Twins 2022 Position Analysis: Catcher

Hamilton started off well in the minors last year but then regressed significantly in the second half of the season. I still have hope that he can make it as a backup catcher. 

We will have to wait and see if Cardenas or Winkler can change things but they are a ways a way.  I sure hope Jeffers is the real deal as they have pretty much bet the catcher position on him for the next couple of years as best I can tell.  

There is still time to make changes but time is running out.  Catcher is not a position to skimp on IMO.  I hope they find more depth before the season starts.

Players like to run on both Jeffers and Sanchez so this season might be pretty long. I agree with Dman, catching isn't a position to skimp. I hope they find better depth.

Those Sanchez lowlights are brutal.  

Thanks Nick. I think you nailed the summary. Somehow, inexplicably, our FO took an incredible important and difficult to fill position demanding depth from a clear area of strength to a “glaring weakness” in just a matter of a few days.

Quality shortstops and catchers are really hard to find. Right now - in our entire system - we have exactly one possibly decent player that can play one of those positions on an everyday basis. That’s Jeffers and the jury is still out even on him. That’s it. There are no other players who project as an above average major leaguer at those two most important positions in the field. Maybe Lewis at SS - but that has yet to be proven not only as a SS, but even as a major leaguer at another position. BTW, Urshela is not our answer at SS - the Yankees clearly didn’t think he was theirs.

So we entered the week strong at one and deficient at the other regarding the two most important defensive positions. We end the week deficient at both with an additional player who probably projects as a utility infielder but not an everyday SS.  It’s hard to see how the money saved and the short term nature of Sanchez’s contract can make up for that. Maybe the FO has some grand plan - I sure hope so.

3 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I just don't know what to think with the acquisition of Sanchez. Will he be satisfied with starting 30-40% of games? DH seems to be the logical destination for Sano, and if Sanchez is DHing frequently, it will require adding a third catcher. 

I think Jeffers will be a good overall catcher, but it remains a risk to bet so much on him. 

If the plan is to have Sanchez DH on any sort or regular basis, then the Twins will have to carry a third catcher. That’s very valuable real estate on the pine for a young Twins team with lots of prospects needing ABs and innings.

I can’t see the rationale for having Sanchez on this team. Great - our young pitchers will be throwing to essentially the worst defensive catcher in the league. That’s just what they need, lol. Just on his defense alone, Goyon should be our #2 catcher.  I’d never thought I’d be saying that a week ago. 

I was disturbed when I heard about Rortvedt leaving. His floor is Drew Butera defense, plus a possible chance at becoming a power hitter. On the other hand, I think Jeffers is going to be a solid, long-term starter for the Twins. He is so comfortable behind the plate, and to me he looks like an average hitter with some power. We are left to hope that José Godoy is a legit backstop, because Sanchez looks embarrassing. 

15 minutes ago, jimbo92107 said:

I was disturbed when I heard about Rortvedt leaving. His floor is Drew Butera defense, plus a possible chance at becoming a power hitter. On the other hand, I think Jeffers is going to be a solid, long-term starter for the Twins. He is so comfortable behind the plate, and to me he looks like an average hitter with some power. We are left to hope that José Godoy is a legit backstop, because Sanchez looks embarrassing. 

Jeffers defense is sub-average , he and Sanchez will get along well.

Can't read this. Thinking about our catching situation makes me sick.

3 hours ago, h2oface said:

Can't read this. Thinking about our catching situation makes me sick.

Don’t have anything to do with the news of the world. Looking at the time of the post, you sure it isn’t the Schlitz Blitz not the catching?

I like betting on your guys, but this is a big bet on Jeffers. Trading away a SS and a C, a week before Spring Training, without much of a back-up plan is frightening. We're lucky if one of these issues is solved before games start. 

I could only watch the first 1:30 of the Sanchez clip. That was absolutely brutal. I would have laughed if only he were still a Yankee.

Maybe he needs a really, really big glove? An insulated trash can lid, perhaps?

I agree with what others have said.  Shortstop and catcher (along with CF) are the most crucial defensive spots on the field and the Twins are currently, pending further trades, without a major league shortstop and without any depth at catcher.  Plus, Jeffers is relatively inexperienced as catchers go.  I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, but unless the FO is confident that they will sign Story or make another trade for a shortstop, I am at a loss figuring out what they are doing.  

That video clip was shocking - even when you know how bad Sanchez was regarded by his pitchers.  Errors on just plain catching the ball - pitches, popups, throws in and then there is his arm.  Thank you for not sugar coating this outrageous issue.  Let's hope you can have a redo at the end of ST with some better news. 

One word, Nick....Ouch!

I was a huge Rortvedt fan and believe he will become a solid hitter to go with his top defense.  I don't understand what the FO did after they began with two really good trades.  Did they destroy this year's team to save Donaldson's dollars?

We have been hearing there were more deals coming.  Well, after three deals in a couple days it is now four days later and silence.  Unless there are at least two more deals, including one for a young catcher (the guy they signed isn't the answer and is a waste of a 40-man roster spot), I really don't like this team right now.  

10 hours ago, Castinofan said:

Those Sanchez lowlights are brutal.  

The worst part was Sanchez's lackadaisical reactions as runners were advancing. What has the FO done? How old is AJ now?.

Did they destroy this year's team to save Donaldson's dollars?

YES!

I couldn't wait for the lockout to end and for baseball to begin. I was excited by the first couple of moves and thought we were going to get a few things done and put a good team on the field in 2022, while still allowing opportunities for the prospects.

Right now I feel disappointed and almost apathetic, like I just came down hard from a sugar/caffeine high.

I will cheer for anyone in a Twins Uni but Gary Sanchez will really put that to a test.     Realize all the moves are not done yet so I will put that caveat out there - but if you took all of our offseason blueprints and compared to where we stand today - I don't think anyone would have submitted this blueprint.  Realize we have plenty of dollars in the budget to spend but we are running out of players to spend it on.  

Not sure why we traded away Suzuki in 2014.  He has a some decent years.  Seems better than what we have had.  

When will our front office(s) learn that the Yankees always trade up and give us garbage!  Hicks/JR Murphy sound familiar?

Alex Isola will be good I hope.

Gee, Nick, did you have to start with catcher? Yuck.

Get ready - those lowlights are going to be happening with a TC logo. And I feel for Sanchez, I really do. Guy's in a funk and his career has collapsed. But the fact that NYY brought in a special coach to work with him and reports suggest he didn't put in the work to improve should have been a red flag to any FO paying attention or trying to improve via trade. 

In the age of analytics, I wonder if people have quantified the impact on pitchers who have to deal with the stress of terrible catching behind the plate. It must inflate pitch counts, increase RISP at-bats and more. You'd think a team that was banking on a pitching youth movement might have given this some thought.

12 hours ago, old nurse said:

Don’t have anything to do with the news of the world. Looking at the time of the post, you sure it isn’t the Schlitz Blitz not the catching?

ignore list

4 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

 

In the age of analytics, I wonder if people have quantified the impact on pitchers who have to deal with the stress of terrible catching behind the plate. It must inflate pitch counts, increase RISP at-bats and more. You'd think a team that was banking on a pitching youth movement might have given this some thought.

Not quite analytical, but it gives you an idea. 
 

Here are some of the lopsided stats:

• Yankees pitchers have a 1.78 ERA (108 IP, 21 ER) with Higashioka catching and a 3.92 ERA (151.2 IP, 66 ER) when Sanchez is receiving.
• Higashioka is hitting .243 with four homers, seven RBI with a 1.012 OPS, while Sanchez is at .180 with two homers, four RBI and a .619 OPS.
• Higashioka has no errors, one passed ball and has thrown out two of six base stealers compared to Sanchez’ three errors, one passed ball and 1-for-8 caught stealings.
• The Yankees are 9-2 when Higashioka starts, 6-12 when Sanchez starts.

source:  https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/05/kyle-higashioka-or-gary-sanchez-yankees-pitchers-get-no-input-on-aaron-boones-daily-catcher-decision.html?outputType=amp

14 minutes ago, Eris said:

Yankees pitchers have a 1.78 ERA (108 IP, 21 ER) with Higashioka catching and a 3.92 ERA (151.2 IP, 66 ER) when Sanchez is receiving.

You are awesome. Great stuff. I mean, great to know about, at least. Too bad Falvey/Levine didn't target Higashioka instead. ?

On 3/18/2022 at 7:07 PM, Eris said:

Not quite analytical, but it gives you an idea. 
 

Here are some of the lopsided stats:

• Yankees pitchers have a 1.78 ERA (108 IP, 21 ER) with Higashioka catching and a 3.92 ERA (151.2 IP, 66 ER) when Sanchez is receiving.
• Higashioka is hitting .243 with four homers, seven RBI with a 1.012 OPS, while Sanchez is at .180 with two homers, four RBI and a .619 OPS.
• Higashioka has no errors, one passed ball and has thrown out two of six base stealers compared to Sanchez’ three errors, one passed ball and 1-for-8 caught stealings.
• The Yankees are 9-2 when Higashioka starts, 6-12 when Sanchez starts.

source:  https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/05/kyle-higashioka-or-gary-sanchez-yankees-pitchers-get-no-input-on-aaron-boones-daily-catcher-decision.html?outputType=amp

That covers it.

Well a couple of things.

1) Sanchez is younger than Garver with similar offensive #'s.

2) one can learn how to catch. Garver improved dramatically as a defensive player the last few years. Sanchez has a good arm and has the physical ability to improve.

Get him the right mentor and teach him to frame and block pitches in the dirt.