Is Byron Buxton Too Much Miguel Sano?

[laloesch]

12 hours ago, PDX Twin said:

Yes, he is becoming Sano, and it's the Twins' fault! He has tremendous skill, but power hitting is the only dimension that seems to interest the Twins. Sad! He's an exciting player being crippled by that philosophy. He should have signed somewhere where a team will utilize all of his skills. We get a few extra first-to-thirds from his speed, and an occasional infield hit or stretched-into-double. But really, he might as well run like Sano if he's not going to play in the field or try to steal bases.

lol, it's not the Twin's fault.  Why is it always the team's fault and not the player's fault? or both?  I mean the player is the one swinging the bat and playing defense in the field.  Ultimately, it's their decision making when game time rolls.  Sano is the perfect example of this.  He was un-coachable, so in reality it WASN'T the Twins fault in that situation at least not entirely.

[laloesch]

2 hours ago, Jeff D. said:

Hitting Stats tell us what happens if a guy is in the batter's box.

A complete baseball player stands in the batter's box and then goes into the field.

A great ballplayer stands in the batter's box, goes into the field and does this consistently for years while producing results.

Byron Buxton is not a great ballplayer. He is, however, very well paid for a part time, over-hyped major leaguer. Kudos to him for maximizing his earning potential. He is far less of a contributor for this Twins team than most of the players that are on our roster. My personal (probably unpopular opinion) thoughts are that we should unload the guy (no-trade clause), but that seems very remotely possible.

GO TWINS!

Twins Geezer ... out. 

Trade him.  

[specialiststeve]

This is a "coaching/Managing" issue... clearly the coaching staff STILL overvalues the home run even given the change of rules. Do we try to run... NO. Let's swing for the fences and take good overall hitters and try to make them "yank" and hit for power. Drives me bonkers.

[Trov]

Buxton is who he is at this point.  He is a streaky hitter that when hot will carry an offense and one of most dangerous hitters in league, but when he is not hot, he will strike out a ton and provide almost no offense.  Right now he is on a bad streak.  Hopefully he can heat up soon. He will never become what people want him to be, he tried years ago and failed.  He will not be a guy that walks a lot.  The book on him has never changed, get ahead in count, then just throw endless sliders off the plate, he will chase them more often than not.  Just throw a fastball once in awhile low and outside corner to keep him honest and thinking maybe this time it will be that fastball.  He needs to attack early in counts because if he does not, he will fall behind and strike out more often than not. 

[Doug Y]

Please stop trying to Pull every pitch!

[wornsmooth]

6 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Good theory, but I have my doubts that this is his issue.  The team errors on the conservative side and would probably hold him out if he had a hang nail.  Also, you seem pretty sure that he is playing hurt, but I've heard nothing confirming that from the team or announcing crews.  Do you have a solid source for that information or are you assuming that based on his performance post head roll?

I am basing on the video and on how he went overnight from being a productive hitter to flailing.

I have zero inside knowledge, but have many stories of players who drop in performance and then find out years later they were playing with chronic injuries.

The Twins Zoilo V. And Camilio P. Come to mind.

For that matter, Killebrew during his very lengthy period waiting for HR number 500.

All injury related

[joefish]

18 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

I am glad you chose to address this Ted.  I am very disappointed in the "Superstar" Buxton.  Without fielding his value is truly diminished.  I remember the first years he was up and they struggled with him to get a batting stance that worked - step, spread stance, etc.  It did not work, then suddenly it seemed to take. His first four years he hit 209, 205, 253, 156.  OPA+ 57, 90, 93, 5.  Yes there were injuries - there always are.

But then age 25 - 28 his OPS+ went to 115, 125, 171, 134.  

Now it is 94 and falling.  I wish I knew what to say, but at this point Michael Taylor is outperforming him with a 95. 

For a team struggling for offense this is not acceptable. 

Paul Molitor fixed him once...

[launchingthrees]

I'm very thankful Buxton's extension was signed while injury issues were looming so they weren't forced to give him any real money. Taking a toolsy player and shutting down the use of those tools in favor of turning him into a slightly above average DH just shows how fragile they feel he is physically. Frankly, I've never seen anything like it.

[USAFChief]

4 hours ago, launchingthrees said:

I'm very thankful Buxton's extension was signed while injury issues were looming so they weren't forced to give him any real money. Taking a toolsy player and shutting down the use of those tools in favor of turning him into a slightly above average DH just shows how fragile they feel he is physically. Frankly, I've never seen anything like it.

They haven't turned him into Miguel Sano, they turned him into Rob Deer.

It'd be comical, if not so tragic.