Andy MacPhail

Many rank catchers high because they have high raw power while striking out a lot & are poor behind the plate & then many don't make it. Then they critize teams for taking a real deal catcher high in the draft, saying high ranking catchers are risky. Lackey is the real deal, Tinny is not. IMO, Tinney doesn't make it, especially as a catcher. Tinney was no where near on my radar. I'd have targetted a SP.

I'm elated, he's the real deal, that fits a real need! It's hard not to be hopeful of the Twins near future!

Morris was great in his role, Zebby & the offense was flat. Twins need to fire up & finish strong before the break.

Jeffers had a record beginning of the season, If you look at Jeffers' record he normally starts out pretty well but always wanes in the 2nd half. IMO, he's not worth the big bucks that Boras will ask or even the 1 year $22M QO while forcing DFAing of cheap Jackson, Because of Jeffers' great beginning, he will draw some interest. I like Jeffers, but I say Twins will trade him.

Sizemore is a big upgrade from the recent past. But Buxton also helped a lot in mentoring the new OFers

CWS are are doing somethings right like focusing on very promising young MLB-ready catchers & getting their young SPs' feet wet by pitching them in the BP, improving their MLB BP while keeping their pitchers healthy & rested, instead of wasting their bullets in AAA. This year, I thought they'd do well but I'm surprised by their success. IMO, they could use some veteran presence. They could falter but still think they could pull off the division title. Detroit will sell Skubal, they are out of it, so is KC. If finally, the Twins get a bona fide high-leverage RP, sooner the better; the Twins have a good chance of passing CLE & possibly CWS & make the postseason. After that, anything can happen.

Mainly because the Twins can't afford the top primary catcher dollars that Boras will demand. It's important that mid-market teams spend their money wisely.

For a team that have had a glut of LH hitting OFers glut for years, I didn't understand why trading for Roden & Outman. So, bringing up Rodon to prove himself makes the most sense. Selling before the deadline can be difficult but a MLB/ MLB player trade can be done anytime to fill needs. We can trade from our MLB LH hitting OF glut for a high-leverage RP need now. IF we somehow bomb & drop out of the wild card race, we can still sell that RP for a good profit.

HOU has done a great job of coming up with great catchers. '25 Diaz, Caratini & Salazar had one of the best MLB depth in catching. For years I've been shopping for catchers & Caratini has been on my radar. Coming to a new organization & learning new pitchers Isn't easy, so what Caratini is doing is admirable. Being a backup for many years, he's hungry & has something to prove. & being mentored by Maldonado & Diaz is big. I really like Jeffers but the Twins won't be able to afford his top catching salary. Can Caratini step up & catch fulltime for a full season? Can Jackson be backup fulltime for a full season? We'll see.

Thank you Hubie. I see it as my duty

My point is we needed an anchor in the BP. How many games we were winning & the BP lost them? How many close games we lost because of the BP? So, IMO, the possible games won could be much greater than the Varland's 2.8 WAR that was analyzed. Even going forward with promising RPs, we need an anchor. If we do, IMO, we'll make the postseason.

On paper, we probably have the worst team in years. Yet if we had a bona fide high-leverage RP to start the season, we'd be one of the top teams in the AL if not the top, We could have done that if Falvey had traded for one this offseason or better yet not traded Varland. We are in this position because the problem was never the players. IMO, the Twins had 3 problems to solve. #3 clutch hitting- they got their 1st walk-off about a week ago & they are becoming a feisty group. #2 Bad INF- All of the INFers have been moved off their original positions & have become a competent core with Culpepper, who could be ready to come up soon. #1 horrific BP- throw crap at the wall, isn't the way to really build a competitive BP. Gomes & even Morris is ok, but we still we need a bona fide high-leverage RP.

Twins definitely had the advantage of being familar with Sims. Especially Jeffers, who probally knows him inside out. IMO, Sims has to be going through some mental hurdles, after being traded, doing well & still be DFAed & then demoted to AAA

Maybe long relief (hybrid) isn't as glamourous as being a SP or a high leverage RP, but IMO, it's just as important. Overextending our SPs & burning out our short RPs is a recipe for going 20 some years w/o a play-off win & not going as far as we could have; because our pitching have been shot, come playoffs, There are many great SPs that started out in the pen. Put Raya in the MLB pen. Let him get a feel of the MLB, strengthen his arm while not overdoing it. IMO, he'll become a very good SP but keep him in the pen as long relief & some spot starts where we need him. I'm a firm believer in having our young SPs pitch long relief in the MLB & give them as many innings as they can take & not waste their bullets in AAA. This one thing I like the CWS are doing, they are pitching their young SPs in the pen & winning. They are surprising many pundits but not me.

I've been more excited about Lackey than any other draft prospect for as long as I can remember, because Lackey is the real deal, he could come up fairly soon & fits a real need. My fear is that TB will take him before he gets to the Twins' selection. If Twins land Lackey, IMO, it'd be a successful draft.