Article: Byron Buxton: From Broken To Booming

[jimbo92107]

I am proud to say that I wasn't among those recommending the Twins trade Buxton during his learning process. I was just one of the guys saying he should be sent back down to AAA again. Glad I was wrong about that, too. The initial awkwardness of Buck's ultra short to-the-ball swing has gone away. Right now his swing is about as quick as anybody's in the league, plus all that power from his legs and long arms carrying the barrel through the zone. 

 

Funny thing about hitting: It takes a ton of confidence to NOT swing. Like Sano, Rosario, Kepler, and Polanco, Buxton now has enough confidence to lay off pitches outside his preferred hitting zone because he knows he can either foul off or mash just about anything he can reach. We saw the change in Rosario when he went on his hot streak - suddenly he became more selective. Same with Polanco. Now Byron Buxton has enough confidence to not swing, or, when he does, he mashes it. 

[TwinsCD]

This is just another shining example of why I despise the word 'expectations' and how they are attached to a lot of things.  Bux got all of this hype because of his athletic prowess and his performance at the HS level and the low minors.  Then you have one-time generational talents come along like Harper and Trout and all of a sudden, people look at Buxton like, 'oh, he's going to be our guy to do that as soon as he gets here'.  Maybe that would have happened if he hadn't lost nearly that entire year to injuries right as he's in the apex of his minor league development.  I cringed hard when the Twins traded Hicks because I knew that they'd unnecessarily rush Buxton to the majors in the hope of him becoming that next Trout/Stanton/Mookie Betts.  He comes up and now that year of development he lost gets played out at the Major League level and he looks lost at the plate.  We're just now starting to see what we have always hoped to see.  Credit goes to two things -- Rowson for continuing to work with him and being patient enough to bring him long and Buxton himself for never getting down and also not carrying his offensive issues into the field with him.  I've said it before and I'll keep saying it -- I'll take Buxton scuffling at the plate if he's going to keep saving runs all over center field.  There has rarely been a time when I see a ball hit to the outfield that I don't think Bux is gonna somehow run it down.  That's gotta give a pitcher a ton of confidence when he has that out there behind him.

[Doomtints]

 

This is just another shining example of why I despise the word 'expectations' and how they are attached to a lot of things.  

 

It's not as tragic as all this. Buxton will be fine. If Twins fans still don't understand that it takes a while for most players to figure things out, that's their problem, not his.

 

Did I ever entertain the idea that Buxton might not work out? Sure, but I also thought he just needed more time. He is zoned in and having fun right now, we should enjoy it too.    Before the season started I thought it would take him a couple of months to get rolling, and I think starting him at the top of the order in April slowed him down.

We can have this conversation during the offseason when someone plays the "regress" card.  

Edited August 29, 2017 by Doomtints

[Platoon]

There is of course the remote possibility that the lack of patience by Twins fans is more likely the cause of Buxtons "problems" than was Buxton himself.

[OldTimeTwinkie]

I am giving my MVP vote to our new hitting coach. The light bulbs have been turned on by him.

[Brock Beauchamp]

There is of course the remote possibility that the lack of patience by Twins fans is more likely the cause of Buxtons "problems" than was Buxton himself.

He was historically bad and changed his swing multiple times. I'm one of the more patient posters on this board when it comes to prospects and even I was really concerned about Buxton.

[SadMinnySportsFan]

So baffled why people wanted to give up on him. So much talent, and only 23...now look!
Baseball is hard. it takes time to make things click. props to the Twins this season for sticking with him even when he started in that massive slump. now they're reaping the benefits

[Doubles]

 

There is of course the remote possibility that the lack of patience by Twins fans is more likely the cause of Buxtons "problems" than was Buxton himself.

 

Remote or no, I don't think I could possibly disagree with a take more than I do this one.

 

I will, however, submit that Buxton's defense is so absurdly good, that he was rushed to the big leagues with a bat that needed considerably more seasoning than his glove.  At the same time, I don't blame anyone for wanting that glove in the lineup, even at the expense of the bat.

[Obsvr]

NOW he's broken.

[Platoon]

He was historically bad and changed his swing multiple times. I'm one of the more patient posters on this board when it comes to prospects and even I was really concerned about Buxton.

You are pretty patient, but two things made me in this case more so. One is the historical 1500 or so AB's it seems to take to make an analysis of a players likely career, and more importantly Buxtons persistent and consistent struggles whenever moved up the ladder. This one may have lasted longer, but it was not surprising given his history. As for his swing, I think it can be tinkered with. Everyones can. But the bottom line is you can either hit a baseball or you can't! There are a thousand different swings out there. If one was factually better than the other, everyone would use it. Hitting s baseball is a hand eye coordination talent that few possess at the MLB level. And he is one of them.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

You are pretty patient, but two things made me in this case more so. One is the historical 1500 or so AB's it seems to take to make an analysis of a players likely career, and more importantly Buxtons persistent and consistent struggles whenever moved up the ladder. This one may have lasted longer, but it was not surprising given his history. As for his swing, I think it can be tinkered with. Everyones can. But the bottom line is you can either hit a baseball or you can't! There are a thousand different swings out there. If one was factually better than the other, everyone would use it. Hitting s baseball is a hand eye coordination talent that few possess at the MLB level. And he is one of them.

I hadn't given up on him - not even close - though where I once expected him to peak as an .850 OPS player, I was concerned he'd peak at .750-.775 OPS. Still a valuable player with that defense but no longer a franchise cornerstone.