Put me in coach, I'm ready to play.

[Kume34]

OK, so I’m late to the party on this topic.  I’ll admit to that right off the bat.  Byron Buxton is a human highlight reel.  There is a high chance of another highlight reel play every time he’s on the field defensively, at bat or running the bases. Exciting is my one word description for his play.  He accepted a lower contract offer to continue to play for the team that drafted him.  After 10 years with the Twins organization, by all accounts, he appears to be and I truly believe, he is a good human being.  He is one of my favorite all-time Twins.

 I am very happy he remains on the team with a long term contract.  During this century alone it was hard to see Torii Hunter and Johan Santana go.  Next, we said goodbye to Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer.  Eventually Brian Dozier became a former Twin as well.  Obviously, there are other good players who didn’t stay with the Twins their entire career but these are the five I think of from the 2000’s.

There’s always a "but" that follows statements like these.  Here it is.  But, I want to see him play.  Recently, we as fans have listened to reporters and baseball personnel tell us that they know better than any fan who disagrees with them on Byron Buxton’s playing “schedule”.  I might be a little late at addressing this but the more games he misses, the more I’m annoyed by it and don’t want to tow the company line.

The 2022 Twins pitching staff could blow up at any time so offense and defense are always needed.  Buxton provides both.  The Twins recent winning play has been against subpar teams that they should be beating but are we now seeing signs of the three parts not playing on the same day again like some recent past seasons?  “Oops”, the defense didn’t show up today or “oh know”, the pitching staff is volatile today or is today the day that the Twins can’t hit.

There are a lot of good players on the Twins roster but leaders need to lead and play.  The Twins need Buxton and Correa on the field more.  Buxton has only had one full season when he played 140 of 162 MLB games.  Buxton has avoided the DL so far this year but has already missed 15 games.  At the current rate, he’ll only appear in approximately 100 – 105 of 162 games this season without appearing on the DL.  What if he ends up on the DL?  What are the odds he does?  Nobody knows but history seems to say that the odds are very high considering that 2016 is the only year from 2014-2021 that he was not on the DL.

DL days by year (if my math is correct):  94/2014, 42/2015, 0/2016, 17/2017, 117/2018, 73/2019, 12/2020 (60 game season), 43/2021 & 66/2022.

His time on the DL has been for joint sprains, broken bones, migraines and other items.  I’m not a doctor and I don’t even play one on TV but, through no fault of his own, he seems to be injury prone and also to be prone to a case of bad luck occasionally.   I don’t know the Twins exact schedule plan, but I’m hoping it includes increased play at the end of the season.  Their current schedule plan appears to be more of a guessing game than anything.  It’s like throwing a dart at a calendar.  Does their crystal ball give them a list of dates that Buxton is more likely to get hurt?

Before you jump on those comments because you disagree, I ask that you consider the fact that he’s going to be hit by a pitch again during his career and he’s going to make a diving play in the field.  What about running the bases, just ask Justin Morneau.  And, how easy is it to turn an ankle or pull a hamstring when you run as fast as he does to beat the throw to first base?  He is a strong and conditioned athlete who works hard so it’s not about strength and conditioning.  To me it’s a guessing game on some level, a sort of odds board when considering all of the factors.  So, I say put him out there and let him play.  I’m sure he’d say, put me in coach, I’m ready to play today.  Look at me, I can be, centerfield.

[rwilfong86]

I would be 70/30 that he will end up on the IL before the end of June. Hope I am wrong but that's my guess. 

[Rosterman]

The Twins got a decent incentive-laden contract with Buxton for the long haul. He can make big bucks if he plays. The Twins will do well, as long as he plays out the contract in some capacity.

The Buxton camp had to be looking at the future. He would need to shine in 2022 to garner anything huge in the marketplace (and his play, so far, might show why they took the safe gamble.

Like Joe Mauer, the contract looks great as long as he plays his primary position - in this case, centerfield. Joe was paid to be one of the better catchers ever in baseball, not paid to become a reliable first baseman.

Buxton is paid to be a centerfielder. Yes, we know that he may not stay in that position for his entire contract and will shift left or right. But the hope was that he would be there for the majority of ... games played.

Players can play hurt. They can be moinitored. Work thru pain. And have four months (for the most part) to get things fixed. Yes, you don't want to create more injury by playing thru an injury. You jus always hope the player and team do know what they are doing.

Thanks goodness for the incentive-laden contract.

[Number3]

At least his  .207 average doesn't glare too much in the current state of hitting in MLB. Most hitters have perfected the art of swinging at strike 3 and heading back to the dug out after a typical ab. I am afraid, however, that Buxton's best days are in the rear view mirror along with Miguel's as the 2 hopes for the Twins' future fade into the limelight.