Can Byron Buxton Pass Mike Trout As Baseball’s Best Center Fielder?

[tony&rodney]

11 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

I still have a difficult time putting Trout ahead of Mays.  But yes, longevity is part of Mays' resume - he was always a CF.

Let's look at their accomplishments:

Mays 156.1 WAR, lifetime 301/384/557  660 HR before the PEDs His OPS+ before he left the Giants - 157+ (21 years) 3293 hits and 23 years. 

Trout  76.1 WAR 305/419/583 310 HRs 1419 hits 176 OPS+ 11 years.  Now he needs to maintain this for 12 more years to match Willie.

Buxton 16.2 WAR 248/299/461 401 hits, 70 HRs OPS+ 102 for 7 years.  Why is this even a debate? Check in 10 years from now if Byron stays healthy.  I love his play, but right now he is on the outside looking in on this discussion. 

Yes. This is correct. Anyone that doubts any part of this should spend a few minutes on a Baseball-Reference site. Oh, and look up the number of putouts and assists by Mays, Trout, and Buxton. A helpful note - there were stopwatches in the 20th century. Finally, I have consistently been a huge fan of Byron Buxton and will not be surprised if he does win an MVP and Mike Trout is hands down the best MLB player of the last decade.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Would saying yes violate the temporal prime directive?

[big dog]

Please don't violate the temporal prime directive. We're begging here.

[TheLeviathan]

21 hours ago, Lonestar said:

Trout is no longer more durable and only plays CF because he pushed back on having Brandon Marsh (a markedy better defender) take over.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2022-positional-power-rankings-center-field/

Trout has had two years that look like Byron Buxton's whole career.  30 years old is about the time you might expect less durability and less peak performance.  Read: Injuries aren't just luck, they involve the ability of each individual's body to withstand the contact and physical exertion inherent in playing the sport.  Buck has managed to let outfield walls, slides into bases, fouls off his foot, pitches, and the act of running all land him on the DL. (Often for far longer than expected)

If you can't be more durable at 25 than a 30 year old, it doesn't speak well of your own future in your 30s.