Still not a ‘peep’ of the minority ownership of the Twins. Yes, the new Tampa Bay Rays ownership was announced a few weeks back with a group led by Florida-based business executive Patrick Zalupski.

The Minnesota Twins have yet to announce who that might be as well as dragging their feet on the selection of a new manager … isn’t that the Twins Way, a day later and a dollar short?

A bit of editorial from Twins Daily article of Cody Christie below:

Then out comes the accidental leak of the team’s off-season plans to beat writers. The plan, which reportedly included color-coded spreadsheets, a 37-slide PowerPoint, and a section titled “How to Pretend We’re Spending Money Without Actually Doing It,” was intended to stay in-house until at least December (or forever, depending on how things went) with a subject line titled “CONFIDENTIAL: Operation Moderate Competence 2026.”

This email was received by the likes of Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Matthew Leach of MLB.com.

Accidental or just maybe intentionally? In my eyes its a sick, sick joke wherever it originated from and by whom.

My reply was a letter directed to team president Mr. Derek Falvey himself, from whom the email reportedly came from.

As a lifelong fan or the Twins organization of more than five decades its unbelievable at to what depths ownership (Pohlad’s) and the front office tries to play the victim.

LETTER DISPLAYED BELOW:

October 14, 2025

Good morning Mr. Derek Falvey,

Hello Sir, I hope this finds its way to you.

My name is Jeff. I will be celebrating by 64^th birthday on November 22. I’ve been a lifelong fan of the Twins. I was first introduced back in 1972 to Twins Baseball, when they hosted the New York Yankees at Ol’ Metropolitan Stadium. I’ve continued with annual trips from my home in Iowa to attend games at Target Field with my family.

The last four years, I’ve been slowed down considerably due to health problem related to my heart. I was unable to attend a home Twins game in 2025. A large part of my decision wasn’t made based on my health situation.  It was more based on what I felt with all the disarray the team created and on-field performance. I showed little to no empathy for the Pohlad’s first and foremost, and your position within the organization.

The last 15 years Minnesota has one of the five worst winning percentages in all of baseball. During your tenure there has been only one 90+ win season (2019). The team have spent that exact same percentage (77% of the major league average) as they did the final four years at the Metrodome. It can even go as far as saying the team won more and drew more fans at the Metrodome then present Target Field.

The Pohlad’s refusal to step in front of a microphone or on camera, but make a statement they are committed to winning through a newsprint entity is hardly believable by fans. The organization’s actions speak louder than words.

I could never quite understand when Dave St. Peter left, and you were elevated to team president and leader of baseball operations. I’m speaking from the heart here, maybe second guessing your decision to be so directly involved in on-field decisions and player personal moves. I think one of the organization’s biggest downfalls has been way too much micro-managing, and they ridding of senior VP and general manager Thad Levine.

Maybe it comes with insecurity there within your office. It’s not about control! I have the perception there are people within the Twins front office who feel threatened. The front office must leave on-field decisions in the hands of a manager whose not afraid to push back at times. A manager needs to be allowed to do things their way!

The numbers certainly reflect the present way of running the Twins organization hasn’t worked. Some of it, I feel is ineptitude. There are individuals in positions withing the organization I feel could be eliminated or shifted to another individual. You’re only as strong as your weakest link!

First, and fore most, I think the Twins needs to retain coaches Luis Ramirez and name him an assistant bench coach/interpreter from his most recent position as assistant pitching coach/interpreter; Ramon Borrego retained as first base and infield coach; elevate Toby Gardenhire from AAA (St. Paul) manager to Twins 3B coach; and most importantly interview Jeremy Hefner for pitching coach along with Desi Druschel, who was Hefner assistant pitching coach with the Mets, having served in a similar position with the New York Yankees from 2022-2024. Hefner work for the Twins in 2019.

There are several candidates whom I feel could be viable options to manage or for an open coach’s position with the Twins going forward. My list of potential candidates has changed somewhat since Oct. 2.

* My clear-cut choice would be Carlos Beltran, 48. First and foremost he’s bi-lingual. I think that would be an asset with Latin players. He would be respected by players and a bridge between them and the front office.

* Ramon Vasquez, 49, he’s bi-lingual, an asset! Vasquez is a Puerto Rican professional baseball coach and a former infielder. Currently serves as the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox. Played for six big-league team: Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Pittsburgh Pirates.

* Rodney Linares, 48, he bi-lingual, an asset! Dominican–American coach for the Tampa Bay Rays (bench coach). Linares managed the Dominican national team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

* David Bell, 53, brother of former Twins coach the late Mike Bell. Served as Cincinnati Reds manager from (2019-2024), compiling 409 wins, 456 losses, a winning percentage of .473. He also served as a coach for the Chicago Cubs (2013) and St. Louis Cardinals (2014-2017). 

* Derek Shelton, 55, Between having managerial experience with Pittsburgh Pirates (2020-2025) and previous coaching ties to the Twins,makes a ton of sense. His managerial record is 306 wins, 440 losses, a .410 winning percentage.

* Nic Punto, 47, is a former infielder for the Twins (2004-2010). He’d bring instant energy and accountability to the clubhouse. Punto is presently serving as a Major League coach for the San Diego Padres.

* James Rowsom, 49, is a former minor league outfielder whose been a major league coach since 2012. Rowson served as Twins hitting coach the 2017 season, a position he maintained through the 2019 season.

2017	.260 BA	.334 OBP	.434 SLG	.768 OPS
2018	.250 BA	.318 OBP	.405 SLG	.723 OPS
2019	.270 BA	.338 OBP	.494 SLG	.832 OPS

Face the FACTS, unless the Twins are going to INVEST money strategically to GET BETTER PLAYERS that are GOOD CLUBHOUSE LEADERSHIP on this team, it doesn’t matter who you have managing, including Lou Brown. 

Rodney Fort, a sports economist and University of Michigan professor emeritus offered an interesting assessment on the matter of Twins baseball.

“Franchise prices have grown dramatically. Buying into a professional sports team is an investment in a lucrative asset and virtually riskless. It’s pretty hard to lose money on a pro sports team,” he said. “I think you have to actually try to do that.”

– Rodney Fort, sports economist

This being said, and then the accidental leak of off-season plans to beat writers (Aaron Gleeman’s now-deleted tweet of the PDF), with subject line: “CONFIDENTIAL: Operation Moderate Competence 2026.” It’s all beginning to make sense. Was it intentional not accidental?

Cordially,

Jeff Benson
Personal Email: jjsj2.0@outlook.com
Cell: 712-661-8004