Interesting stat on Buxton

[gunnarthor]

 

Did you have a big ol' smirk on your face as you typed this part?

I wanted to be understated.

[TNTwinsFan]

When Buxton starts feeling confident at the plate again, this kid is going to set the world on fire! After watching him hit the ball with such authority with my own two eyeballs, I am awestruck at the wilingness of some of the posters on this thread to count him out, especially at such a young age!! Give this kid a few more years and just sit back and enjoy the show! Wow.

[Shaitan]

In an era of immediate media and scrutiny, it gets harder and harder to wait for maturity. I can hardly think of one 21st century player who made a solid first impression. Torii went back to AAA, Cuddyer was a super utility player, Johann spent a year in AAA. Morneau disappointed in year 2 and Sano was a let-down last year....Only Mauer stuck around on his first try, but even that includes a year on the DL. Knoblauch is the last Twin I remember with a favorable first impression without a steep learning curve.

[DaveW]

 

Seems to me a lot of people felt that way about Hicks and Span too.

Neither guy was anywhere near the potential/prospect that Buxton was.

Buxton already is by far the best defensive outfielder in baseball, Span and Hicks were both good as well, but not "the best"

Buxton will be fine.

[h2oface]

 

 

The infield fly rate spiked at the beginning of the year when his mechanics were a mess. Since he moved to the to toe tap again, he's reduced the amount of infield flies.

 

Wasn't the successful September last year with the leg lift/kick?

[h2oface]

 

Good God!

 

Ozzie Smith in his first 2000 PA's was under .250 BA with an OPS of .600. How do you think the Padres are feeling about moving on from him 35 YEARS LATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

There are only a few people blessed with the talent to be the best EVER at their position. Byron may never eclipse Willie Mayes (sic) as the best overall centerfielder ever but he has a very real chance at being the best defensive centerfielder ever.!.!.!.!.!

 

If he can hit .230 or above he is in my lineup for the next 10+ years.

 

Yup. It will take a lot more bat than .230 to ever be called the best overall center fielder. Mays' stick was one of the best ever in the game, and not just all center fielders.

 

[Circus Boy]

 

Just a note about IFFB%, at least on Fangraphs, its a ratio of infield fly balls to all fly balls. Since Buxton only hits about 38% of balls in the air, he's only hitting the ball in the infield .267*38% of the time.

YIkes! Math! No likey!

[Ryan Atkins]

 

NO ONE is supposed to hit the ball on the ground. 

 

Then someone better tell Mr. Byron Buxton to change his approach and aim for the sky...

 

“My approach is just try to hit a hard groundball to second base,” Buxton said before batting practice Thursday. “That helps me keep my hands through the ball and helps me see the ball a little bit longer.”

-- June, 2016

 

“[The goal is] putting the ball in play more,” Buxton said. “Putting it on the ground more to get it out of the air."

-- June, 2017

 

So, he's known for at least 2 years now that he is better off focusing on keeping the ball out of the air until he learns how to consistently get on top of the ball and drive it (and we know he can do this as evidenced by occasional flashes of power). My choice of words was poor, but this is what I meant and what Buxton has been aware of at least since last summer.

[Jham]

Then someone better tell Mr. Byron Buxton to change his approach and aim for the sky...

 

“My approach is just try to hit a hard groundball to second base,” Buxton said before batting practice Thursday. “That helps me keep my hands through the ball and helps me see the ball a little bit longer.”

-- June, 2016

 

“[The goal is] putting the ball in play more,” Buxton said. “Putting it on the ground more to get it out of the air."

-- June, 2017

 

So, he's known for at least 2 years now that he is better off focusing on keeping the ball out of the air until he learns how to consistently get on top of the ball and drive it (and we know he can do this as evidenced by occasional flashes of power). My choice of words was poor, but this is what I meant and what Buxton has been aware of at least since last summer.

This can also create poor habits. Seeing the ball longer is good. But at the expense of bat speed, trajectory, aggression and confidence? Front for hitting also often involves moving the bread and arms forward which doesn't necessarily give you more time. And when your bat slows, you have even less time. I believe this is what happened to Dansan, although accounts on this one vary. Bottom line, if you're approach as a hitter is to not strike out (read: make better contact) you will never be an adequate major leaguer. #bringbackthelegkick