Fangraphs: byron-buxton-is-slowing-down-in-the-good-way

[ashbury]

What's going to kill Buxton is his 0-for-15 with eight strikeout stretches. If he can turn those cold streaks into 2-for-15 with one XBH and six strikeouts, that will go a long way toward making him a competent hitter.

For the Merry Month of May, he is batting a mediocre .233. Enough power to not call it an empty .233. But his OBP is... .233.

 

So I will offer a friendly amendment to your motion: Turn the 0-15's with 0 BB's and 8 K's into 0-9's with 6 BB's and 2 K's because I bet pitchers have decided again not to throw him strikes and he's apparently been getting himself out again. Oh, and sure, your scratch single and a hustle double instead of the ofer is a good idea too. 2-9 with 6 BB will adjust those pitchers' attitudes nicely.

 

If he's getting boocoo strikes thrown to him and not capitalizing, that's a very bad and different situation I have no advice for. The recent homer is a hopeful sign.

[Loosey]

 

Agreed. Lots of good words from him there that make  you feel a lot better about him as a leader. So much of what a manager does is not visible to us (like in game decisions are).

Which is why I and I assume most like Molitor as a coach, however as a manager he makes some decisions that are questionable.  However, this season seems different.  I don't know if there is a plan in place set up by the front office on how they would like things done, now or what, but it is working somewhat.  Maybe he has learned to manage better.  

 

Either way, I would listen to what Molitor says when it comes to hitting and base running because there aren't many who were better at the two than him.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Which is why I and I assume most like Molitor as a coach, however as a manager he makes some decisions that are questionable.  However, this season seems different.  I don't know if there is a plan in place set up by the front office on how they would like things done, now or what, but it is working somewhat.  Maybe he has learned to manage better. 

I suspect that Molitor, like the other coaches, is being given more quality information from the front office. We've always known Paul is a smart baseball guy but he's not a modern front office guy. He has neither the time nor ability to crunch numbers and follow cutting edge trends in the game. Someone needs to provide him that information and I suspect the new front office is doing a much better job of getting him what he needs.

 

Though it's likely he's becoming a better manager as well, I simply think most of the philosophy change is information-driven. In a recent article from MLB, Allen talked about the new information being given him and how it helps him do his job. It's reasonable to think Molitor is getting similar information to better help him do his job.

[gunnarthor]

 

What am I missing with this guy? He cant hit, he can't layoff off the outside pitch,and he has no patience at the plate.

 

His fist 15 games - .082/.135/.257 46% k-rate, 3% walk rate.

His last 16 games - .265/.357/.388 25% k-rate, 12.5% walk rate.

 

He'll be fine.

[Loosey]

 

I suspect that Molitor, like the other coaches, is being given more quality information from the front office. We've always known Paul is a smart baseball guy but he's not a modern front office guy. He has neither the time nor ability to crunch numbers and follow cutting edge trends in the game. Someone needs to provide him that information and I suspect the new front office is doing a much better job of getting him what he needs.

 

Though it's likely he's becoming a better manager as well, I simply think most of the philosophy change is information-driven. In a recent article from MLB, Allen talked about the new information being given him and how it helps him do his job. It's reasonable to think Molitor is getting similar information to better help him do his job.

I agree.  And I saw that article as well.  It was mindblowing to me the lack of information they received prior to this year.  7-10 days scouting report is all they got and the detail wasn't very informative either. 

 

That being said, I think you are right it probably is a combination of data and becoming better.

[Loosey]

 

His fist 15 games - .082/.135/.257 46% k-rate, 3% walk rate.

His last 16 games - .265/.357/.388 25% k-rate, 12.5% walk rate.

 

He'll be fine.

I think his last 16 games is his true self.  With his Defense and that slashline for a season, that's All-Star.

[akmanak]

Even Colon hit a homerun. Him going 1 for 3 is a positive sign, but he has done this before only to go 0 for 12.

 

I want this guy to do well, again I just dont see it. I hope I am wrong.

[Twinsbar107]

 

Even Colon hit a homerun. Him going 1 for 3 is a positive sign, but he has done this before only to go 0 for 12.

I want this guy to do well, again I just dont see it. I hope I am wrong.

Are you implying that is rare???

[ashbury]

So I will offer a friendly amendment to your motion: Turn the 0-15's with 0 BB's and 8 K's into 0-9's with 6 BB's and 2 K's because I bet pitchers have decided again not to throw him strikes and he's apparently been getting himself out again. Oh, and sure, your scratch single and a hustle double instead of the ofer is a good idea too. 2-9 with 6 BB will adjust those pitchers' attitudes nicely.

It's only one game, but this afternoon he went 1-for 2 with 2 BB.

 

Obviously he reads Twins Daily. He didn't even have the courtesy to drop you and me a note of thanks (you for the hit, me for the walks) for the kindly advice.

[DaveW]

It's only one game, but this afternoon he went 1-for 2 with 2 BB.

 

Obviously he reads Twins Daily. He didn't even have the courtesy to drop you and me a note of thanks (you for the hit, me for the walks) for the kindly advice.

Nice to see him turning it around. If he gets to .750 ops this year I will change my hicks tracker to a Buxton tacked.

 

I know Molly might be tempted to move him up the lineup. But I would wait for awhile before doing that iMo.