Buxton can run like a flash on the base path but can't play right field?

[Frank123]

We all know Buxton is not "able" to play outfield due to his knee. The Twin so much stated that a few weeks back. This past weekend it looked like he was moving pretty good rounding the bases to score and didn't look like he had any knee issues. I would think running the bases is just as much "work" and puts as much stress on your knee as playing outfield. So what is it? As a DH he is not getting it done. Bring back Lew Ford.

[wsnydes]

Running a straight line between bases and tracking a fly ball, especially on a windy day, are two very different things.

[Mike Sixel]

It's been a few days since we had a Buxton can play the field thread.

As if the team wouldn't play him out there if they thought it was a good idea....

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

People can go back and listen to Levine’s interview with Provus yesterday and decide for themselves whether Buxton is too hurt to play in the field. And thank god for Cory Provus. 

[Frank123]

Ii tend to agree but Buxton rounded the bases pretty fast and hard and that puts a lot of pressure your knee, you're not exactly running a straight line. . I've never advocated for him to return to the field, pretty much knew the Twins aren't telling us everything regarding his knee.  New to site. What did Provus say? (readers digest version)

[Nine of twelve]

3 hours ago, Frank123 said:

We all know Buxton is not "able" to play outfield due to his knee. The Twin so much stated that a few weeks back. This past weekend it looked like he was moving pretty good rounding the bases to score and didn't look like he had any knee issues. I would think running the bases is just as much "work" and puts as much stress on your knee as playing outfield. So what is it? As a DH he is not getting it done. Bring back Lew Ford.

Give. It. Up. Already.

How many times do I have to say it? Everybody wants Buxton to play the outfield if possible. Everybody. Every. Body. Everybody including Joe Pohlad, Falvey, Baldelli, and Buck himself. If it were not a stupid idea for him to play the outfield he would be playing the outfield.

Go back to the first four words of my post. Read. Repeat until comprehension occurs.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

48 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

Give. It. Up. Already.

How many times do I have to say it? Everybody wants Buxton to play the outfield if possible. Everybody. Every. Body. Everybody including Joe Pohlad, Falvey, Baldelli, and Buck himself. If it were not a stupid idea for him to play the outfield he would be playing the outfield.

Go back to the first four words of my post. Read. Repeat until comprehension occurs.

Are you privy to some internal discussions that the rest of us are not? 🙂

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

57 minutes ago, Frank123 said:

New to site. What did Provus say? (readers digest version)

Welcome to the site!

Gladden talked about how Mullins robbed Buck of that home run Friday and how maybe it would get his competitive juices flowing to go back out there, and in the interview with Levine, it was more about what wasn’t said— for example, Buxton’s knee wasn’t mentioned. 

So we wait. 

Edited July 11, 2023 by Hosken Bombo Disco

[Craig Arko]

2 hours ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

People can go back and listen to Levine’s interview with Provus yesterday and decide for themselves whether Buxton is too hurt to play in the field. And thank god for Cory Provus. 

Care to summarize for the great unwashed masses?

[Nine of twelve]

45 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Are you privy to some internal discussions that the rest of us are not? 🙂

Nope, and I don't have to be. Can you think of one good reason to limit Buck to DH if he is physically up to playing the OF? I sure can't. It's obvious that the consensus within the Twins organization is that playing him in the OF would be a bad idea.

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, Nine of twelve said:

Give. It. Up. Already.

How many times do I have to say it? Everybody wants Buxton to play the outfield if possible. Everybody. Every. Body. Everybody including Joe Pohlad, Falvey, Baldelli, and Buck himself. If it were not a stupid idea for him to play the outfield he would be playing the outfield.

Go back to the first four words of my post. Read. Repeat until comprehension occurs.

Whether you like it or not Byron Buxton’s health status will continue being a massive question mark until there’s an official statement that he’s never playing CF again.

I have stopped trying to think logically how Buxton can sprint to beat out a slow dribbler to SS, and steal a base while sliding head first, at the same time thinking it’s dangerous for Buxton to play in the field. It’s silly. 

[Nine of twelve]

4 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Whether you like it or not Byron Buxton’s health status will continue being a massive question mark until there’s an official statement that he’s never playing CF again.

I have stopped trying to think logically how Buxton can sprint to beat out a slow dribbler to SS, and steal a base while sliding head first, at the same time thinking it’s dangerous for Buxton to play in the field. It’s silly. 

It's only a massive question mark if you believe that no one in the Twins organization is capable of logical thought, including the medical professionals.

[Vanimal46]

37 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

It's only a massive question mark if you believe that no one in the Twins organization is capable of logical thought, including the medical professionals.

Are you of the belief Buxton has played his last meaningful innings in the outfield?

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Vanimal46 said:

Are you of the belief Buxton has played his last meaningful innings in the outfield?

Are you of the belief they aren't playing him there, even though he clearly could? 

That anyone wants him at DH, and not the OF?

Actions speak loudly. They don't think it's a good idea. Or they'd play him there. Hopefully that changes in the future. 

[Vanimal46]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Are you of the belief they aren't playing him there, even though he clearly could? 

That anyone wants him at DH, and not the OF?

Actions speak loudly. They don't think it's a good idea. Or they'd play him there. Hopefully that changes in the future. 

There could be a fallacy being built within the organization that he’s playing a high percentage of games, let’s keep him at DH. What’s your response to my question? 

[Vanimal46]

Might as well ask the follow up question if you’re not of the belief Buxton has played his last meaningful innings in the OF. What changed between now and him returning to meaningful OF innings? Did he get a surgery that worked? 1 full season of DH duties and 0 innings in the field miraculously fixed his knee?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

52 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

It's only a massive question mark if you believe that no one in the Twins organization is capable of logical thought, including the medical professionals.

One thing Levine said is they were waiting to hear from Paparesta and Buxton. Paparesta is the brand new head trainer and not exactly one of the medical professionals per se, at least not in the sense you intended. Important job, but not one of the doctors.

[stringer bell]

When Buxton has "busted it" down the line, he runs halfway to the right field stands (Maybe a small exaggeration). Often when he has slid into a base, he has a hard time gathering himself. I think there is definitely something wrong and that changing directions while in the field is less predictable than running the bases. He might not be able to make the cuts and route adjustments in the field. It may have also figured in the collision he had during the April Chicago series. Yes, he still can run fast, but being able to cut and stop quickly might be a problem. 

I continue to speculate on why the surgery in October was unsuccessful, at least on getting him back in the field. My speculation as a fellow sufferer is that the knee joint is arthritic and that the amount of recovery he can make is limited. 

[twins_89]

I do wonder if Buxton should go on the IL and see if some weeks off would get his health in a better place. Frankly having a DH with a sub 700 OPS since the start of June isn't helping the team win games.

[NotAboutWinning]

3 hours ago, twins_89 said:

I do wonder if Buxton should go on the IL and see if some weeks off would get his health in a better place. Frankly having a DH with a sub 700 OPS since the start of June isn't helping the team win games.

This is one of the core issues with the offense! When Polanco returns, Julien should slide into the primary DH and Buxton should go on the IL for as long as it takes to get to get his knee right. That would be the logical move to improve both the DH production and 2B defense. The Twins aren't likely to do that because they see Buck as a core piece of their marketing. Marketing seems to drive more decisions than winning. Donaldson, Correa, Gallo... all big news splashes that haven't improved the team! Trade the AL batting champ instead of signing a FA pitcher... put the Twins at the front of baseball news! How much did they spend on new uniform designs and rebranding this off-season? These were all marketing moves, not baseball moves.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

7 hours ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

One thing Levine said is they were waiting to hear from Paparesta and Buxton. Paparesta is the brand new head trainer and not exactly one of the medical professionals per se, at least not in the sense you intended. Important job, but not one of the doctors.

inside Twins has the interview

https://podcasts.google.com?feed=aHR0cDovL21sYi5tbGIuY29tL2ZlZWQvcG9kY2FzdC9taW5fcG9kY2FzdF9yc3MueG1s&episode=MzI0ZWUwMjYtMmE1NS0xMWVkLWE1ZTAtNDMzYTZjOTk4N2My
 

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

inside Twins has the interview

https://podcasts.google.com?feed=aHR0cDovL21sYi5tbGIuY29tL2ZlZWQvcG9kY2FzdC9taW5fcG9kY2FzdF9yc3MueG1s&episode=MzI0ZWUwMjYtMmE1NS0xMWVkLWE1ZTAtNDMzYTZjOTk4N2My
 

Thank you!

[Craig Arko]

9 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Are you of the belief Buxton has played his last meaningful innings in the outfield?

I’ll answer it. For this season, most likely. It won’t shock me if he has a follow up procedure after the season. As far as predicting the future, you will pick the four of hearts.

[Nine of twelve]

9 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Are you of the belief Buxton has played his last meaningful innings in the outfield?

No.

[wabene]

9 hours ago, stringer bell said:

When Buxton has "busted it" down the line, he runs halfway to the right field stands (Maybe a small exaggeration). Often when he has slid into a base, he has a hard time gathering himself. I think there is definitely something wrong and that changing directions while in the field is less predictable than running the bases. He might not be able to make the cuts and route adjustments in the field. It may have also figured in the collision he had during the April Chicago series. Yes, he still can run fast, but being able to cut and stop quickly might be a problem. 

I continue to speculate on why the surgery in October was unsuccessful, at least on getting him back in the field. My speculation as a fellow sufferer is that the knee joint is arthritic and that the amount of recovery he can make is limited. 

This is exactly what's up IMO. Sadly it is probably damaged cartilage and that stuff doesn't grow back. You'd think Buxton has done all the strengthening of the surrounding muscles to support the joint, so what else can be done? This does not bode well for his future in center field. The fact that they haven't tried him at other less demanding positions offers a glimmer of hope that they feel that either improvement is on the horizon or a second off-season procedure could provide a path to better health.

I would say the reason they haven't played him in center is because they think it could cause further, irreparable, damage. 

[Nine of twelve]

10 hours ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

One thing Levine said is they were waiting to hear from Paparesta and Buxton. Paparesta is the brand new head trainer and not exactly one of the medical professionals per se, at least not in the sense you intended. Important job, but not one of the doctors.

Right before Levine said this he said that there are "a lot of people who are participating in this conversation." Paparesta and Buxton are clearly not making any decision about Buxton's playing time in a vacuum. Much of the information Paparesta uses to participate in these decisions comes from doctors, especially orthopedists and radiologists. And don't demean athletic trainers by implying they are not professionals. They have much more knowledge and training in their field of expertise than you apparently give them credit for.

[CRF]

I'd just like the FO to level with the fans and tell us EXACTLY wtf is really going on with him. That would end all the speculation. Is there permanent damage to his knee, that will never improve? What did they discover when they went in there the first time? Does he need another procedure done? Why can't he play the OF, but he can still run/slide/etc? Just tell the truth...what's the big secret? 

[Parfigliano]

11 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Are you of the belief Buxton has played his last meaningful innings in the outfield?

I am based on his having played zero defensive innings 91 games into this year.

[Squirrel]

16 minutes ago, CRF said:

I'd just like the FO to level with the fans and tell us EXACTLY wtf is really going on with him. That would end all the speculation. Is there permanent damage to his knee, that will never improve? What did they discover when they went in there the first time? Does he need another procedure done? Why can't he play the OF, but he can still run/slide/etc? Just tell the truth...what's the big secret? 

I don’t think they can give us absolutes at this point. And it’s frustrating, I’m completely there with you. They are trying various things to get to that absolute but obviously just aren’t there yet. As 9/12 pointed out above, after listening to the interview, there are a lot of people involved in the discussion and no one entity is making decisions alone, without lots of input. And I get that without absolutes, posters speculate, it’s the nature of it. However, some posters take that speculation and wondering to levels of conspiracy theories, and that gets to be more annoying; for me, anyway. It’s natural to wonder, when we see Bux running the base paths, to ask, ‘Why not CF?’ Our perception tells us something, but we have to remember, that perception isn’t the whole story, and I don’t think anyone really knows the whole story at this point in time. But I do think they are looking at everything and trying a course of action to try and get the best possible result, even if that course is so dang frustrating to all of us.

[AlGoreRythm]

12 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Whether you like it or not Byron Buxton’s health status will continue being a massive question mark until there’s an official statement that he’s never playing CF again.

I have stopped trying to think logically how Buxton can sprint to beat out a slow dribbler to SS, and steal a base while sliding head first, at the same time thinking it’s dangerous for Buxton to play in the field. It’s silly.

Buddy, what's silly is not realizing the difference between running the bases for 90-360 feet every hour or two vs playing the outfield and running all over the field PLUS running the bases.

It's extremely straightforward, obvious, and logical that the amount of running involved increases quite a bit playing the outfield.

Load management, look it up.