Byron Buxton Working Behind the Scenes for Center Field Return

[Wilco1]

This situation has been going on for years with the knee. So he can’t play centerfield how about dfa Joey gallo and put him in left? that could solve 2 problems, Buxton taking up the dh spot and open up a spot for another bat at dh.. Maybe Wallner or larnach. If Buxton can’t play left field, maybe time to shut him down for awhile and let the knee rest .

[dxpavelka]

10 hours ago, Karbo said:

I think he should. I think his hitting would improve too. If his knee is so bad he can't play OF it's probably a problem hitting too. After all, he hasn't really performed well enough at the plate to warrant a full time DH position IMHO.

Yeah cuz there's SO many other guys in this organization that would perform SO much better in the DH role.......

 

[twins_89]

9 hours ago, Brian Kingfield said:

At this point it should either be CF or IL. A minimum 10-day stint on the IL certainly won’t hurt, and we won’t be missing out on much offensive production while he’s gone. The resounding quote at the beginning of the season was “we’re a better team when he’s in the lineup,” and the data backed that up. I’m not sure that’s true anymore:

The idea of "we're a better team when he's in the lineup" has been clearly untrue since the start of May. Having a DH with .650 OPS over the last 2 and a half months is not setting the team up for success. I agree he needs to go on the IL until his health issues are resolved.

[Greglw3]

9 hours 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. 

Really good thoughts! A functioning Buxton in CF, a returned Lewis, a Polanco at 80% and importantly the bright, emerging hitter in Julien, would be like making a trade. I still think Wallner or Stevenson or Williams or perhaps DaShawn Kiersey should get a shot but we’ll see.

[D.C Twins]

Click bait... literally no new information here.

[Greglw3]

I think there are 3 players not including Larnach in the lineup that could help the Twins and one of them plays cf and is having a monster season.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Wilco1 said:

This situation has been going on for years with the knee. So he can’t play centerfield how about dfa Joey gallo and put him in left?

There is a certain stage of grief that entails bargaining.

[BD57]

Does anyone know what the deal with the knee is?

He had surgery last fall.   Should've had sufficient time to get fully rehabbed and up to strength in the off-season - right?

So . . . was the surgery botched, did he re-injure it again, has he developed arthritis in the knee?  

It's sad to see someone with as much physical talent as Buck have these problems year after year.

As things stand now, Buck's not an asset or a detriment, he's . . . ordinary.   We need better than that.

[BD57]

2 hours ago, twins_89 said:

The idea of "we're a better team when he's in the lineup" has been clearly untrue since the start of May. Having a DH with .650 OPS over the last 2 and a half months is not setting the team up for success. I agree he needs to go on the IL until his health issues are resolved.

Unfortunately, Buck's health issues may not be resolved until he retires . . . if then.

[terrydactyls]

1 hour ago, BD57 said:

Unfortunately, Buck's health issues may not be resolved until he retires . . . if then.

Then he should retire and save his health for his golden years (which for Buxton, starts at age 30).

[Twodogs]

The question has been asked a few times.  Does anyone exactly know what's wrong with Byron's knee?  I know I heard Arraez's knee was always hurt too? But I haven't heard that this year while he is down in Miami?  I mean is it cartilage? Is it a ligament? What's wrong with it?  Does anyone know?

[Twodogs]

15 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

Then he should retire and save his health for his golden years (which for Buxton, starts at age 30).

He's not going to retire with a contract in hand.  

[Karbo]

23 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..

Nobody currently on the team. If his knee is so bad, I would think it effects his hitting. I'm no Dr. but I can't help but think a visit to the IL may give some rest and healing time. It would also open a spot on the roster.

[Karbo]

14 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

Yeah cuz there's SO many other guys in this organization that would perform SO much better in the DH role.......

 

My point is to get him in the OF to open a spot for a Wallner or Larnach or whoever. Or put him on IL. Does he look like a hitter to you? To me he usually looks lost.

[dxpavelka]

1 hour ago, Karbo said:

My point is to get him in the OF to open a spot for a Wallner or Larnach or whoever. Or put him on IL. Does he look like a hitter to you? To me he usually looks lost.

If you want to see lost, watch Larnach against an off-speed pitch.

 

[wabene]

11 hours ago, Twodogs said:

The question has been asked a few times.  Does anyone exactly know what's wrong with Byron's knee?  I know I heard Arraez's knee was always hurt too? But I haven't heard that this year while he is down in Miami?  I mean is it cartilage? Is it a ligament? What's wrong with it?  Does anyone know?

I don't think a detailed explanation has been offered. Usually if it's an ACL, they will say so. In this case they just said he was getting a procedure done on his knee in the last off-season. I was thinking a cleanup, something to do with cartilage. I still think that is the case and it leads to fears of a chronic condition that may not improve. 

[arby58]

On 7/14/2023 at 9:32 AM, 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.

Taylor has great defensive value in center field, which is a pretty important position.

[arby58]

On 7/14/2023 at 11:31 AM, Chris Spencer said:

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. 

Every indication is Buxton's knee won't allow him to play center field regularly (and probably not as well as Taylor occasionally).

[TwinsDiehard4Life]

It’s time to start thinking about moving on from Buxton. Do whatever you’re going to do with him for the rest of this year but let him know your expectations for him next season are to be the starting CF and anything short of that isn’t going to work any longer for this organization. His value is as a CF because his hitting is inconsistent/putrid at best and I’m bored with the same old story year after year. If he can’t hack it in the outfield anymore it’s time to look at options for moving him. Miguel Sanó hit better than him in his last season with the club and was let go. From Presidents to Managers to “franchise players” It’s time for high profile people within this organization to be held accountable for their failures. 

[Linus]

On 7/14/2023 at 10:39 AM, Squirrel said:

While there was a time I’d have done that, I’m not certain I want Kepler in CF today. I don’t think his defense is what it used to be

This. Max appears to have lost a step and doesn’t play the field with a great deal of intensity anymore.