It's Time to End the Byron Buxton Experiment at Designated Hitter

I can’t help but agree. The plan seemed great when Buxton had a .900 OPS — but it doesn’t make sense if he’s going to be a solid but not great hitter. 

I wonder if his deep slumps this year are in part a product of DHing. When things aren’t going well, all he can do is sit in the dugout and think about his previous at bat, whereas in CF he can still contribute even after a bad AB or game. 

If the Twins are ever going to seriously challenge for a championship, they need to extract more value from contracts that what they are paying. Buxton needs to play in the field, even at the risk of injury. Him just DHing doesn't move the needle enough. They need to put him in CF and let the chips fall where they may....

I don't know why I thought this--probably read it on the Internet somewhere, which means it must be true--but I was under the impression that Buxton at DH was an April thing.   I thought at least part of the money he was getting was for his glovework as well as his hitting. 

JcS

Buxton as a full time DH negates his greatest talent.  He’s barely above leave average as a DH.  He needs to be in CF at least 3 games per week.  Play Taylor against lefties and Kepler in CF otherwise.

If the Twins offense was doing well, continuing to Play Buxton at DH might make sense. With the offense consistently struggling, I don't think the team can afford to continue the experiment. Neither Buxton nor Taylor have hit enough to justify their current roles.

Hard to disagree with the glaring flaws of the plan that you rightly point out. Only thing is he’s not healthy enough to play CF. I was at the last game vs Blue Jays and Buxton could barely jog to first base on one of his groundouts. Many similar reports both this year and last season of people talking about how he looks like he can barely walk at times. Weird that he’s even playing, really. Only realistic option is DH or IL. 

On top of all of these points, Byron Buxton is a former Platinum Glove winner at CF. The team and lineup overall are simply worse with Buxton/Taylor locked in at DH/CF

To me, part of Buxton's overall value is his ability to change the game from the defensive side of the game.  So I really believe the twins wouldn't have signed Buck to a long term deal as a DH only.  So when Buxton was struggling at the plate, he would always provide value on defense.  Now that's not happening so as a result people are looking at him as flawed.  Or negatively affecting the game sometimes.  Whereas in the past he could hit and when he wasn't he was still positively affecting the game.  That can't happen DHing 6 times a week.

Should the Twins end the Buxton DH experiment? If you ask Chicago and Cleveland fans, the answer is no. If you ask Twins fans, the answer is yes.

As a long time Twins fan, I would split the difference. Play him 3 times a week in the outfield. Will he get injured? Yes. I am not sure he isn't injured now. When you see him run hard and slide, he is anything but the graceful athlete he was just a couple of years ago. At 29 you wouldn't think he should have lost it already, but something clearly isn't right with him. Maybe his knee didn't heal right from off season surgery or maybe they found more damage then was spoken of.

All speculation. But as a team trying to win a division and hopefully a championship, sometimes you have to do whats best in the long run. I think that's fewer but more complete games with Buxton hitting and fielding.

I think health wise Buxton can’t play CF.  

Not that he can’t get up and go but watching him stop and after he gets up and goes he is in obvious pain. 
 

He either needs a IL stint and a reevaluation of his injury and treatment or worst case he is now our DH for the next 6 yrs.  

I truly believe he will be a DH only until late August early September.  If the Twins are in contention they will give him a cordazone shot in the knee and work him back into CF the last 4 to 6 weeks and have him grind it out through the playoffs as the CFer. 
 

The fix in the mean time is the twins need to tell Kepler if he wants to stay on this team he needs to get his at bats in CF.  Kepler and Taylor split time in CF opening RF. 
 

Ok, now nobody get mad. I’m just asking a couple of simple, hypothetical questions assuming BB will never play CF again. I’m not advocating anything - just touching the proverbial third rail for kick’s sake.  

1. Is BB worth his contract and/or his place on the roster given his seemingly only possible role (i.e. everyday DH) and the likelihood that his overall health will never likely improve much and could, if not will, probably continue to deteriorate over time? 

2. Could BB be traded for “value” given his contract and limited role? What might his value in the trade market be? Is it worth considering given our small/mid-market franchise (i.e. can we really afford him in his role/does that really make good baseball sense)?

Yes, we should play Buxton in CF. If he's not healthy enough to play there, let's put him on the IL and get him healthy enough. He's also blocking some of our good hitters who struggle in the field from playing - Wallner (who is on one of his hot streaks), Julien, and Miranda (who has 5 or 6 hits in his last three games and may be turning things around). Right now, it feels like we have MAT in CF and MAT at DH. Buxton's slump is probably due to injury so let him get healthy and get another healthy bat in the lineup.

53 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Sad but true. The situation is very frustrating as a fan. I can’t imagine how frustrating it is for Falvey and Baldelli who would love nothing more than him playing 130 games a season in CF. 

We’re only the first year into the extension and it’s only going to get worse, I’m afraid. 

Why is it frustrating for Falvey and Baldelli, it is within their control to change this and play Buxton at least part time in CF.  The fans have no control over this decision.

If he's healthy put him in the field at least 1/2 the time.

I'm not going to comment at length because you can read what I have to say on the Byron Buxton thread in the Minnesota Twins Talk Forum. But I will say again that I am certain that every Twins employee wants Buck to play center field if that's feasible. I am also certain that every Twins employee tries to make the best decisions possible based on what they know. It is clear that people who are aware of all the facts have concluded that it's not in anyone's best interest to manage Buck differently than what is being done now. And, may I also say to those complaining that he should be managed differently: just give it up already.

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Sad but true. The situation is very frustrating as a fan. I can’t imagine how frustrating it is for Falvey and Baldelli who would love nothing more than him playing 130 games a season in CF. 

We’re only the first year into the extension and it’s only going to get worse, I’m afraid. 

As the general public doesn't really know what is happening here, I am not ready to write this off.  There my be something that can be fixed in the offseason.  This needs to play out a little bit longer...

Buxton has stated that he would rather play in the field. I have also seen plenty of games where he makes a great defensive play and then clobbers the baseball. He feeds off of his defense. If he is not healthy they should IL him and get another bat in the lineup. 

I say yes defense is better with Buxton in the outfield. If they do put him back in outfield max or Taylor get trade or release 

Put Buxton in the outfield and yes he will get hurt, Oh well, at least his fielding skills were used. He is not a gifted hitter, never has been. He is a gifted athlete, who will never reach his full potential, because he's a china doll, as well. I do wish he could play 150 games in just one year, learn to punt, steal 30+ passes, hit 30 homers and hit .285. Guess it's ok to dream.

He’s clearly not healthy enough to play in the field. I also don’t see how he’s healthy enough to help the team at the plate, and he isn’t. Why not just IL him and get hol at least a little healthier? That’s even more frustrating to me than not having him in CF. Who cares if he plays 140 games if he’s going to keep hitting like he’s been doing the last month? He’s got to be healthy enough to at least DH or he should be recovering instead of playing. 

3 hours ago, Flyover Steve said:

Hard to disagree with the glaring flaws of the plan that you rightly point out. Only thing is he’s not healthy enough to play CF. I was at the last game vs Blue Jays and Buxton could barely jog to first base on one of his groundouts. Many similar reports both this year and last season of people talking about how he looks like he can barely walk at times. Weird that he’s even playing, really. Only realistic option is DH or IL. 

If he is injured, and it appears to be a chronic injury, then for both his own well being and the good of the team he should be put on injured list.

Playing injured just puts an almost automatic out in the batting order. Why not have someone healthy, who can swing the bat without pain at least give the DH spot of batting .250.

As I had said before the season and I will stick with it.. Polanco needs to be the every day DH. We has so many good options at 2B it only makes sense.. Options in center.. well not so much. If Bux is healthy his value is AS much in the OF and likely more than at the plate. Just have to tell him.. NO running into fences-time to grow up and pull up!