MLB’s StatCast division recently released a new metric - SprintSpeed - which hoped to measure who the fastest runners are in the game. To no one’s surprise, the Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton was in the top two.

 

While viewers have come to recognize Buxton as a burner for awhile now, he continues to provide examples of why this weapon is so potent. Such as when he scored from first (!) when a single (!!!) was hit.

 

You've got to see this.First, if you didn’t get a chance to see it live, watch the video for yourself.

 

So here's what you just saw: With two out and Buxton at first, Brian Dozier hits a hard ground ball that skips past Orioles’ shortstop Ruben Tejada into left-center field. Buxton, off on contact with two down, wheels past second and is halfway to third when Baltimore’s center fielder, Adam Jones, cuts it off on his backhand.

 

All normal, all routine.

 

Here’s where it gets interesting: Instead of relaying it to the shortstop out for the cut, Jones tosses it to the second base bag, presumably to keep Dozier from advancing because what normal non-cyborg human is capable of scoring from first?

 

Byron M-F-in’ Buxton, that’s who.

 

And here’s the super impressive part: It’s wasn’t as if Buxton was running on the play. He wasn’t sent in motion. He left first at a normal lead on contact. He just gassed it until he was sliding across home plate at terminal velocity.

 

And here's a little bit of shade: Credit Twins’ third base coach Gene Glynn on reading the play and windmilling him home as he sees the throw sail over the shortstop’s head and toward second base. So, yeah, it wasn’t as if Buxton scored from first completely contested. It did take a mental lapse by Jones to allow for the opportunity. That said, good on both Glynn and Buxton for capitalizing on that play.

 

In short, Byron Buxton is fast everyone.

 

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He's dirty.... once he's on base. Let's hope he keeps it up cause this is a different lineup with that speed on base. Almost guaranteed a run.

I was at the game standing in the Minny & Paul section (straight away CF) and knew enough to keep an eye on Buxton, glanced at the ball being fielded and wondered if Glynn would send him. He did, and it was amazing.

Man that guy is fast! Really fun to watch.

Well what the Twins did to the Orioles was similar to what the Angels did to the Twins the other night, Santana lost that game because of that mental lapse from his teammates and little run support from his teammates

I'm not sure a guy on a 250cc two-stroke dirt bike could have beaten Buxton from first to home. The way he flails his arms, it's almost like somebody is dragging him forward, and he's just trying to stay on his feet. 

If he was on base more frequently he probably wouldn't get chances like this to make big plays. Jones probably​ would've been hurrying to gun it home. Lol

But the bat is inching up. Shucks, if he goes 3 for 4 today he'll be hitting MY weight.

This is really fun.  It is a reminder of how disruptive Rickey Henderson was.  It changes the other teams defense and pitching.  I love it.  I love the SB which has had its value diminished by many new sabermetrics guys like Law in his book Smart Baseball, but speed can make a professional team look like little leaguers trying to hurry the ball around the bases but never catching the speedy guy.

First game of the series, it was Buxton on first who beat the throw to second on a grounder to 1B.  Now this.

 

And, Kintzler, All-Star or whatever, I am sure glad we had the extra runs last night.

 

First time I have seen Buck that excited after his single to get Polanco home. 

 

He is arriving before our eyes.  Age 24.

When the director cut to Buxton 3/4 of the way to 3rd base, he looked to me like he wasn't going to stop.  He was just gonna say 'f it, let's see if they can put two good throws together' and then we cut back to Jones's throw and...it's going to 2nd base???  Easy score now!!  Despite his horrid at-bat with the bases loaded in the 4th, his bat is coming around.  There seems to be a few people who want to slam on him for what he's been doing at the plate but Bux's speed has been what keeps everyone encouraged that the bat will come around.  That speed provides outstanding outfield defense and as we saw in this clip, he can be a real danger on the basepaths.

Don't look now, but Buxton has a 4 game hitting streak going.  3 of the 4 are multi-hit games.

As he gets on base more teams will figure this out and throw home to stop the run scoring and hold him at 3rd...and let the lag runner skip merrily into second. Pick your poison, rest of the world!

The way he's been getting on base this last week, combined with his elite defense, is very exciting.

 

I think Smalley hit it on the head the other night when he said that Buxton figuring things out offensively could elevate this team to another level. Very dangerous lineup.

i've watched the video several times.  Each time I just go "YEAH BABY!"

Thanks for the post Parker!

I watched it several times last night, and one of the most amazing things about it was how after he leaped to touch third, he somehow kept his feet and didn't slow down. Like Randy Moss speed with Barry Sanders balance.

I love Buxton's speed but Glynn's read was fantastic, and he's had quite a few unorthodox reads this year. He's a fantastic 3rd base coach.

 

Being comfortable with the unconventional makes me think he could be a good MLB manager. Somewhere.

"See, I'm not the best, but I'm in the top two." Slug, regarding Byron Buxton.

Love the view of Britton going to back up third and turning after realizing Buxton is already there.

Edited July 8, 20179 yr by jorgenswest

 

I was at the game standing in the Minny & Paul section (straight away CF) and knew enough to keep an eye on Buxton, glanced at the ball being fielded and wondered if Glynn would send him. He did, and it was amazing.

Man that guy is fast! Really fun to watch.

 

I went to Thursday night's game -- the one with Escobar's triple. Watching from the same spot as you, all I could think was "Buxton woulda scored standing up".

 

First game of the series, it was Buxton on first who beat the throw to second on a grounder to 1B.  Now this.

 

And, Kintzler, All-Star or whatever, I am sure glad we had the extra runs last night.

 

First time I have seen Buck that excited after his single to get Polanco home. 

 

He is arriving before our eyes.  Age 24.

Buxton won't turn 24 until December. Just FYI.

I couldn't stop laughing after I saw Buxton round second. I just had a feeling he was going to be waved home and the absurdity of it all was priceless.

My gosh, I tried to count, and it looked like he took 10 strides from 3rd to home.  

 

TEN.

Yes, he is fast and that is a fact. His OPS is still under .600 (also a fact)

 

Let's hope he continues to hit.  Let's hope he is figuring it out with the bat, otherwise his speed is only a novelty.

 

Hate to take this slant on it, but  we have seen a number of "Byron Buxton is fast" articles.  I want to see a "Byron Buxton can HIT" article someday.

Yes, he is fast and that is a fact. His OPS is still under .600 (also a fact)

 

Let's hope he continues to hit.  Let's hope he is figuring it out with the bat, otherwise his speed is only a novelty.

 

Hate to take this slant on it, but  we have seen a number of "Byron Buxton is fast" articles.  I want to see a "Byron Buxton can HIT" article someday.

Perhaps someday you'll even be able to write it.

 

Perhaps someday you'll even be able to write it.

 

I would love nothing more than to do that.

 

Thank you for not insulting me