Byron Buxton Working Behind the Scenes for Center Field Return

[AWOLNATION_11]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

Julien and it isn't close. 

I don't think it is a question of who's the best hitter.  Whole lineup construction problem.  I agree that Julien is better at the plate than Buxton (right now), but Julien is a regular in the field these days.  So Julien to DH and who do you back fill at 2B that is better than Buxton at DH and Julien at 2B?

[ashbury]

I have this feeling that if Sonny Gray were our ailing center fielder turned DH, we'd be getting weekly updates straight from the horse's mouth.

[ashbury]

4 minutes ago, AWOLNATION_11 said:

who do you back fill at 2B that is better than Buxton at DH and Julien at 2B?

Michael A Taylor's bat has to be part of this equation.

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, AWOLNATION_11 said:

I don't think it is a question of who's the best hitter.  Whole lineup construction problem.  I agree that Julien is better at the plate than Buxton (right now), but Julien is a regular in the field these days.  So Julien to DH and who do you back fill at 2B that is better than Buxton at DH and Julien at 2B?

Fair question. I think Wallner is likely better at hitting than Buxton, but I don't know that.

I expect polanco to be up in the next few weeks, then what?

[Jeff K]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

I think the answer is Buxton in CF, Polanco at 2B, and Julien at DH to get the best team with the current players. But I don't think Buxton lasts long in CF and Polanco can't seem to stay healthy this year. But when Polanco and Lewis are both back it'd be nice to have the DH spot to rotate some guys through, and have Julien be able to be there most of the time. But I don't think Buxton can play CF for any real length of time, and that's super depressing. 

Super depressing about sums it up.

[RJA]

Does anyone have any information on what exactly is ailing Buxton, and whether it looks to be chronic and not repairable through surgery, and whether playing CF poses a risk of further or more serious injury?  If surgery is required to make him "whole", I guess I would opt to have it done now as Julien, Wallner, Lewis and others in the DH spot will likely outperform Buxton.  Let's get the guy fully healthy.  On the other hand, if this is chronic and will never really improve, and it bothers Buxton at the plate, I think we may need to accept that he will not be the major contributor we hoped he would be going forward.  He is SOOOO talented, it is a shame he has never been able to play injury and pain free for any period of time.

[Schmoeman5]

Back issues now too. I remember someone mentioning that a while back. He'll never see the outfield again with all these issues.

.

[AWOLNATION_11]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Fair question. I think Wallner is likely better at hitting than Buxton, but I don't know that.

I expect polanco to be up in the next few weeks, then what?

I hear what you are saying and the question was who's a better DH, so you are right. compared to the Buxton performance so far, you can argue Julien, Wallner, etc.  

My perspective is from a larger context which maybe I should have clarified.  Buxton's DH bat isn't the bat I'd swap out in most cases and I definitely don't see a better option on the current 26-man roster.

If Wallner is called up, I'd prefer to bench Gallo in favor of Wallner as I think Buxton still represents the best DH option there.   

Polanco is the conundrum because he and Julien play the same position, so you can argue Julien or Polanco is a better DH option in that scenario.  Right now this isn't the reality of the 26-man though (hopefully soon).    

[awmonahan]

This is a total mess. They signed a unique and fair contract, with incentives built in for him to play. Then, immediately, his surgery doesn't work, he can't play CF, they DH him so he can play (and get paid), and get little to no value from it for a higher salary. Pure idiocy. 

[IndianaTwin]

Wait. If Buxton plays CF, what will we have to argue and speculate about? 

[Craig Arko]

Just now, IndianaTwin said:

Wait. If Buxton plays CF, what will we have to argue and speculate about? 

I predict there will be no shortage. Anyway, maybe hopeful news. Maybe.

[Chris Spencer]

2 hours ago, arby58 said:

I'm curious who on the team would be a better contributor as the full-time DH? He leads the team in runs scored - by a lot (43 to 33) - is tied for the lead in home runs, second in RBIs, etc. Granted, the Twins overall offensive performance is poor (24th in runs scored) but I don't see anybody who, being regularly slotted at DH, would give them better offensive performance than Buxton..

You have to compare the DH to Taylor, not Buxton. Buxton would replace Taylor in the lineup as a center fielder. Taylor has his moments but there are a number of guys that would look better in the lineup everyday. 

[Chris Spencer]

34 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Fair question. I think Wallner is likely better at hitting than Buxton, but I don't know that.

I expect polanco to be up in the next few weeks, then what?

Buxton in Center, Julian/Polanco at 2nd. Solano, Walner, Gallo or Miranda at DH. Taylor as a spot start in the outfield to rest guys. 

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Chris Spencer said:

Buxton in Center, Julian/Polanco at 2nd. Solano, Walner, Gallo or Miranda at DH. Taylor as a spot start in the outfield to rest guys. 

Sure, when Buxton can play center. This whole thread is about him not being able to right now, so I don't understand this post. And, no, Miranda can't hit AAA pitching right now. There is zero reason for him to be in MN. I also don't get the Solano love.....Julien is the DH if Buxton isn't. 

[khal149]

If he was raking as a DH, I would say to leave him be, but we aren't getting any value there. I would get him back out there and if things go poorly, shut him down...completely, until he can either play the field or we know that he will never play the field again.  This has dragged on long enough.  If you have to shut him down AGAIN for the season, we really aren't our much.  No way Chris Williams can't provide what Buck is giving at the plate.

  

[chpettit19]

14 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Sure, when Buxton can play center. This whole thread is about him not being able to right now, so I don't understand this post. And, no, Miranda can't hit AAA pitching right now. There is zero reason for him to be in MN. I also don't get the Solano love.....Julien is the DH if Buxton isn't. 

St Paul is in MN so there's a little reason for him to be in the state 😜 

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Buxton isn't close to the best DH option in the team. I'm baffled anyone can say that. 

No new news here, just what we've known all along. If they thought he could play out there, he would 

Anyone ripping the contract is posting in bad faith. Given what was known at the time, it was a reasonable gamble. 

Not being difficult here but who are the range of players (even 1or2) on current roster that are better choices at DH?

Solano is getting in the line-up regularly. Can’t imagine who it might be?

If Lewis is on roster along with Wallner or even Polanco…….then we have some options with Julien mixed in as well. Now Solano is at 1B - 2B - 3B nearly every game & Julien is at 2B v. RH pitching. 

Who might it be?

[IndianaTwin]

34 minutes ago, Craig Arko said:

I predict there will be no shortage. Anyway, maybe hopeful news. Maybe.

I see a Randball’s Stu article about the anxiety in the bowels of TD’s World Headquarters, wondering how they are going to fill space if Buxton plays defense… 😄

[Craig Arko]

1 minute ago, IndianaTwin said:

I see a Randball’s Stu article about the anxiety in the bowels of TD’s World Headquarters, wondering how they are going to fill space if Buxton plays defense… 😄

It’s always been easy to find irritable bowel syndrome around here.

[Chris Spencer]

26 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Sure, when Buxton can play center. This whole thread is about him not being able to right now, so I don't understand this post. And, no, Miranda can't hit AAA pitching right now. There is zero reason for him to be in MN. I also don't get the Solano love.....Julien is the DH if Buxton isn't. 

The whole post is actually about Buxton working behind the scenes to see if he can play center, did you read the article? Also, Solano has the Highest average on the team and can hit a curveball. 

[JD-TWINS]

32 minutes ago, Chris Spencer said:

Buxton in Center, Julian/Polanco at 2nd. Solano, Walner, Gallo or Miranda at DH. Taylor as a spot start in the outfield to rest guys. 

If we are going to compete - Miranda can’t be on our roster after July 25. Hoping we have other options from IL &/or AAA.

[Doctor Gast]

As long as Buck can play CF in the post season, I'm willing to save his body now. IMO we can squeak out a division title the way things stand.

[Parfigliano]

4 hours ago, adjacent said:

It looks like it is a chronic problem, so a 10 day IL would be of no to little help. I would not surprise me if there is another medical intervention at the end of the season. In the meantime, they will try to make him play what he can play. Of course I wish he could, but beyond all the talk, I don't think he can ple CF this year, and who knows if he ever can come back to play there.

If the only thing he can do now is DH at his present rate of production then shelve him for the remainder of the season do whatever "medical intervention" and come back next season and assess what you have/dont have.

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

St Paul is in MN so there's a little reason for him to be in the state 😜 

Can we add no geography to the no math rule/guideline?

[Doctor Evil]

Julien, Waliner, Larnach

[Randy Leppala]

If he started playing center field at least they could put someone in as DH who could actually hit…

[laloesch]

1 hour ago, Chris Spencer said:

The whole post is actually about Buxton working behind the scenes to see if he can play center, did you read the article? Also, Solano has the Highest average on the team and can hit a curveball. 

It is.  But as someone said earlier "Anyone ripping the contract is posting in bad faith," so apparently it's off limits to bring that up even though it's totally relevant to the discussion given said player's output, but apparently it's also a bad faith 😉 observation.  All kidding aside if Buxton isn't healthy put him on the DL and get it over with.  He needs to be in the outfield unless the FO views this as a long term issue with his knees, and then in that case it REALLY is a bad contract now if he's nothing more than a permanent DH. 

[ashbury]

9 minutes ago, laloesch said:

and then in that case it REALLY is a bad contract now if he's nothing more than a permanent DH. 

I don't know if anyone disagrees with this point of view.  We paid less each year to get Nelson Cruz, and got more.

I also don't know what constructively can be done about it, if that turns out to be the scenario.  Lean on Buxton to "do the right thing" and walk away from the money??  There's a player's union who's going to exert equal and opposite pressure, lest a harmful precedent get established.  A contract's a contract.

[Jocko87]

4 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

The question should be who provide an upgrade to the offense than Michael A Taylor.  Buxton remains in the lineup and Taylor sits.  Wallner, Julien, Larnach can all upgrade the offense.

The beauty would be that Micheal A Taylor would be an absolute weapon off the bench. If you could pick the pitch run, defense replacement spot each game he could be very useful, especially if replacing a Wallner type. I think it's his optimal role.

That does require Buxton to stay healthy in center. We would all be nervous expecting something to snap but if it's a chronic issue pretty soon the down sides won't matter, assuming he's not at risk of further injury to the knees. They will have to roll him out until he can't do it at which point he's probably done for the year. I'm assuming if it's a chronic issue it's mostly pain and function management and not something they are scared of snapping.

[MABB1959]

8 hours ago, Cody Christie said:

"Behind the scenes right now, we are doing a lot of defensive work, so when that time comes, we don't say we need three weeks to ramp him up. There are some things being done on a daily basis to help position him to be able to go out there when he is ready."

I was excited when I first saw this but they don't say what is being done?  They have also said it is not getting better and doesn't look like it will.  Very mixed messages.  I think he needs to go out and if necessary learn to play with any pain he has, if not then time to retire.