Keys to 2019: Buxton’s Emergence

If he would learn to bunt like Rod Carew, good things will happen for him and the Twins! He should attempt to bunt once a game. Infielders play in more making bigger holes in infield. Infielders hurry there throws resulting in more errors. When he gets on base in a blink he could be standing on 3rd!

This idea that he should bunt that much makes me want to vomit.  Is destined to be Willy Mays Hayes or can we expect more out of him?

My only concern is around injuries. Let's see the kid play injury free, and I expect we'll all be happy with the results.

I don't buy the "injuries held him back", excuse  He hit like dogmeat out of the gate again and he was injury free the first 12 games he played until we went to Puerto Rico.  Who is to say he wouldn't hit .150 in April like he always has if he kept playing?  I hate to say it, but he has been an atrocious hitter save those 7 weeks at the end of 2017.  I am not sure if that is a mirage yet.

You are right to be concerned about injuries, though.  I am concerned about that and how he hits out of the gate.  If he is hitting .156 by my birthday (4-20) I am not going to be a happy camper.  Quite frankly, I think he needs to learn how to settle himself down.  The guy is wound up like a top and he seems to let that get the best of him.  Hopefully he is over that

"Bunting once per game" is not something I wish for Buxton. It would guarantee he's an unproductive bat for eternity.

THe message would be.....

We have given up on you as a hitter

I hear this a lot, and not just with Buxton. There's an assumption hidden in here that may not be valid: that it is easy for players to learn to bunt. Is that really true? We never hear anyone say "if he would learn to hit like Rod Carew." We never hear anyone say "if X would learn to field like Ozzie Smith." Is it true that bunting is a learnable in a way that hitting and fielding are not?

Its not just learning to lay down a bunt, but Buck has the leg speed to give him a better than average shot to beat it out most times. That's why we all want to see him develop that skill. Then steal second.  I think with fielding and hitting, improvement shows, sure, but I think it might be easier for him to add 25 hits by bunt than by some other hitting adjustment. I could be wrong. But I once had a .350 hitter in school ball that I taught to bunt. He was fast, so he bunted .500. 

Bunting has become a lost art and bunting once a game is too much. It is supposed to be a surprise. You do it too much and they are expecting it. But 30 times over 500 PAs is not too much.  I guess I look at it as 20 bonus hits he may otherwise not get. And he could make other improvements, like learning to be a spray hitter. With his speed, he should be trying to lead the league in triples (to right field) instead of trying to pull everything. 

He needs to stay healthy #1. Meaning he still can play his outstanding Defense but needs to understand he can't go full blast into walls... needs to pull up if going to crash. Give up one hit vs not helping the team for a month. Hard to do though.... 

If he stays healthy then he needs to stay out of his own head. Meaning just play. Was clear he was thinking instead of reacting when he struggles. Look fastball and react to the breaking ball.... he has an over quick swing so when he does this he has been awesome. When he looks for a pitch he has been awful. 

If he stays healthy and is just good... not great... at the plate the team will be very successful.  If he is great we could be very very good this year.

This idea that he should bunt that much makes me want to vomit.  Is destined to be Willy Mays Hayes or can we expect more out of him?

Willy Mays Hayes was AWESOME!  (Except for the Indians uniform.)

A good bunter is going to need good pitch recognition and good hands.

Buxton needs that pitch recognition to be a good bunter. Without it he will end up in a bad count having to swing away way too often.

I don’t think regular bunting is s good plan.

Bunting should be a trick in his bag. Not frequently. I would say not enough that it causes teams to play for it. He also should be smart about doing it. Two outs with bases empty, probably not. Leading off an inning, absolutely.

I don't understand this lament about bunting.  It isn't part of today's game and quite frankly I don't miss it.  When bunts aren't properly excuted (which is often) you are simply giving outs away with a totally non-competitive at bat.  Ultimately we want Buxton to be a gap hitter with 25 home run power who can hit about .280

Encouraging him to bunt once a game 

I'm just convinced Buxton struggles w/ expectation. In 2017 he was allowed to work on mechanics while Sano carried the first half and took of while everyone was clicking the second half so there was no burden of weight. Hopefully Buxton can 'just play' while Cruz, Rosario, and others carry the load until his confidence is high enough shoulders are broad enough to take on more.