We are all painfully aware of Byron Buxton's struggles at the plate to start the season (rightfully so).  But I was curious about how he has been doing in the field.  Just watching, he appears to be doing very well, but wanted to see if the stats were backing that up, and they exceeded my expectations!  

 

Per Baseball Reference.com, here is where Buxton ranks at this point in the season:

Defensive WAR: .6 (5th)

Putouts in OF: 2017 AL  82 (3rd)

Fielding %: 100% (1st)

Total Zone Runs as CF/OF: 2017 AL  11 (1st)

Range Factor/game: 2017 AL  3.32 (1st)

 

So it appears that he has not taken his issues at the plate to the field.  And beyond that, he is having a "gold glove" start to the season, defensively.

 

Others thoughts?

He good.

He's a fine defensive outfielder in all aspects. There haven't been too many plays he hasn't made, with perhaps the exception of making a pretty weak throw to the plate in the game the Twins lost to the White Sox in extra innings.

He's really good. I had a friend who joked that Buxton can't be a good CFer because he never has to dive for anything (he's just that fast).  To my untrained eye, he's remarkable.  His speed is on another level and he reads the ball really well.  There have been a few times where I thought the opponent had a bloop single off the bat and Buxton makes what looks like a pretty easy catch.  

The startling thing about watching him play defense is that he has no regard for his own personal safety, which can be good and bad. 

 

I would say a little self-preservation wouldn't hurt in his case. 

For me he is in discussion for best fielding CF in the game along with Pillar and Inciarte. They have more of a track record, but he is right there with them. As far as the stats I use, he ranks tied for 1st in one and 2nd in the other.

Edited May 11, 20179 yr by jimmer

Put his last 12 games in a Vacuum and you have yourself an All-Star.

 

For me he is in discussion for best fielding CF in the game along with Pillar and Inciarte. They have more of a track record, but he is right there with them. As far as the stats I use, he ranks tied for 1st in one and 2nd in the other.

 

Kiermaier and Cain belong in that discussion as well. 

Kiermaier and Cain belong in that discussion as well.

yeah, i forgot to mention Keirmaier who is probably the best. I have mentioned him before as likely the best but just had a brain fart this time. Thanks for the reminder about him.

 

So Kiermaier, Buxton, Inciarte and Pillar. Thats the cream of the CF defensive crop.

 

Id put Hamilton ahead of Cain at the top of the next tier.

Edited May 11, 20179 yr by jimmer

 

yeah, i forgot to mention Keirmaier who is probably the best. I have mentioned him before as likely the best but just had a brain fart this time. Thanks for the reminder about him.

So Kiermaier, Buxton, Inciarte and Pillar. Thats the cream of the CF defensive crop.

Id put Hamilton ahead of Cain at the top of the next tier.

 

I read that this morning and wondered why Kiermaier didn't make it.  For some reason I've seen a lot of him and he strikes me as outstanding.

 

Can't say I've seen Inciarte though, I'll have to check him out.

His UZR/150 has fallen, though -- it was at 48 earlier this season, now it's "just" at 30.

 

I guess we can be relieved he hasn't let those recent "struggles" in the field affect him at the plate.

 

He's a fine defensive outfielder in all aspects. There haven't been too many plays he hasn't made, with perhaps the exception of making a pretty weak throw to the plate in the game the Twins lost to the White Sox in extra innings.

 

From a pure defensive standpoint... I wouldn't trade him for any another CF. 

 

However... he is young and some youthful mistakes can happen.

 

He cost us a win in that game against the White Sox that you mentioned.

 

He had plenty of time to get set. By not getting his feet set and himself in throwing position... he turned a fairly routine throw into a terrible throw, allowing the tying run to score from third. The runner had no business tagging on that shallow fly. If Buxton does it right... the runner should have been out with room to spare and the Twins could have won it in regulation. 

 

But Yeah... He's good... I wouldn't trade him for anyone defensively. 

 

 

I read that this morning and wondered why Kiermaier didn't make it. For some reason I've seen a lot of him and he strikes me as outstanding.

 

Can't say I've seen Inciarte though, I'll have to check him out.

yeah, i just completely brain farted. I have mentioned him in previous posts in TD when talking great CF defense. dont know how i missed mentioning him this morning.

 

The startling thing about watching him play defense is that he has no regard for his own personal safety, which can be good and bad. 

 

I would say a little self-preservation wouldn't hurt in his case. 

I am wondering if the Twins management has given any consideration to putting a lot of extra padding on the outfield wall, especially after crashing into the wall 2x vs the A's.

 

yeah, i just completely brain farted. I have mentioned him in previous posts in TD when talking great CF defense. dont know how i missed mentioning him this morning.

 

Whenever I've seen him he's a rare blend of outstanding instincts coupled with athleticism and a ballsy approach.  That guy plays one helluva short CF.

He's really good. I had a friend who joked that Buxton can't be a good CFer because he never has to dive for anything (he's just that fast). To my untrained eye, he's remarkable. His speed is on another level and he reads the ball really well. There have been a few times where I thought the opponent had a bloop single off the bat and Buxton makes what looks like a pretty easy catch.

That's what people always said about Willie Mays.

Just saw this on Deadspin http://deadspin.com/another-kevin-kiermaier-misplay-leads-to-another-little-1795138965

 

Kiermaier is not having a nice start to the season.

 

Just saw this on Deadspin http://deadspin.com/another-kevin-kiermaier-misplay-leads-to-another-little-1795138965

 

Kiermaier is not having a nice start to the season.

In a dome on artificial turf. Yeesh.

 

Just saw this on Deadspin http://deadspin.com/another-kevin-kiermaier-misplay-leads-to-another-little-1795138965

 

Kiermaier is not having a nice start to the season.

 

This is one of the worst feelings in the world. 

Yeah, that's an ugly misplay.

It is certainly more fun this year when an opponent hits a ball into the outfield. I feel we have things pretty well covered. I missed having that confidence in our OF.

Boo jinxes!

 

Just saw this on Deadspin http://deadspin.com/another-kevin-kiermaier-misplay-leads-to-another-little-1795138965

 

Kiermaier is not having a nice start to the season.

He's still tied for first in DRS for CF (with Buxton). This reminds me of, I believe, two seasons ago when Arenado had a horrendous day or two defensively.  Doesn't stop him from being the best defender(or tied for the best with Machado) at 3B.

Obviously I'm a huge fan of his defense. He does seem to fall asleep from time to time. Hopefully that gets cleaned up going forward.

Here's some hope:

 

Buxton has a higher batting average than Mike Nalpoli and Alex Gordon, and is .02 behing Jose Bautista, and .10 behind Alcides Escobar. Slow start

 

Georgia guy waiting for some warm weather.

Edited May 13, 20179 yr by Monkeypaws