Is Byron Buxton Ready to Get Frisky on the Bases Again?

[ddubbl1]

No..i want to see him play an entire season (at least 150 games). Only steal if the game is on the line and preferrably only during playoffs. or to stretch out a double into a triple (most of his singles he turns into a doubles effortlessly).

 

 

[NYCTK]

8 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

We are programmed to believe that people in high profile positions across our culture have expertise and yet there are literally hundreds of examples of total incompetence and even functional  illiteracy at so many levels.

Biggest revelations becoming an adult were learning:

1. Your parents are just humans doing their best. And sadly, some humans aren't equipped to be parents (not mine thankfully). 

2. Half of experts are just as big of idiots as the loud mouth loser at the small town bar, but they had a combination of good fortune, charisma, maybe good looks, confidence (or arrogance), and sometimes hundreds of millions of dollars (and often a job) from their successful daddy. 

I envy anyone dumb enough to think we live in a meritocracy. 

[TopGunn#22]

I would LOVE to see Buxton run more.  He's got the talent and the ability in an environment that makes it more and more likely to be successful.  

Furthermore, the idea of playing baseball at the highest competitive level, yet dialing back your effort in the hope you do not get injured is just a defeatist attitude and may actually lead to an injury.

As my son's high school baseball and legion baseball coach used to say "PLAY THE GAME!!!"  

[TopGunn#22]

It's true Rocco just does not value the stolen base and it's one reason I would not be sorry to see a change at manager if the Twins fail to make the playoffs this season.  I'll also point out that Shohei Ohtani stole 59 bases at age 29 last year.  Buxton is still in the 97th percentile of sprint speed.  If he runs, he WILL steal bases.  And I will say again, those that play sports at a highly competitive level who play NOT TO GET HURT...often times get hurt.  

[laloesch]

15 hours ago, Mydaughterhastwins said:

125 games played would be the only steal I'm hoping for.

125-130 games played would be an absolute miracle for Buxton.    He's only broken 100 games twice in 10 seasons (2017 and 2024).  That's atrocious.  His career average is 77 games played a season.

Not hatin just sayin.

I'd rather he focus on staying healthy, hitting the ball, and only steal bases when absolutely necessary.

[USAFChief]

I guess I don't understand why stealing bases means he'll get injured. 

Has he ever gotten injured by stealing? 

Has he stayed healthy by not stealing?

Speed is part of what should make him a difference maker. Not using it just wastes that part.

[djvang]

Any time he hits the ground he could be out for a month. He's too fragile to steal bases.

[Riverbrian]

3 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I guess I don't understand why stealing bases means he'll get injured. 

Has he ever gotten injured by stealing? 

Has he stayed healthy by not stealing?

Speed is part of what should make him a difference maker. Not using it just wastes that part.

Agreed.

If he is too injured to run or no longer has speed because of injury... the stealing issue will take care of itself. 

But... if he still has wheels when healthy. Let's go. I'm not interested in removing important parts of his game in order to keep him healthy. That has been tried and it doesn't seem to work. 

Play him when he is healthy... Put him on the injured list when he is not.

It's rather simple. 

Play Ball!

[Bodie]

No.

The Twins have adopted the attitude that any and all effort beyond the minimum required to actually show up and play 5-6 innings lackadaisically is a risk.  Keep going in this direction,  and there will never be another exciting Twins player.  Instead we'll be "treated" low minimal effort to "protect" them from injury while the three players with any star power struggle to play in half the games!

I may be smarter than the average bear, but I CANNOT be the only one to notice this disconnect between theory and reality!

[ashbury]

17 hours ago, ddubbl1 said:

No..i want to see him play an entire season (at least 150 games).

Only 7 Twin players in the FalVine Era (spanning 7 seasons not counting the shortened 2020) have played 150 games in a year.  Two were last season,  It's just not a given.