Byron Buxton's body

[walkstar89]

Why do so many fans and twins bloggers continue to insist the team is "choosing" not to play Buxton in the field? 

Some thoughts:

1. Clearly the team would be better if he was in the field. Duh. Everyone including the Twins knows this.

2. HE ISN'T HEALTHY. He can barely run to first base. Right now - being in the field isn't an option, even for an inning. They aren't DH'ing him to protect him from injury, that's a nice little fantasy fans came up with. They are doing it because he isn't healthy. 

3. The bigger issue is - what to do? Although no one knows for sure, my guess is that this is a long term chronic issue, maybe bone on bone. That's something that all the rest in the world won't fix. So - he can DH or just not play. Team is trying DH because if he could be a solid hitter from DH spot that's better than nothing? But maybe it would be better if the 60 day'd him and gave roster spot to someone else.

4. Long term ? This just sucks. I don't think it's anyones fault. Across all sports including baseball you can find countless players whose careers ended far earlier than they should have because of injury. It's not just Buxton and the Twins, this happens all the time. It really, really sucks and it's human nature to want to blame someone, but I think in this case it's just how Buxton's body is built. 

 

[Rosterman]

Forget any incentives. He needs to be in the best shape possible.

Was there any plan to get him into the outfield this year? Having him take the DH spot, when his strength would be a centerfielder (or at worse, corner outfield) who could also DH, means others can't DH, like Correa, bringing in Miranda or Wallner, whatever.

That need to make appearances, play games, for extra salary. 

 

Boo.

[walkstar89]

1 minute ago, Rosterman said:

Forget any incentives. He needs to be in the best shape possible.

Was there any plan to get him into the outfield this year? Having him take the DH spot, when his strength would be a centerfielder (or at worse, corner outfield) who could also DH, means others can't DH, like Correa, bringing in Miranda or Wallner, whatever.

That need to make appearances, play games, for extra salary. 

 

Boo.

Yes but how do you make a "plan" to get someone in CH when he has potentially a career ending injury? Obviously it's not ideal to have him at DH. This isn't what team wants! It's either this or he just doesn't play. Why do fans not understand what injuries are? 

[Mike Sixel]

 

[Craig Arko]

I’ve seen enough fiction made up in these various threads that I think the Duffer brothers could make season 6 of Stranger Things based on them.

[jkcarew]

He’s not injured or they wouldn’t be playing him at all. The club has set clear president there.

He was stealing bases less than a month ago, and he’s been resting on IL for a big chunk of the time since then.

He’s DH’ing as risk mitigation and a way of maintaining and prolonging, IMO. The narrative that Buxton is a great hitter ‘when healthy’ is confusing to me. He’s a really good hitter when he’s hitting HR’s at an elite rate…and only then. This is pretty established at this point.

He’s had dozens of stretches like this offensively, and if he’s playing in the 2nd half…regardless of where he plays…he’ll probably have a hot streak or two in him before the season’s over.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

No doubt Buxton's knees are not at 100%, but he is in the line up again tonight. 

Are we to believe that the nature of Buxton's injury allows him to bat, run, pivot and quickly accelerate when he is on the base paths, but not do the same things when he is in the outfield? 

The only place I have seen this needle being threaded is in opinion pieces like this one.

Some good, solid reporting might put the speculation to rest, but at this point we would probably disagree on what constitutes good solid reporting as well. 

4 hours ago, walkstar89 said:

2. HE ISN'T HEALTHY. He can barely run to first base.

I think if you really gave this some thought, you and everyone else in this thread with this same take would agree that the place for him is the injured list, then.

[Squirrel]

10 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

 

I think if you really gave this some thought, you and everyone else in this thread with this same take would agree that the place for him is the injured list, then.

It doesn’t take much thought, honestly. Just IL the guy. For me the frustration isn’t him in the lineup, it’s the decision makers not sending him to the IL. I realize that this is a human being here, and we can’t just call for him to be gone so callously, but, this is a game that you play to win. I was willing to experiment with this for a month or so, but we are past that and can’t afford to have his bat in the lineup as it is. Julien can DH, or any number of players. 

[Nine of twelve]

54 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Are we to believe that the nature of Buxton's injury allows him to bat, run, pivot and quickly accelerate when he is on the base paths, but not do the same things when he is in the outfield? 

If he were playing CF he'd be doing these things much more frequently. 

I am guessing that the decision makers are limiting him to DH because they feel it's necessary to do that in order for him to be available to play CF in the postseason (if we qualify) and would phase that in during the last month or so of the regular season.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

10 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

If he were playing CF he'd be doing these things much more frequently. 

I am guessing that the decision makers are limiting him to DH because they feel it's necessary to do that in order for him to be available to play CF in the postseason (if we qualify) and would phase that in during the last month or so of the regular season.

You are guessing, I am guessing, we are all just guessing. 

It is worth watching. 

[RickOShea]

5 hours ago, walkstar89 said:

Why do so many fans and twins bloggers continue to insist the team is "choosing" not to play Buxton in the field? 

Some thoughts:

1. Clearly the team would be better if he was in the field. Duh. Everyone including the Twins knows this.

2. HE ISN'T HEALTHY. He can barely run to first base. Right now - being in the field isn't an option, even for an inning. They aren't DH'ing him to protect him from injury, that's a nice little fantasy fans came up with. They are doing it because he isn't healthy. 

3. The bigger issue is - what to do? Although no one knows for sure, my guess is that this is a long term chronic issue, maybe bone on bone. That's something that all the rest in the world won't fix. So - he can DH or just not play. Team is trying DH because if he could be a solid hitter from DH spot that's better than nothing? But maybe it would be better if the 60 day'd him and gave roster spot to someone else.

4. Long term ? This just sucks. I don't think it's anyones fault. Across all sports including baseball you can find countless players whose careers ended far earlier than they should have because of injury. It's not just Buxton and the Twins, this happens all the time. It really, really sucks and it's human nature to want to blame someone, but I think in this case it's just how Buxton's body is built. 

 

Is this all conjecture from viewing Buxton or is their medical proof to back up this assessment?  I don't think it's fair to Buxton or anyone to imply a medical condition that may be temporary or chronic.

[mnfireman]

I think Buxton should have checked his ego at the door and went to St. Paul for a 3 or 4 game rehab, same with Kepler. Gallo and Farmer both did, or are they under different rules because they haven't been in the system for 10 years.

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, mnfireman said:

I think Buxton should have checked his ego at the door and went to St. Paul for a 3 or 4 game rehab, same with Kepler. Gallo and Farmer both did, or are they under different rules because they haven't been in the system for 10 years.

I think this is a pretty disrespectful take. I don’t think this is about his ego at all. He isn’t making this decision alone or in a vacuum from all accounts we’ve been given. This is a decision by committee. I don’t happen to agree with the committee at this stage in the game, but I don’t think this is an ego thing at all 

[insagt1]

Ego? No. But should he go to St Paul...somehow...yes. His AB's are painful to watch. He is completely lost. Maybe a mistake, long bomb will pop the scab, but right now, he shouldn't be in a lineup that has 8 others who can barely make contact anymore as well.

Is he hurt? 'disrespectfully' for him thats like saying the sun comes up every morning. He's always been hurt. I don't think thats exaggeration at all. His body appears to be unable to take the grind at the level he wants to play at...which is all out. Looking more and more like that won't change.

And thats a darned shame because a more exciting player one could never find, when he was 'on'.

If Twins want to win this division, they have a lot of tough decisions to make. The team is in a pretty deep trough and so far no one seems to be able to step up and change things around. For a fleeting game or so, it looked like Correa was that guy, but he has also stepped back into the shadows. And Gallo is clearly playing for his job right now. His leash has to be snugged up tight.

 

[tony&rodney]

Audra had a brief update on Byron tonight on TV and he told her he feels great, but is just in a slump (or however he put it).

If Buxton is indeed healthy, it is time to let him play centerfield.

[ICTwin25]

Something isn't right. If he's healthy and says he's in a slump then I guess we add him to the list of 5-7 that are "in a slump". How are all of best hitters somehow awful with the bat this year? Are the batting coaches that bad or are the players all just somehow not performing this year? It's baffling to me, but something has to change.

[Number3]

it was obvious almost from day 1 with the Twins that Byron Buxton is fragile to use a non medical term. He is the only player I have seen that injured himself simply by  exiting the batters' box. This is compounded by the fact that he is very athletic and puts strain on his fragility by his natural instinct and speed. In case the point needs to be made, getting older does not translate into being less susceptible to getting hurt especially in the plus 25 years and he will soon be the ripe old age of 30. The continued fantasy that the last injury might be his final one is wishful thinking at its worst. If he is in a slump its because of lack of pt and the body getting weaker, not stronger. Do him a favor and simply release him.

[MABB1959]

Just like with Mauer the fans would have went ballistic if they wouldn't have resigned him.  This is like re-living that nightmare all over again.  Mauer was able to get in a few more years when he went to 1st and he wasn't taking the all important DH spot.  Buxton gets hurt no matter what he is doing,  I like him but I think health wise he is 100% done.  I would at least give him one last shot in CF to see if he can be the player we fell in love with.  If not sure what other option they have but to release him.  Just a guess but instead I think the Pohlad's would rather they keep him in the line-up  and not have to pay him even though right now he is detrimental to the success of the team.  

[MABB1959]

2 hours ago, ICTwin25 said:

Something isn't right. If he's healthy and says he's in a slump then I guess we add him to the list of 5-7 that are "in a slump". How are all of best hitters somehow awful with the bat this year? Are the batting coaches that bad or are the players all just somehow not performing this year? It's baffling to me, but something has to change.

I would go for lack of leadership or motivation.

[MABB1959]

13 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Audra had a brief update on Byron tonight on TV and he told her he feels great, but is just in a slump (or however he put it).

If Buxton is indeed healthy, it is time to let him play centerfield.

Pretty sure he is told/coached to say that,

[AceWrigley]

I say dress him up like this and its back out to CF for you young man.

[Heinie Manush]

22 hours ago, walkstar89 said:

Why do so many fans and twins bloggers continue to insist the team is "choosing" not to play Buxton in the field? 

 

Tough to blame the fans when the team, for whatever reason, is being opaque about the matter.  It is the nature of fans, and humans in general, to try to make sense of things they care about.  As a fan I would like some straight talk about the situation.

[jharaldson]

On 6/19/2023 at 11:55 AM, walkstar89 said:

Why do so many fans and twins bloggers continue to insist the team is "choosing" not to play Buxton in the field? 

2. HE ISN'T HEALTHY. He can barely run to first base. Right now - being in the field isn't an option, even for an inning. They aren't DH'ing him to protect him from injury, that's a nice little fantasy fans came up with. They are doing it because he isn't healthy. 

One of my main concerns is that we are all playing doctor based on how Buxton looks.  We haven't been given any medical diagnosis or information on an injury.  Here is what Falvey said last year to Do-Hyoung Park last year when Buxton was getting his knee scoped:

Quote

 

Buxton doesn't have any tears or acute injuries that necessitate surgical repair in the knee, Falvey said. Instead, the procedure will likely clear up some inflammation, scar tissue and fraying in the area

...

"My guess is half the people in this room probably have some of that going on in their knees and elbows and other joints, so it’s really with that in mind, it’s to clear that out," Falvey said.

 

When Buxton can to Spring Training, Dan Hayes reported:

Quote

A day after he arrived at camp, Byron Buxton worked out his surgically repaired right knee for team trainers Saturday afternoon. Five months after he had arthroscopic surgery, Buxton is in good shape and isn’t limited this spring, the Twins said.

When fans are told he has a non-serious knee injury that has fully healed with no limitations and then see a guy who can't even play 3 outs in the outfield they get confused.  I would just like some straight talk from the front office.  Does he have 60% of his meniscus missing after various knee injuries?  Does he have a partially torn ACL they are nursing so he can avoid a year long recovery?  Does he have migraines or concussion issues and being in the sun that long is causing him pain?  Why so much confusion?

[Lartwinfan]

Would like to see the exact medical diagnosis of where his knee is and a medical prognostication of what the future of his knee is. Can it ever heal?? My knee was really bad, but dedicated low impact water jogging everyday has back to normal. Feel so bad For him, because he is such a great guy!