Minnesota Sports Forum

monsterpile wrote:

jester1534 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

Jester1534 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Buxton has become a passable hitter now, true? He had a miserable first month but it seems like he's been OK-sh ever since.

Since mid June he's batting .255 with OBP .331 basically doing enough at the plate for a elite defensive centerfield. Idk if he ever will be .300 hitter that everyone thought he would be but man I love watching him play centerfield and I can deal with a .250 hitter what I can't take is someone who batting below the Mendoza line.

What age or age range do MLB hitters typically peak in terms of things like OBP and OPS?

I know that for NBA players, they tend to hit their peak offensive production in their mid-20s, some not until their late 20s (Jimmy Butler and Mike Conley are two good examples). They typically need at least three or four years in the NBA before hitting their peak output years. I'm curious if it's similar for MLB players.

At age 23 and playing really his first "full-time" season, it feels like there is still a lot of room for growth as a hitter, no?

It around 1,000 to 2,000 at bats. Hes at like 750 ABs right now. He's a little different case cause like you said this is first true season if he still a .250 hitter when he's 25 that's probably what he's always gonna be but with his defense he can always be a 2.0+ War guy. Guys usually pick around 26-32 years of age.

I can see Buxton developing some pretty decent powe and for a top flight defensive CF that could be pretty valuable.

Interesting...so at 750 ABs, he's definitely seen a fair amount of reps. I'd be fine with .250 if that's where he settles out, but I'd also like to see more power.

You have to admire these Twins. Unlike the Wolves, who tend to collapse like a house of cards once things get rocky, these guys have some resiliency. It looks like Dozier has come to life in a big way.

Q12543 wrote:You have to admire these Twins. Unlike the Wolves, who tend to collapse like a house of cards once things get rocky, these guys have some resiliency. It looks like Dozier has come to life in a big way.

Yeah Dozier has 9 HRs since the AS break.

The Twins are back at .500 and suddenly are hot. All this despite selling off their closer and will have to fill another rotation spot for a while. Unlike the Wolves this team being able to play defense helps!

Colon has been a pretty good pickup. If he keeps up being decent that would help a lot.

Belisle we knew he had it in him the whole time right? He struck out the side to finish off the game.

Yeah these Twins...who would have thought a team that their big addition would be a catcher that is just kinda good in Castro and some other kinda whatever moves would be so gritty after being HORRIBLE last year. They are absolutely in the mix now for the playoffs it's nice to be watching the scoreboard for something besides hoping to avoid (or just being resigned to getting a better draft pick) of being the worst team in the league.

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:You have to admire these Twins. Unlike the Wolves, who tend to collapse like a house of cards once things get rocky, these guys have some resiliency. It looks like Dozier has come to life in a big way.

Yeah Dozier has 9 HRs since the AS break.

The Twins are back at .500 and suddenly are hot. All this despite selling off their closer and will have to fill another rotation spot for a while. Unlike the Wolves this team being able to play defense helps!

Colon has been a pretty good pickup. If he keeps up being decent that would help a lot.

Belisle we knew he had it in him the whole time right? He struck out the side to finish off the game.

Yeah these Twins...who would have thought a team that their big addition would be a catcher that is just kinda good in Castro and some other kinda whatever moves would be so gritty after being HORRIBLE last year. They are absolutely in the mix now for the playoffs it's nice to be watching the scoreboard for something besides hoping to avoid (or just being resigned to getting a better draft pick) of being the worst team in the league.

Was it Moneyball that sort of debunked the value of closers? It basically said that teams tended to overpay for closers and they really aren't as value-added as other types of skills.

Q12543 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:You have to admire these Twins. Unlike the Wolves, who tend to collapse like a house of cards once things get rocky, these guys have some resiliency. It looks like Dozier has come to life in a big way.

Yeah Dozier has 9 HRs since the AS break.

The Twins are back at .500 and suddenly are hot. All this despite selling off their closer and will have to fill another rotation spot for a while. Unlike the Wolves this team being able to play defense helps!

Colon has been a pretty good pickup. If he keeps up being decent that would help a lot.

Belisle we knew he had it in him the whole time right? He struck out the side to finish off the game.

Yeah these Twins...who would have thought a team that their big addition would be a catcher that is just kinda good in Castro and some other kinda whatever moves would be so gritty after being HORRIBLE last year. They are absolutely in the mix now for the playoffs it's nice to be watching the scoreboard for something besides hoping to avoid (or just being resigned to getting a better draft pick) of being the worst team in the league.

Was it Moneyball that sort of debunked the value of closers? It basically said that teams tended to overpay for closers and they really aren't as value-added as other types of skills.

I'm trying to remember the stat from when I was scouting but the percentages are outstounding. I think it was if you had 1 lead in td 9th you had 82% chance of winning 2 runs was 90% and 3 was 96%. So yeah we tend to overvalue closers. Heck Kintzler has been throwing the 7th/8th for Washington. This team really needs a starting pitcher with Mejia down and Gibby being Gibby. I just wish they call up Jorge and Gonsalves and role with young bucks like did with Duffey a few years ago.

jester1534 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:You have to admire these Twins. Unlike the Wolves, who tend to collapse like a house of cards once things get rocky, these guys have some resiliency. It looks like Dozier has come to life in a big way.

Yeah Dozier has 9 HRs since the AS break.

The Twins are back at .500 and suddenly are hot. All this despite selling off their closer and will have to fill another rotation spot for a while. Unlike the Wolves this team being able to play defense helps!

Colon has been a pretty good pickup. If he keeps up being decent that would help a lot.

Belisle we knew he had it in him the whole time right? He struck out the side to finish off the game.

Yeah these Twins...who would have thought a team that their big addition would be a catcher that is just kinda good in Castro and some other kinda whatever moves would be so gritty after being HORRIBLE last year. They are absolutely in the mix now for the playoffs it's nice to be watching the scoreboard for something besides hoping to avoid (or just being resigned to getting a better draft pick) of being the worst team in the league.

Was it Moneyball that sort of debunked the value of closers? It basically said that teams tended to overpay for closers and they really aren't as value-added as other types of skills.

I'm trying to remember the stat from when I was scouting but the percentages are outstounding. I think it was if you had 1 lead in td 9th you had 82% chance of winning 2 runs was 90% and 3 was 96%. So yeah we tend to overvalue closers. Heck Kintzler has been throwing the 7th/8th for Washington. This team really needs a starting pitcher with Mejia down and Gibby being Gibby. I just wish they call up Jorge and Gonsalves and role with young bucks like did with Duffey a few years ago.

Interesting stuff. To me the big difference for the Twins is whether or not your closer is some sort of legit pitcher that can get some outs at SOME sort of decent rate or a dumpster fire like Jepson was early last year. It's not all that shocking based on Belisle's resume that he is succeeding the last few weeks and if he continues to be part of the closer puzzle the rest of the season.

Just saying if the season ended today the Twins would be in the playoffs. Also idc if he ever hits I can watch Buxton play Centerfield for the next 10 years and be happy, what a catch he had tonight.

Jester1534 wrote:Just saying if the season ended today the Twins would be in the playoffs. Also idc if he ever hits I can watch Buxton play Centerfield for the next 10 years and be happy, what a catch he had tonight.

Just bizarre, jester. Two weeks ago the brian trust gave up and became sellers (and what terrrific deals they made!), but the team just said "F*#% no"! And now we're in the race! Really fun to watch this club these days, and to watch all our competiion keep losing.

Yeah, that was quite a catch last night. I was glad that Hunter pointed out how normal it is to take that route on a liner hit right at you. It looked awkward, but it was one of the best catches I've ever seen. And he;s starting to hit too...it seems like he always used to be in 0-2 counts, but now he's having much better at bats. And Polanco and Rosario are red hot too. You just can't count these guys out.

longstrangetrip wrote:

Jester1534 wrote:Just saying if the season ended today the Twins would be in the playoffs. Also idc if he ever hits I can watch Buxton play Centerfield for the next 10 years and be happy, what a catch he had tonight.

Just bizarre, jester. Two weeks ago the brian trust gave up and became sellers (and what terrrific deals they made!), but the team just said "F*#% no"! And now we're in the race! Really fun to watch this club these days, and to watch all our competiion keep losing.

Yeah, that was quite a catch last night. I was glad that Hunter pointed out how normal it is to take that route on a liner hit right at you. It looked awkward, but it was one of the best catches I've ever seen. And he;s starting to hit too...it seems like he always used to be in 0-2 counts, but now he's having much better at bats. And Polanco and Rosario are red hot too. You just can't count these guys out.

They are on a nice run right now which doesn't surprise me. I figured that Cleveland and KC would fall off to some extent from how hot they were but KC has fallen of the cliff. The starters have been adequate and the Pen has been fantastic lately. The guys they are putting out there I don't panic and assume the worst. It's great to see some guys come alive at the plate.

Buxton is crazy out there. I'll bet he becomes at least an average hitter and that will make him a really valuable player and he already is a guy worth tuning in to watch just defensively.

From a couple days ago about the teams with the easiest schedule the rest of the way. The Twins had the 2nd easiest schedule. KC plays the white sox 9 times and the Twins 8.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/246956640/royals-have-easiest-strength-of-schedule-in-al/