Article: The Killer Speed Of Byron Buxton

[Cody Christie]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?1064-The-killer-speed-of-Byron-Buxton

[Twins Twerp]

When I read this story I salivated like Pavlov's dog. An outfield of Hicks, Revere, and Buxton would be one of the fastest in history (assuming all kids reach most of their potential). Throw in Arcia as a fourth of/dh, and that is a something we can all get excited about. These are guys that could make our "pitch to contact" philosophy actually work. Go Twins!!

[lightfoot789]

What will be the concerns when (Top Prospects) Sano and / or Rosario have to move to OF or when Kepler proves he is MLB ready? What about an improved Nate Roberts? What about Adam Walker if he learns to hit to contact better (Major HR Power)? What kind of OF would most of you want then -

*Power 35+ HRs /

*.300+ Hitters for Average/

*Pure Speed - 30+ SBs and .275 averages)

What combination makes us contenders and who will have to be traded down the road? TOP 5 Keepers?

[ashbury]

What will be the concerns when (Top Prospects) Sano and / or Rosario have to move to OF or when Kepler proves he is MLB ready? What about an improved Nate Roberts? What about Adam Walker if he learns to hit to contact better (Major HR Power)?

 

It'll be a nice problem to have, if and when the day comes, and probably the answers to those questions will sort themselves out on their own; if it's a difficult decision the ones not making the cut can be traded for younger prospects. I don't see a lot of purpose trying to guess now, though IMO you have room for just one table-setter in that scenario and power matters for everyone else.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I don't know about Buxton being faster than Revere. Maybe he is, but I could have swore Buxton ran a 5.40 60 yard dash and Revere a 5.28.

[Shane Wahl]

Very interesting. I cannot imagine that Ben Revere is in the long-term plans for the Twins. He shouldn't be given that Hicks, Arcia, and Benson are better by 2014 and then Roberts, Kepler, and Morales. Then Adam Walker . . .

 

As I made clear in a blog post, the OF depth is there and these guys need to be dealt.

[Badsmerf]

Right now the only two that are knocking on the door are Arcia and Hicks. I wouldn't worry about anyone else. Things tend to work themselves out.

[kirbyelway]

To me I don't understand why Span is on the trading block. I would trade Revere, who's upside is a Juan Pierre clone.

[JB_Iowa]

What will be the concerns when (Top Prospects) Sano and / or Rosario have to move to OF or when Kepler proves he is MLB ready?

 

I won't have concerns about the outfield -- they'll figure that out. We can only pray that they continue to develop an excess of outfielders that they can somehow flip for pitching and middle infielders.

[Steve Lein]

To me I don't understand why Span is on the trading block. I would trade Revere, who's upside is a Juan Pierre clone.

 

You just explained it yourself. Revere isn't worth nearly as much as Span in a trade. If you want good pitching in a trade, you have to give something of good value up too.

[Steve Lein]

and FYI - Buxton was also named the Appalachian League top prospect: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/league-top-20-prospects/2012/2614085.html

[Sssuperdave]

Very interesting. I cannot imagine that Ben Revere is in the long-term plans for the Twins. He shouldn't be given that Hicks, Arcia, and Benson are better by 2014 and then Roberts, Kepler, and Morales. Then Adam Walker . . .

 

As I made clear in a blog post, the OF depth is there and these guys need to be dealt.

 

It seems to me like there is some counting chickens before they're hatched going on here. Seth had a post not so long ago that showed players the Twins had in the Baseball America top 100, over the past 10 years or so, and it seemed like half of them ended up not being impact players in the big leagus - guys like Michael Restovich and Adam Johnson. I would be surprised if more than half of Hicks, Arica, Benson, Roberts, Keplar, Morales, Sano, Rosario and Walker pan out as above average big league regulars. Luckily though all we need is half of them in order to field a good OF + DH.

[Forever34]

Great news about Buxton. For all the problems this franchise has, "too many awesome OF prospects" is one ones I'm okay with.

 

The real question though is "Why isn't J.O. Berrios on either of those lists?" His numbers were ridiculous and everything I've read indicates that he has the "stuff" for him to not be a statistical anomaly.

[gunnarthor]

Very interesting. I cannot imagine that Ben Revere is in the long-term plans for the Twins. He shouldn't be given that Hicks, Arcia, and Benson are better by 2014 and then Roberts, Kepler, and Morales. Then Adam Walker . . .

 

As I made clear in a blog post, the OF depth is there and these guys need to be dealt.

 

Benson is actually a few months older than Revere and hasn't shown any ability to hit above AA ball. Roberts and Morales will not make the majors. Kepler and Walker are 4 years away. Revere will stay with the Twins at least through his arbitration years and, frankly, he should. He's a 3 WAR player right now as a RF and only 24. He'll continue to get better.

[Siehbiscuit]

I know the Revere/Span thing has been beaten to death, but Revere has nearly two full seasons of moderate success at the MLB level. At the same age, Span was still in the minors. Right now, Span is definitely a better player and worth much more in a trade. That said Revere's upside is not as great as some of the prospects coming up, but if he continues to steadily improve there is no reason to think that Revere can't bridge the gap between he and Span in the next couple of years.

 

And as far as being called a "Juan Pierre" clone. Do you actually remember Juan Pierre in his prime? The guy was an absolutely GREAT leadoff hitter that drove pitchers crazy at the plate and on the basepaths. If that was supposed to be durogatory you may need a better comparison, because even this year Juan Pierre showed how productive he can be in his middle 30's.

 

Span for a good starting pitcher improves the Twins more than any other trade probably would, partly because the drop off from Span to Revere is bearable and because the need for a solid starter is so desperate.

[Shane Wahl]

To clarify, I meant long term as in past 2014. I mean if Hicks and Arcia are mlb-ready by then, would anyone seriously consider playing Revere ahead of those two or Willingham?

 

I am not saying I don't value Revere as a Juan Pierre with much better defense. I am saying, however, that the Twins have similarly capable OF defenders who are going to be all-around better batters.

[Shane Wahl]

Also, when Buxton was in town for BP, why the hell didn't they have those two race!?

[kab21]

To clarify, I meant long term as in past 2014. I mean if Hicks and Arcia are mlb-ready by then, would anyone seriously consider playing Revere ahead of those two or Willingham?

 

I am not saying I don't value Revere as a Juan Pierre with much better defense. I am saying, however, that the Twins have similarly capable OF defenders who are going to be all-around better batters.

 

I think this is a problem that you worry about when it happens.

 

If Revere does become Juan Pierre in his prime then you find a place for him because that is a really good player. I'm hoping that by 2014 both Willingham and Span have been traded to add pitching to the system (MLB or MiLB) so that problem is solved. It's also likely that one of Hicks or Arcia become a bust based on prospects historically.

[James]

Also, when Buxton was in town for BP, why the hell didn't they have those two race!?

He was in town when they were finishing up his contract earlier in the summer. You're right though, Buxton and Revere should have raced each other.

[Riverbrian]

Seriously... It's driving me nuts... This Revere Pierre comp presented as a negative has shown up on these pages multiple times this year.

 

Is Revere comparable to Pierre... Sure he is... Is that bad... Hell No... Anyone who posts Revere projecting to Pierre in an effort to Dog Ben's upside is gonna have to come up with something really smart on another topic quickly to make up for it.

 

Give me a young Pierre every day of the week.

 

On the subject of the potential of the outfield in this organization. It's exciting... but for now... A bird in hand is worth two in Randy Bush.

[Shane Wahl]

Yeah, I am not sure why Pierre would be problematic at all. I would say that if other prospects have more than what a Pierre-type would offer, then I would say he loses his place.

 

Pierre, THIS YEAR, has been very good. Anyway, Revere is also a better defender than Pierre.

 

And I am also not saying that Revere as the 4th OF (but rotated in significantly) after 2014 would be a bad thing either.