Buxton Replacement? Don't bother, he's already here....

[AlwaysinModeration]

500 yo-yo'd, jerked around, called up prematurely, inconsistent ABs... Still not worried.

 

Buxton has had a lousy start to the season. However, the organization hasn't done him any favors in terms of building up his confidence. In 15 games he has:

 

-started batting third for 4 games

-was moved down to 7th

-was moved down to 8th

-was moved down to 9th

-was pinch-hit for in two games

-was benched for two games

 

My preference would be to have the manager / organization / whoever tell him: "You are our starting CF, and we are batting you in X spot in the lineup. We are going to leave you there all year. Don't worry that a bad game (or two or three or five) at the plate is going to cost you your spot in the batting order, or get you pinch-hit for or land you on the bench, or get you sent back to Rochester. It won't. We are committed to you, because you are going to be a big part of the team going forward. You have proven yourself in the minors as a hitter, and now we are committed to you proving yourself in the majors as a hitter. You might not prove yourself this month, or next month, or maybe even not this year, but we think you will, because the hitter you were in the minors is going to start showing up in the majors on a consistent basis. So, go out there and do it, and don't spend any time looking over your shoulder."

[Riverbrian]

 

Buxton has had a lousy start to the season. However, the organization hasn't done him any favors in terms of building up his confidence. In 15 games he has:

-started batting third for 4 games
-was moved down to 7th
-was moved down to 8th
-was moved down to 9th
-was pinch-hit for in two games
-was benched for two games

My preference would be to have the manager / organization / whoever tell him: "You are our starting CF, and we are batting you in X spot in the lineup. We are going to leave you there all year. Don't worry that a bad game (or two or three or five) at the plate is going to cost you your spot in the batting order, or get you pinch-hit for or land you on the bench, or get you sent back to Rochester. It won't. We are committed to you, because you are going to be a big part of the team going forward. You have proven yourself in the minors as a hitter, and now we are committed to you proving yourself in the majors as a hitter. You might not prove yourself this month, or next month, or maybe even not this year, but we think you will, because the hitter you were in the minors is going to start showing up in the majors on a consistent basis. So, go out there and do it, and don't spend any time looking over your shoulder."

 

I think I'm on the complete opposite side of what you are expressing here. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

-started batting third for 4 games
-was moved down to 7th
-was moved down to 8th
-was moved down to 9th
-was pinch-hit for in two games
-was benched for two games

The team still has to win baseball games. I'm just happy Buxton is playing in Minnesota right now.

 

If you want to reel at Byron's mismanagement by the last front office, take a gander at this post I wrote last year:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/23497-article-buxton-stalls-out-again/?p=527479

[HitInAPinch]

I'd love to hear Jack Goin's opinion of moving a player around in a lineup to make him more comfortable, therefore he will perform better.  

 

I pulled this from Baseball Reference:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=buxtoby01&year=Career&t=b&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool#lineu

 

Whatever position in the lineup that Buxton hits in seems completely irrelevant, except for hitting 7th.  The order goes: 7th, leadoff and 9th, when we start getting into Mendoza-line territory. Gotta take sample size into account, too.

[HitInAPinch]

 

I think I'm on the complete opposite side of what you are expressing here. 

Personally, I see zero chance that sending Buxton to the minors will do any good.  We know what he can do there....

[Heezy1323]

I can see both sides of this argument (send him down vs. let him struggle through it no matter what). Certainly, everyone here realizes Buxton is extremely valuable in the field, and this offsets some of his shortcomings at the plate. But at some point, hitting around .100 with a K% approaching 50 has to get to you mentally, doesn't it? I want to see Buck succeed as much as anyone, but (honest question) does there come a point when, if things continue as they presently are going, you are almost forced to send him down, if nothing else for a change of scenery? June 1? All-Star break? 

 He's coming to the plate as I type this. Lets rip a double and start the hot streak that breaks him out of this.

[Riverbrian]

 

Personally, I see zero chance that sending Buxton to the minors will do any good.  We know what he can do there....

 

Personally... I don't want Buxton in AAA anymore. I'm ready to ride this out. However... I don't believe moving him from 3rd to 9th in the order is messing with him and I also don't believe that being pinch hit for is hurting him and I don't believe that sitting on occasion will ruin him. 

 

The thing that is hurting him is striking out over 50 percent of the time. No manager is going to fix your confidence when you do that. 

[h2oface]

And high school mound height directly correlates with maturity and mental toughness. You learn something new every day.

 

Please forgive my stream of consciousness delivery. I did not mean for mound height to be anything but an aside with some info. Seemed clear to me. Sorry it was confusing to you. Not my intention. I just make comments on my feelings. I don't mind the bullying for inferred stupidity that it might bring. I don't take it personally. I just make a few comments now and then.

[DrNeau]

 

Don't get me wrong, I like Buxton.  But potential is just that, until it isn't. 

 

...

 

 

Lollygaggers!

[twinssporto]

 

As Harold Reynolds pointed out, Byron Buxton is not following the baseball all the way into the bat. This dead-simple fundamental habit should be part of Buxton's practice routine so that he doesn't have to think about it in games. Last season it was Buxton's puzzling lack of expertise while attempting to execute bunts, and his odd lack of skill stealing bases. He got a little better at both those things. This season it is watching the ball. 

 

It pains me to bring this up, but it is possible that this enthusiastic, earnest, hard-working young man is neither the sharpest bulb in the box nor the brightest tool in the shed. If so, his baseball career will not be like a rocket taking off, but more like the gradual whittling of a daft but talented hayseed sculptor, carefully carving a perfect cow over several years. 

I've met Pete Rose a few times.  Certainly not the sharpest bulb either.  I wonder if his career got off to a quick start or a slow one? 

[twinssporto]

One other thought about Buxton.  Obviously the FO and/or Molitor saw enough promise in him last fall and during spring training to start him off hitting this year in the #3 spot.  This most likely is just a very bad slump (mentally driven or not who cares).

 

Let's give the kid a few more weeks and see what happens.  I've mentioned this before but will say it again.  Everyone was screaming for Dozier to adjust and make changes last year.  He didn't come to life until June.  

 

Dear God, I hope it doesn't take Buxton that long. 

[HitInAPinch]

 

One other thought about Buxton.  Obviously the FO and/or Molitor saw enough promise in him last fall and during spring training to start him off hitting this year in the #3 spot.  This most likely is just a very bad slump (mentally driven or not who cares).

 

Let's give the kid a few more weeks and see what happens.  I've mentioned this before but will say it again.  Everyone was screaming for Dozier to adjust and make changes last year.  He didn't come to life until June.  

 

Dear God, I hope it doesn't take Buxton that long. 

I'm starting to think Buxton might just be a slow starter.  You know, the old saying "as the temps warm up, so do the bats".  

[Riverbrian]

Jackie Bradley Jr. was a highly ranked prospect who reached the majors and crashed/burned hard. 

 

I think Byron Buxton should read this article. 

 

http://www.telegram.com/sports/20160622/red-sox-notes-jackie-bradley-retools-swing-to-improve

 

Here's another

 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/03/06/jackie-bradley-keeps-chin-and-swing-level/x6QqrfzAwAO2sbaOutHpfN/story.html

 

And another

 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2016/05/19/this-jackie-bradley-looking-like-real-thing/zNhzmBEkX4IVzPGgdeh1eO/story.html

 

Byron needs to shorten up and level out. He always looks like he is trying to hit a 5 run homer. Byron's swing is too long and its an upper cut and that makes contact hard. 

 

Pitchers are going to work him low and away with off speed stuff for awhile so he better learn to take the ball the other way and do it short and level. 

 

As long as I see Buxton continue trying to pull that 2 strike 80 MPH low and outside pitch into the upper tank in LF... We won't feel comfortable with him.

 

 

[shs_59]

Pretty ridiculous assessment. Max Kepler is no cf he's a rf, 1b type who at best would struggle in lf. Cf is a once a month play at best. What I want to see is Byron Buxton choke up on the bat! If Byron does that the swing path isn't as long and time consuming as it is now . Currently. His left hand bottom hand is ponkie finger and some palm over or on-line of the handle of the bat!!!! How ridiculous is that? Especially w 2 strikes on him. Come on James Rowson plz correct this!!¡

Ty. Good for. Buxton choke up!!!! Look at bryzzo. They choke up 1/2 the bat. Buxton doesn't need to hit it 400 ft ever. Ty.

[shs_59]

* Byron's pinkie finger is covering handle of bat =. Not good.

[jimmer]

I have no problem believing Kepler could play CF well.  He wouldn't be a defensive star out there, but he'd be good.  I don't want that to have to happen though.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I have no problem believing Kepler could play CF well.  He wouldn't be a defensive star out there, but he'd be good.  I don't want that to have to happen though.

Yeah. When Max came up, I called him a tweener because he didn't take good routes and seemed to be inexperienced but had the athleticism to play center.

 

Watching him this season, I have no doubt he could play center. He wouldn't be a star out there but he could hold his own.