Center field ?

[bigtrain]

Now that JaCelestine?? Cave is gone, who is going to play center field? Cellestino? Nick Gordon?  The new guy they picked up recently?

[stringer bell]

Taylor plays center when Buxton is not there. He’s an outstanding outfielder and a better hitter than Celestino. 

[Matthew Lenz]

Buxton, Taylor, then maybe Gallo (assuming Kepler is traded)

[Fatbat]

Buxton is staying healthy and will get 120+ starts. Taylor will get the rest of CF starts with other small fillins if necessary. Cellestino needs a full year in AAA to develop which is why the trade for Taylor was such a great deal. 

[bigtrain]

Buxton is a good player, I'd like to have him in there. But we all know that is not going to happen. Even the goal is just for him to play a bare majority of the games, and he did not even do that last year. He's injury probe, or something. So Taylor? I saw something sbout that but kissed the deatails.

[bigtrain]

*missed the details. Ha!

Gallo is who I was trying to remember. 

[Fatbat]

35 minutes ago, bigtrain said:

Buxton is a good player, I'd like to have him in there. But we all know that is not going to happen. Even the goal is just for him to play a bare majority of the games, and he did not even do that last year. He's injury probe, or something. So Taylor? I saw something sbout that but kissed the deatails.

He is 31. Top 3 defensive CF in MLB. Notoriously horrible bat in April and September.  Bats RH and has a lack of power and average.  Other than that he is a gold glove roll player. 

[bigtrain]

Yeah, I "wanna be" a fan. But I think he is quite happy to sit on the bench and collect his checks. But back to my question. Gallo? Or is Taylor more likely. Honestly I don't know much about taylor.

[Squirrel]

Taylor will play CF in Bux’ absence. Gordon or Gallo can spot fill in when necessary but Taylor is the backup. Celestino will remain in AAA to get back some development missed for rushing him up too soon out of necessity. Doubtful Kepler will see any time in CF even if not traded unless everyone else is out

[Squirrel]

10 hours ago, bigtrain said:

But I think he is quite happy to sit on the bench and collect his checks.

?

[Reptevia]

Buxton will play CF when Taylor isn’t available or the matchup dictates. I don’t think Gallo will see any time in CF. Kepler only played 9 innings in CF last year. The depth chart is Taylor/Buxton/Gordon. 

[CRF]

Buxton and Taylor are your CF's. If Buck can somehow stay healthy, I don't think you'll see any other guys out there but those two. If Buck goes down again, then it'll be mix and match time. 

[ashbury]

38 minutes ago, Reptevia said:

Buxton will play CF when Taylor isn’t available or the matchup dictates.

[Doctor Gast]

It’s Buxton and Taylor but LH batting Gordon should have his share.

[Rosterman]

Taylor is clearly the backup centerfielder and will play there when Byron fills the DH roll. Otherwise, Gallo is still the on-roster backup. If Kepler is around, he can play there, as can Gordon. Celestino is the current minor league depth. 

Be interesting to see where else Lewis plays at AAA. I hope they continue to run him out primarily at shortstop to be the backup if Correa goes down. Will he play centerfield, or the corners. Martin, too.

 

[gman]

Buxton, Taylor then Gordon. If Buxton goes down with a long term injury, I would bring up Martin to play centerfield, assuming Lewis in not ready yet. I don't particularly like Taylor's bat in the lineup on any kind of regular basis. He can fill in or come in as a defensive replacement.

[stringer bell]

I haven’t heard if there is a plan for Buxton this year, but would assume Rocco will give him several days off and DH days. In those days, Taylor would figure to start almost 100% of those games. 
 

I would assume that Baldelli will use Buxton as the DH against left handed pitching, with Taylor then in center. 

[Reptevia]

53 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I haven’t heard if there is a plan for Buxton this year, but would assume Rocco will give him several days off and DH days. In those days, Taylor would figure to start almost 100% of those games. 
 

I would assume that Baldelli will use Buxton as the DH against left handed pitching, with Taylor then in center. 

So, if last year is indicative of the plan, Buxton will play about 1/3 of CF games. Taylor plays almost all of the other 2/3. Taylor is the starting CF. It’s ok to say it out loud. 

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, Reptevia said:

So, if last year is indicative of the plan, Buxton will play about 1/3 of CF games. Taylor plays almost all of the other 2/3. Taylor is the starting CF. It’s ok to say it out loud. 

I don't think that it right. The whole thing about managing Buxton started when he was injured in Boston on the first road trip of the season. The knee was a problem from that point and the decision was to try to play him throughout the year with frequent days off and a lot of DH time. Buck lasted until mid-August on that plan. I'm sure that the manager is not counting on Buxton to play 162, but as far as I know the Twins aren't going with last year's plan. The acquisition of Taylor does indicate they feel a need to protect for the loss of their starter, but until we hear officially from the Twins, we are free to speculate how much they use their All-Star center fielder.

[Beast]

20 hours ago, bigtrain said:

Yeah, I "wanna be" a fan. But I think he is quite happy to sit on the bench and collect his checks. But back to my question. Gallo? Or is Taylor more likely. Honestly I don't know much about taylor.

Buxton is happy to sit?

Not sure if that’s  who you’re referring to.

Say what you want about Buxton and injuries.  But, nobody can accuse the guy of sandbagging.  By all accounts I’ve ever heard, the guy is as competitive as it gets.

[dxpavelka]

On 1/28/2023 at 8:27 PM, bigtrain said:

Buxton is a good player, I'd like to have him in there. But we all know that is not going to happen. Even the goal is just for him to play a bare majority of the games, and he did not even do that last year. He's injury probe, or something. So Taylor? I saw something sbout that but kissed the deatails.

Know?  Seems like a pretty strong word.  We don't know anything.  With the possible exception of knowing that we don't know anything.  Don't know about you but if I KNEW anything I'd wager on it and get rich.  We don't KNOW anything.  That's why they play the games.

[wabene]

Out of the blue Buxton could have a run of very healthy years. Or a cronic knee condition could be revealed. Or something in between. Kyle Rudolph was often injured his first few years in the league and getting labeled as injury prone, he then went on a something like 6 year run of iron man production. You just can't know.