How Can the Twins Keep Byron Buxton Healthy?

Get him some batting armor that he will wear. He was hit by pitch more last year than any other year. While only 6 times,  of course one broke his hand. He was out 2 months with that. When he first came back from the broken hand he had a large batting mitt but soon threw it away. Later he had a much smaller wrist cover. In September alone he was hit an additional 3 times as pitchers tried to keep him off the plate. The more hitting success he has, the bigger target he will become.

1 hour ago, gman said:

Get him some batting armor that he will wear. He was hit by pitch more last year than any other year. While only 6 times,  of course one broke his hand. He was out 2 months with that. When he first came back from the broken hand he had a large batting mitt but soon threw it away. Later he had a much smaller wrist cover. In September alone he was hit an additional 3 times as pitchers tried to keep him off the plate. The more hitting success he has, the bigger target he will become.

If I were a manager w/o scruples I'd tell my pitchers to pitch Buxton hard and inside. If they miss him odds are they jam him if they hit him better yet. Because if Buxton is in the game odds are I lose if they take him out odds are w/ Cave (or others) I win, a no brainer. I think getting a decent back up could help our odds when Buck's out. Thus removing less temptation of hitting Buck.

23 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

If I were a manager w/o scruples I'd tell my pitchers to pitch Buxton hard and inside. If they miss him odds are they jam him if they hit him better yet. Because if Buxton is in the game odds are I lose if they take him out odds are w/ Cave (or others) I win, a no brainer. I think getting a decent back up could help our odds when Buck's out. Thus removing less temptation of hitting Buck.

Sign Marcus Foligno to a journeyman contract. Anyone who pitches Buxton hard and inside should brace for getting their ass kicked.

I think the 2 foot jumping and playing deeper are smart and have already paid dividends in regard to his health and well being. The only "problem" with him playing deeper is the potential for banging his noggin diving for a great catch. You can never fully take the competitive instinct out of him. But he can learn and adjust to a certain degree where he slides under better control, or just let's up once in a while and let a singlr be a single. His value on the field and at the plate is more important than making every highlight catch he can.

He's built his body up through weight training and the such. But I wonder if something like yoga or pilates could help his finely tuned body be a bit more flexible to avoid certain pulls and strains.

Just a couple thoughts. 

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

If I were a manager w/o scruples I'd tell my pitchers to pitch Buxton hard and inside.

Maybe, but the Twins pitchers need to protect Buxton in kind. I'm not a fan of this but the reality has always existed.

Will Buck be turned loose to steal bases? There is a threat of injury here. But he can ruin a pitcher's day when he is on first base. Will Buck be encouraged to bunt if the shift is put on him?  That is almost like giving him a double. Also if Buck  is encouraged to steal when when he gets on first base, it may cut down on Buck being thrown at by opposing pitchers.  I'd encourage Buck to steal 2B almost every time he gets hit by a pitch. Who will bat behind Buck? He needs someone to take pitches to allow him to steal (Arraez or Polanco or  Kirilloff ?) and someone to make contact (Arraez? ), who can hit .300 (Arraez/Polanco).  Would the opposition walk Buck to get him on first base with Arraez next up?  Or would Buck be told not to steal bases? If a high strikeout hitter bats behind Buck you are not optimizing Buck's speed. on base.  

Bubble wrap.

9 hours ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Will Buck be turned loose to steal bases? There is a threat of injury here. But he can ruin a pitcher's day when he is on first base. Will Buck be encouraged to bunt if the shift is put on him?  That is almost like giving him a double. Also if Buck  is encouraged to steal when when he gets on first base, it may cut down on Buck being thrown at by opposing pitchers.  I'd encourage Buck to steal 2B almost every time he gets hit by a pitch. Who will bat behind Buck? He needs someone to take pitches to allow him to steal (Arraez or Polanco or  Kirilloff ?) and someone to make contact (Arraez? ), who can hit .300 (Arraez/Polanco).  Would the opposition walk Buck to get him on first base with Arraez next up?  Or would Buck be told not to steal bases? If a high strikeout hitter bats behind Buck you are not optimizing Buck's speed. on base.  

With Arreaz hitting behind Buxton, he could probably get close to 100 RBI's a year, since Buxton could score from second on any ground ball single.

Make him the DH so he won't get hurt in the field

1 hour ago, twinfan said:

Make him the DH so he won't get hurt in the field

 

That would negate a good chunk of the value Buxton brings as an elite center fielder. As much as we can be in awe of what he can do on offense, it's shocking how big of a difference having Buxton in center field makes on defense.  (Even down to pitching strategy.)

I won't blame anyone for getting hit on the hand and fracturing a bone; what are you going to do. But, it's not like that was his first injury either. Here is his breakdown (pun intended):

2015 - played in 46 games and sprained his thumb

2016 - played in 92 games and bruised his knee and had back spasms

2017 - Although he played 140 games, missed time for groin and migraine headaches

2018 - Played just 28 games and had migraines, broken toe and sprained wrist

2019 - Played in 87 games and suffered bruised wrist, concussion, shoulder issue

2020 - Played 39 games (shortened season anyway just 60 games) but missed with an ankle contusion (a bruised ankle). He only missed 21 games that season but, that was still 35% of the season.

2021 - played 61 games, missed 40 games with a tight hip and the rest because a broken bone in his hand he got just a few games after his return.

Again, not all of these are his fault, but where do you draw the line? Apparently the Twins look at a player who played just 493 games out of 1032 total games in his career, (just 48% of the games) and draw the line at $100mm guaranteed (with incentives grows to $180-190mm). This is Joe Mauer all over again. The team will not be able to bring players in because we are cash strapped to Buxton for the next seven years.

Byron Buxton needs a crash course on risk assessment. The risk to take in a close game should be much different than if having a lopsided score. 
 

I can’t remember if it was 2019 or 2020, but Buxton hurt himself running full speed into the wall vs the White Sox in a game the Twins were up by a lot.