sliders in the dirt- Mauer doesn't appear to be that guy any more. When Buxton's struggling like this, just making contact is the best way out of this slump- the pressure at living up to the expectations for power in the 3-hole appears to be playing in Buck's head. Just watch the opposing batteries when Buxton is due up... they're all licking their chops knowing a sure out is coming up to bat.

 

Since the Twins are off to the best start since 1987, maybe it's time to cut back on the experimenting and move up and/or keep up in the order the likes of: Sano (#3?), Kepler (#2 vs RHP), Castro (#5 or #6 while he is hot) and even Rosario (due to heat up at any moment- #5 or #6?) and Polanco getting a shot up the order (seems to rise to challenges- according to Fangraphs- Polanco is the only player with all three plate discipline stats @ 100%- Contact/ZContact/OContact- how about Buck looking at Polanco contact videos in his spare time?). 

 

If Vargas comes back healthy, give him a tryout in the Clean-up spot. Mauer seems destined to bat #6 or lower very soon. The braintrust appears to have made a non-rostering decision on Park to last at least until they make a decision on everyone else at the position on the 40-man roster-- Not a big Park fan, but I was more than a bit concerned with Sano at 1B, especially when Sano stretched for a throw from Polanco and did the mini-splits- that's a season-ending torn hamstring candidate in waiting in this early season cold weather.

[KirbyDome89]

Agree on the move down the lineup.

 

If they even consider another option to AAA hopefully it isn't for AT LEAST a couple months of consistently poor play. Even then Idk if I would endorse it; his defense in CF is so damn good that I would much rather watch him beat the learning curve at the MLB level.

 

It definitely would've been nice to have Park and not a 13th pitcher (or DanSan) especially on days like today when Mauer sits. I would rather see Sano getting all the reps he can at 3B right now. 

[jimbo92107]

 

Agree on Buxton moving down in the order, but Grossman has been fine for now. He had a real nice day at the plate tonight.

I can almost see the new hitting coach pointing to Grossman and say, "Do it like that guy, but hit a little better."

[mikecgrimes]

Buxton would be batting 9th if batting him 9th would give us a meaningful advantage.  As for the Grossman Park conversation, we didn't sign Chris Carter who represents the absolute most you could expect out of the almost 31 year old Park.  The Homerun isn't that valuable without a decent on base percentage to go with it.  Trust Falvey.

[HitInAPinch]

I've never really understood the logic of moving Buxton down in the order.  What are we really accomplishing?  Taking away 1, maybe 2, at bats per game? 

 

Feeling pressure is an internal thing.  Buxton needs to learn how to handle it.  Sending him down  again just to watch him beat up on MiLB pitchers again is pointless. Unless we're planning on doing some bargain shopping in the 'Island of Misfit Baseball Players' and swap Buxton for another misfit in hope of turning that one around....

[adorduan]

 

I've never really understood the logic of moving Buxton down in the order.  What are we really accomplishing?  Taking away 1, maybe 2, at bats per game? 

 

Feeling pressure is an internal thing.  Buxton needs to learn how to handle it.  Sending him down  again just to watch him beat up on MiLB pitchers again is pointless. Unless we're planning on doing some bargain shopping in the 'Island of Misfit Baseball Players' and swap Buxton for another misfit in hope of turning that one around....

Not sure how you would ever lose 2 at bats....

 

[adorduan]

Yes, Buxton looks lost at the plate, but just a little perspective. 1-16 with 6 K's and 2 walks.   Who is that player?  Kris Bryant.

[DaveW]

Yes, Buxton looks lost at the plate, but just a little perspective. 1-16 with 6 K's and 2 walks. Who is that player? Kris Bryant.

Buxton has 11 k's in 15 AB

 

Pretty large difference. Dude is completely lost at the plate right now. Having him hit third is gonna cost this team some wins eventually.

[Han Joelo]

Buxton has no business in the minors except on a rehab assignment.  He's got that game film from last September now, he knows he can do it.  Don't think, Buck, you'll only hurt the team.

 

I don't know him enough to know if moving him around in the order will help.  Doubt if it would.  Rally's have continued despite his K's.  I think keeping the young guys sandwiched with veterans is intentional.

[mikelink45]

I think Buxton is the most frustrating prospect I have seen with the Twins.  He has so much ability and yet there is something that happens when the season starts.  Has Parker done an analysis of the pitches and places that are devastating Buxton?  I hate to say it, but I would have him bunt 2 - 3 times a game until he gets a sense of where the pitches are coming.  He needs something to get him focused again.  

[DaveW]

Buxton has no business in the minors except on a rehab assignment. He's got that game film from last September now, he knows he can do it. Don't think, Buck, you'll only hurt the team.

 

I don't know him enough to know if moving him around in the order will help. Doubt if it would. Rally's have continued despite his K's. I think keeping the young guys sandwiched with veterans is intentional.

You are missing the bigger point.

 

He needs to be moved from the 3 spot because he will start costing them games. He already leads the majors in LOB, eventually that catches up to a team.

[USAFChief]

Move him to 9th for now, hopefully it relaxes him a bit. He's obviously pressing.

[mikecgrimes]

 

You are missing the bigger point.

He needs to be moved from the 3 spot because he will start costing them games. He already leads the majors in LOB, eventually that catches up to a team.

 

If an extra at bat 2 of 3 nights can get him to figure it out a game or two quicker it ends up working in our favor.  He's capable of doing big things on offense.  No need to screw around.  Given average on base percentage and his current #'s batting him 3rd as opposed to 9th cost us a base runner every 6th game. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

If an extra at bat 2 of 3 nights can get him to figure it out a game or two quicker it ends up working in our favor.  He's capable of doing big things on offense.  No need to screw around.  Given average on base percentage and his current #'s batting him 3rd as opposed to 9th cost us a base runner every 6th game. 

 

How do you figure that last part?  The exact problem is that he's not giving us anything even close to average OBP.  He's barely making contact.

 

His total inability to make contact right now is costing the team in run scoring opportunities.  So far that hasn't hurt us, but it will.  

[Lefty74]

Absolutely love Buxton, but wow is he lost. Last night first 3 times up he was chewing and spitting sunflower seeds so fast it made my head spin. That type of nervousness is very concerning. He is so lost he doesn't know what to do....he needs to slow it all down.

 

During the last game of KC series he hit a foul ball and did not know where it went. That is hard to fathom for an MLB hitter. Very rare when they foul one off and have no clue as to where it went. If it happens with any consistency it's a huge concern as it may signify that he doesn't know where the bat head is at impact....well maybe 11k's is already showing that . He has to figure it out, we need his D.

[mikecgrimes]

 

How do you figure that last part?  The exact problem is that he's not giving us anything even close to average OBP.  He's barely making contact.

 

His total inability to make contact right now is costing the team in run scoring opportunities.  So far that hasn't hurt us, but it will.  

 

An extra at bat only 2 out of 3 games and an OBP difference of .209 from average , actually he is costing us a base runner 1 in every 7.17 games by not batting 9th.  Now if you want him out of the game entirely that's different.

[amjgt]

September Buxton: Leg Kick

Spring Training Buxton: Leg Kick

(Article about "the leg kick is my thing now")

First AB this season: Toe tap

Me: "WTF?"

[TheLeviathan]

 

An extra at bat only 2 out of 3 games and an OBP difference of .209 from average , actually he is costing us a base runner 1 in every 7.17 games by not batting 9th.  Now if you want him out of the game entirely that's different.

 

You realize a .209 difference in OBP is gigantic right?

[Oldgoat_MN]

Luis Castillo used to slap the ball into the ground and run to first. That worked for him pretty frequently.

Buxton is taking full swings and a foul tip is a good result, based on the average.

 

Buck needs to start making contact with the ball first. If he can do that on a regular basis he can move along until he is taking full swings. I know this sounds extreme, but no more extreme than striking out 11 out of 18 times. Strikeouts is not the stat I want Buck leading the league in.

If his D wasn't so great I would already be calling for him to go to AAA.

[mikecgrimes]

 

You realize a .209 difference in OBP is gigantic right?

 

As were those two first inning catches

[TheLeviathan]

As were those two first inning catches

No one is saying bench him. We're saying take the offensive black hole and minimize it as much as possible.