Buxton's ability to learn

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Besides winning, the most fun I've had is watch Byron Buxton blossom right in front of us. A couple great articles lately chronicling...

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/how-byron-buxtons-glove-went-from-good-to-great/

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/reclamation-minnesota-twins-outfielder-byron-buxton-193405509.html

 

So much fun watching this young man just take off!

[gunnarthor]

The yahoo article is interesting, if true. Rowson stopped the FO from shipping him to AAA? Great work, Roswon. Buxton's older brother is faster? Holy ****.

[drivlikejehu]

 

The yahoo article is interesting, if true. Rowson stopped the FO from shipping him to AAA? Great work, Roswon. Buxton's older brother is faster? Holy ****.

 

That's the thing about (Byron) Buxton - he has elite speed by MLB standards but not really by track standards. What makes Buxton special is that he's fast but also has so much skill on the baseball field. Most fast guys are just . . . fast.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Great article.

 

Buxton will always be a guy who is streaky and tinkering with his swing. Many big leaguers do that.  

 

And yeah, while half of Twins Daily posters were saying just be patient, behind the scenes Rowson was actually talking the front office into not demoting him? Wow. 

[stringer bell]

I said before the season that Buxton and/or Sano would need to be elite before the Twins could make real progress. Well, they've gotten an elite half-season from each.

[Doctor Wu]

Speaking of Buxton's speed, of course there was that insanely fast inside the park homer and the recent rash of triples, but it's also interesting to note how successful he has been still stealing bases all year. What, he's been caught only 1 time? Normally, even with such elite speed, a lot of these young players have to learn how to take leads on pitchers and execute the steals successfully. But it seems like Buxton has had not had to worry about such learning curve on the bases. Granted, he's not swiping them at Billy Hamilton level yet, but there is always next year!

[Major League Ready]

 

I said before the season that Buxton and/or Sano would need to be elite before the Twins could make real progress. Well, they've gotten an elite half-season from each.

 

These two were the most likely way for the Twins to progress for sure but there are a few guys that have contributed to their progression.  Who would have believed Polanco would have come on the way he has and earn a spot in the 3 hole.  Rosario has made considerable progress although he has definitely regressed defensively.    Hildenberger and Busenitz have become important contributors in a very short period of time.  And, let's not forget Joe Mauer who is hitting like the Joe of old and fielding like a gold glover.  The progression of these guys along with Buxton are the difference between 100 losses and a team above 500 that's a lot of fun to watch.

 

Add one good SP and a more seasoned Meija and this is a 90+ win team.  Not to mention we have a couple more power arms that should make an impact in the BP at some point next year.

[DaveW]

These two were the most likely way for the Twins to progress for sure but there are a few guys that have contributed to their progression. Who would have believed Polanco would have come on the way he has and earn a spot in the 3 hole. Rosario has made considerable progress although he has definitely regressed defensively. Hildenberger and Busenitz have become important contributors in a very short period of time. And, let's not forget Joe Mauer who is hitting like the Joe of old and fielding like a gold glover. The progression of these guys along with Buxton are the difference between 100 losses and a team above 500 that's a lot of fun to watch.

 

Add one good SP and a more seasoned Meija and this is a 90+ win team. Not to mention we have a couple more power arms that should make an impact in the BP at some point next year.

I dig the optimism, but that also assumes no regression. We learned last year that regression is a fickle mistress.

 

I think we need at least two more "good" SP and another couple arms in the pen.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I dig the optimism, but that also assumes no regression. We learned last year that regression is a fickle mistress.

 

I think we need at least two more "good" SP and another couple arms in the pen.

yep and righty bat off the bench who can be passable in left field. Neither Granite nor Vargas fit that bill