Article: Reflections on Byron Buxton's Debut

[Sam Morley]

I drove to Stout's on Snelling and Larpenteur with the pregame on the radio. Dazzle was introducing the national anthem as I parked. I walked to the doors with my brother, who had arrived separately. "We could be missing a diving catch," he said. We hustled up a step entering the bar, scouring the rooms for the best TV spot. None, NONE, of the TVs had the Twins game on.We sat at the bar. I can't count how many times I've gone into a bar this season and had to ask the bartender to put on the Twins game. They did have the Mets-Braves game on though, and the X-Games. I wasn't too concerned about missing anything since Buxton was batting ninth and we were away. I very well should've been concerned; by the time they changed the channel, we were watching Mauer bat with one out and a run on the board, and postulating whether Dozier or Rosario was responsible. If anyone out there in TD-land has recommendations for Twins game bar viewing in Hamline-Midway, let me know. If only there was somewhere within five minutes walking and three dollar premiums on tap...

 

No matter. I drove to the bar to see Byron Buxton's debut, and see it I did. If I have grandchildren, I will be able to tell them all about it. And in case I forget, here is the written account.

 

Byron Buxton is skinny. I knew that. I thought maybe the promotion would've added some bulk. Nope. It did somehow convince him to wear his pants long. Barry Bonds was pretty skinny for his debut, as was Junior. I wonder whether Buxton will stick with number 25. I don't know, I just don't feel as confident as I should about buying a jersey.

 

On Buxton's at-bats: OK, could someone punch Nick Martinez in the face and tell him to throw the kid one, ONE, stinking fastball! Jeez. I feel like the first three ABs could be boiled down into one AB: curve ball over, taken, strike one; curve ball over, taken, strike two; curve ball over, taken, strike three. What a mind-eff. What are the rules of batting here, Ted Williams Science of Hitting style? By the time you get to that third AB, after two called first pitch curve ball strikes and two 0-2 counts, are you thinking, 'no way he does it again; he'll throw the curve, but way off the plate to see if I chase' or 'no way I let him beat me on that s@#t first pitch again.'?

 

On the Rangers' young, speedy hotshot outfielder, Delino Deshields Jr: What was he doing there five feet away from second base to end the inning after a terrific bunt for a base hit? What was he doing running into the left field wall when he could've stopped five feet before it?

 

What a wild game. With Fielder, Moreland, and Gallo all batting in a row, my brother said, "sheesh, how many first basemen do the Rangers have?" And we thought Leonys Martin's homer was a replay of Gallo's. I think they landed in the same damn seat. It was good to see Hughes keep it together, and keep the team in the game, but he was definitely hit hard and was bailed out by some defense- Dozier's leaping snag and DP for one; Mauer picking Deshields off 2nd after the run scored as well. As disappointing as Mauer has been at the plate since his move, he's been pretty good at first.

 

Who would have thought that in Byron Buxton's debut, the Twins would hit four triples and none would be by Buxton. I thought I heard a blurb that only once before in history has a team hit three triples in one inning and scored only one run. I thought I also heard a blurb that maybe Escobar missed a safety squeeze sign and that's why Robinson was picked off third by Robinson. It's too bad if that's the case. A safety/suicide squeeze is such an exciting and rare play, especially for the go-ahead run.

 

The sound was off on the TV broadcast in the bar, so I only got to see the interview with Buxton's fiancee... I think these guys are getting married waaaaayyyy too young...

 

I was going to say something about Suzuki facing Keone Kela and it being Hawaiian vs. Hawaiian, and that being rare and cool, but I just double checked Kela's profile page and he was born in California.

 

Casey Fien pitched really, really well.

 

I didn't think there was any way a player would wrench the award for worst AB of the game away from Buxton's third AB, but then Justin Smolinski whiffed on a bunt, bunted foul, and swung wild and missed, tying him with probably hundreds of guys for the worst AB of all time. Personally, I hate sacrifice bunting; and I know Earl Weaver and maybe Bill James have my back. So even if Smolinski had been successful, I would've thanked him for the free out. He should've gone back to the dugout after strike two. He should've just stayed in the dugout in the first place.

 

When Buxton squared around in his fourth AB, I'm hoping he was inspired not so much by Smolinski, but rather by Deshields' sac bunt-turned-bunt single. Somehow it ended up somewhere in the middle; a pretty god-awful bunt, but in fair play at least. They did get the lead runner which makes the free out look pretty terrible, but Buxton on first is probably just as good as anybody else on second. I know that it seems like a good idea to give up an out to move a runner from second to third when you only need one run late in the game, and I think this is one of the only situations in which sac bunting is maybe acceptable- especially if the bunter has a pretty decent shot of getting on with a decent bunt- but I think you have as good a chance getting a hit in three at-bats as you do getting a sac fly or hit in two.

 

But, as you know, all ended well. Eddie Rosario murdered that ball to center, and Buxton scored standing from first. Probably any of our usual nine hole hitters (Santana, Hicks, Robinson, etc) would've scored, but Buxton definitely made it a no-doubter, and it was a perfect ending to the game. He's definitely the spark the Twins needed to keep things from spiraling out of control. Hopefully he can make a quick adjustment in his approach at the plate coming into a tough series against St. Louis. They are coming after you, dude, and not with fat fastballs. If only Arcia was around to tell him, "Just try to pull it every time." or Delmon to tell him, "Just go up there and try to hit the foul pole." or maybe Hicks should tell him, "Hey, you're not up here to work the count; put that first pitch hanging curve ball in the seats."

 

One last thing, "let it Sano", please.

 

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[highlander]

I was at the game, 23rd row behind home plate. Just before Rosario stepped to the plate I told the fella in front of me Buxton scores on a double maybe a single in the right center gap. The Rangers seemed to give us that gap in the two games I saw Saturday and Sunday.

 

I was able to get an excellent photo of Buxton's dribbler to third, but not sure how to post it. He covered a lot of ground in center and made it look easy. My buddy and me were commenting on how uneasy he looked at the plate. Still hope he sticks for the rest of the year.

[Sam Morley]

 

I was at the game, 23rd row behind home plate. Just before Rosario stepped to the plate I told the fella in front of me Buxton scores on a double maybe a single in the right center gap. The Rangers seemed to give us that gap in the two games I saw Saturday and Sunday.

I was able to get an excellent photo of Buxton's dribbler to third, but not sure how to post it. He covered a lot of ground in center and made it look easy. My buddy and me were commenting on how uneasy he looked at the plate. Still hope he sticks for the rest of the year.

Nice. That's one of my favorite stadiums. I was there five or six years ago for a series, and Nick Punto hit a home run. I think Liriano struck out Michael Young three times. He was just falling over at his change up.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Are you sure Buxton's ground out to third base was a dribbler? It looked like a hard grounder or even a line drive on a hop. The third baseman threw to first immediately and Buxton still almost beat it out. I'd love to see video again. I've never seen anyone get down the line that fast.

[Sam Morley]

 

Are you sure Buxton's ground out to third base was a dribbler? It looked like a hard grounder or even a line drive on a hop. The third baseman threw to first immediately and Buxton still almost beat it out. I'd love to see video again. I've never seen anyone get down the line that fast.

Yeah, I thought it was hit pretty hard too. When he hit it, I thought it was going through.

[tobi0040]

It was a nice shot I think a one hopper. 3b backhanded it one step to his right and fired.

 

That guy is going to get a lot of infield hits

[Vanimal46]

He looked a little nervous/overwhelmed at the plate, but that should be expected in his 1st game. Didn't help that the scouting report on him was to throw nothing but junk his way. The one fastball he got was hit hard.

 

My 2 takes: the kid has some serious wheels, can't wait to see him work his way to the top of the order. And his defense is already an upgrade in the OF.

[Trov]

My only hope is that if he does not do as well as people hope he does not get in his own head like some players do.  Many great players start off very poor, and many poor players start off very hot.  He will just need to adjust to seeing a lot more slow stuff.  Yesterday he was seeing all curves low in the zone for strikes, not an easy pitch to hit for even the best hitters, unless you looking for it and sitting on it.

[Steven Buhr]

 

Are you sure Buxton's ground out to third base was a dribbler? It looked like a hard grounder or even a line drive on a hop. The third baseman threw to first immediately and Buxton still almost beat it out. I'd love to see video again. I've never seen anyone get down the line that fast.

Berardino posted video of the 5-3 out.

http://www.tout.com/m/6xikgd?ref=twehs45c

 

 

[tobi0040]

 

Berardino posted video of the 5-3 out.

http://www.tout.com/m/6xikgd?ref=twehs45c

 

Wow

[Steven Buhr]

Balls hit with some pace, more or less in the vacinity of the infielder, that are fielded cleanly and followed by a strong, accurate throw to first base will beat Buck to the bag.

 

If a couple (or sometimes just one) of those things doesn't happen, he wins the race more often than not.

 

The nice thing is, as infielders begin to realize that everything has to go right to get him, they start rushing and making mistakes - a slight bobble, a hurried throw - and that just increases the chance he gets to 1B first.

 

Not to mention, infielders begin to cheat in a bit in order to give themselves a better chance and that means more balls get through the infield. Can't blame the fielder, though, because most balls he hits anywhere near a hole will be infield hits anyway, so there's not much point in worrying about keeping the ball in the infield unless there are runners ahead of Buxton.

 

He is, at the very least, disruptive.

[ericchri]

I look forward to when he has the first week or so of games out of the way, when everyone is done sticking microphones in his face non-stop, and he can concentrate on playing baseball.  I don't really expect him to put up great numbers this year (I'm hopeful, though), but yesterday had to be one of the most glass half-full, half-empty days someone like him could have.  1st big league game, now come talk to the press for hours...

[Willihammer]

 

I drove to Stout's on Snelling and Larpenteur with the pregame on the radio. Dazzle was introducing the national anthem as I parked. I walked to the doors with my brother, who had arrived separately. "We could be missing a diving catch," he said. We hustled up a step entering the bar, scouring the rooms for the best TV spot. None, NONE, of the TVs had the Twins game on.We sat at the bar. I can't count how many times I've gone into a bar this season and had to ask the bartender to put on the Twins game. They did have the Mets-Braves game on though, and the X-Games. I wasn't too concerned about missing anything though, since Buxton was batting ninth and we were away. Should've; by the time they changed the channel, we were watching Mauer bat with one out and a run on the board, and postulating whether it Dozier or Rosario was responsible. If anyone out there in TD-land has recommendations for Twins game bar viewing in Hamline-Midway, let me know. If only there was somewhere within five minutes walking and three dollar premiums on tap...

I have this experience all the time as a fan and more at work which involves the restuarant/bar business. It is amazing how many bars in this town dedicate literally no TVs to a Twins game until asked. That said, if you want to drive up Snelling to Grumpy's they will usually have the game going on at least a couple TVs. My personal go-to spot for any MN-based sports viewing is Mac's Industrial on University & Central. They usually pipe the audio as well and most of the patrons are there to watch the game.

Edited June 15, 2015 by Willihammer

[tobi0040]

 

Balls hit with some pace, more or less in the vacinity of the infielder, that are fielded cleanly and followed by a strong, accurate throw to first base will beat Buck to the bag.

 

If a couple (or sometimes just one) of those things doesn't happen, he wins the race more often than not.

 

The nice thing is, as infielders begin to realize that everything has to go right to get him, they start rushing and making mistakes - a slight bobble, a hurried throw - and that just increases the chance he gets to 1B first.

 

Not to mention, infielders begin to cheat in a bit in order to give themselves a better chance and that means more balls get through the infield. Can't blame the fielder, though, because most balls he hits anywhere near a hole will be infield hits anyway, so there's not much point in worrying about keeping the ball in the infield unless there are runners ahead of Buxton.

 

He is, at the very least, disruptive.

 

He is also disruptive on base.  Seemed to totally mess with the Texas closer yesterday, who then got behind in the count and gave up a hit.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I have this experience all the time as a fan and more at work which involves the restuarant/bar business. It is amazing how many bars in this town dedicate literally no TVs to a Twins game until asked. That said, if you want to drive up Snelling to Grumpy's they will usually have the game going on at least a couple TVs. My personal go-to spot for any MN-based sports viewing is Mac's Industrial on University & Central. They usually pipe the audio as well and most of the patrons are there to watch the game.

Good to know. I will try to stop in sometime. It's amazing to me how many employees at places like Champps and BWW look stunned when you suggest they might consider flipping one of their 50,000 tv's off of ESPN News and on to a Minnesota sporting event. And that there are managers who apparently have no clue either. You are working in sports bars, people!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Buxton might be the fastest guy in MLB. I always wondered if people were exaggerating when they said he could beat out a routine hard grounder to the shortstop. I can't wait to see him in person.

[Steven Buhr]

 

I look forward to when he has the first week or so of games out of the way, when everyone is done sticking microphones in his face non-stop, and he can concentrate on playing baseball.  I don't really expect him to put up great numbers this year (I'm hopeful, though), but yesterday had to be one of the most glass half-full, half-empty days someone like him could have.  1st big league game, now come talk to the press for hours...

I have to say, considering how shy he was initially about being interviewed by the media when he arrived in CR, I was as proud of the way he handled all that media attention on Sunday as I was of anything he did on the field. I agree, I'm anxious, too, to see him just be able to focus on baseball once the "newness" factor settles down a bit. It's not going to completely go away, obviously.

[Steven Buhr]

 

Buxton might be the fastest guy in MLB. I always wondered if people were exaggerating when they said he could beat out a routine hard grounder to the shortstop. I can't wait to see him in person.

If you haven't searched for #BuxtonFacts on Twitter, you should.

 

SOME of them might be exaggerations

[Blackjack]

He's not going to stick around for long if he keeps slamming into the wall like he did last night.

 

“Durability trumps ability,” was a motto emphasized by my former boss, Bud Grant, the legendary Hall of Fame coach for the Minnesota Vikings.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1241443-in-sports-athletes-is-durability-more-important-than-ability

 

Read thru the article about all the very talented players that had mediocre to poor carreers because of injuries. I hope Buxton's name isn't added to the list.

[KirbyHawk75]

I am one of the few, that was not happy with him being called up..... I am not 100% sure the kid is ready yet..  I do not want us to affect the kid's confidence..