European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 8, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 the stars and stripes  8, 1991 american league playoffs practice set ends for somebodies playing for keeps twins rate Edge by Jim Donaghy a baseball writer this must be what baseball in the �?T90s was meant to be. For the first time an entire playoff series is moving indoors. Plenty of lights cameras and action. Also lots of noise. Toronto and Minnesota were to open the Best-of-7 american league playoffs tuesday night in the metronome. They be become quite familiar with each other too. The Blue jays done to even have to travel to1 their playoff destination having finished the season by taking two of three at Minnesota. A the advantage is you have a Chance to see some of their pitchers up close and get More familiar a twins general manager Andy Macphail said. A but that a a disadvantage too because they get the same  the twins surprised almost everyone in 1987 by beating Detroit in the playoffs and then St. Louis in the world series. A lot of Minnesota a Success had to do with playing inside too. A i guess a negative for us is they have had time to get a Little More acclimated to the dome a Macphail said. A they wont even have to  the Blue jays won the season series 84 and finished with a 91-71 record. The twins ended up 95-67, a 21-game improvement Over 1990�?Ts last place showing. In an otherwise meaningless weekend of baseball the twins sent the. Blue jays a message on sunday. Devon White led off the game with a Home run and was brushed Back by Pom Edens in the third inning. It was definitely intentional a White said. A i done to know if he was trying to Nail me in the head or what but he was definitely sending me a  a look at How the playoffs shape up first base Toronto John Olerud a batting .203 on june 13, Olerud found his Sweet swing after the All Star break. Olerud compares to Mark Grace on the cubs. Me wont scare you with his Power but he a always dangerous. Olerud finished with 17 homers and 68 Rols. Minnesota Kent Hrbek a one of the team leaders and a clutch hitter. Hrbek has eight consecutive 2 Homer seasons. Among twins Only Harmon Killebrew had More with nine. The twins Are 39-16 in games in which he has an rib. Edge  base Toronto Roberto Alomar a Alomar might have been the most consistent Blue Jay All season. He finished with 188 hits and 53 steals. Alomary a defense has also been steady. Minnesota Chuek Knoblauch a Knoblauch a top Rookie of the year candidate is one of the big reasons the twins moved from worst to first. Minnesota is 50-15 when Knoblauch scores. His defense has been outstanding too. Edge  Toronto Manuel Lee a Lee moved from second to shortstop after Tony Fernandez was traded and became More comfortable with Alomar As the season progressed. Lee is not much of a hitter though with Only 11 Rols since All Star break lie hits much better against left handers. Minnesota Greg Gagne a Gagne is one of the Best fielders in baseball going 76 straight games at one Point this season without an error. He goes into the playoffs swinging a pretty Good Bat too. Gagne rebounded from a .235 season to hit .265. Edge Gagne. A file Center fielder Kirby Puckett never seems to run out of important hits for  1 on an seb to radio 1 . Wednesday third base Toronto Kelly Gruber a Grubert a first half was hampered by a thumb injury but he came through in september with six homers and 21 Rols. To beat the twins the jays will need some Power from him. Minnesota Mike Pagliarulo Scott Leius a after hitting .196 with san Diego in 1989, Pagliarulo was almost out of baseball. But he found a Job with the twins. He a not the Type of hitter you want to beat you though. His Fielding is Only average. Some scouts credit Pagliarulo a turnaround to hitting coach Terry Crowley. Leius in a Utility role hit .286. Edge  Toronto Pat Borders Greg Myers a Borders strength is his defense but he hit some very big Home runs in september. He also drove in 11 runs for the month. Myers is 9 for 12 is. The twins this season. Minnesota Brian Harper a like Pagliarulo Harper struggled before finding Success with the twins. He is particularly comfortable at the metronome 74 for 217, .341. Harper loves to hit on artificial turf. Edge Harper. Left Field Toronto Candy Maldonado a Maldonado was claimed on waivers from Milwaukee on aug. 9. It proved to be a worthwhile addition As he added some needed punch. Maldonado brings playoff experience. Minnesota Dan Gladden a Gladden one of the 1987 postseason heroes for the twins ended the season struggling at the Bat. The twins Are 37-13 in games he has scored a run. Edge even. Center Field Toronto Devon White a White known for his defense became one of the better All around players in the league in 1991. He achieved double figures in Home runs 17triples 10doubles 40 and stolen bases 33. He Aiso scored 110 runs. Minnesota Kirby Puckett a Puckett is the twins answer to Joe Carter. Puckett always seems to get the big hit for Minnesota and often gets things started. He is has eight homers and 22rbls in first at Bat of the game. Edge  Field Toronto Joe Carter a Carter has been everything the Blue jays wanted and More with 33 homers and 108 Rols. He set club record for doubles 42 and is also the first major leaguer Ever to have three consecutive 100 rib seasons with three different teams. Carter hit 23 homers at sky dome. Minnesota Shane Mack a Mack a padre castoffs two years ago had a big year for the twins. He set career highs for Home runs 18hits 137runs 79doubles 27triples 8 and Rols 74. Only four of his homers have been at Home. Edge  hitter Toronto Ranee Mulliniks Pat Tabler and cookie Wilson a what the Blue jays would really like is to use Dave Parker As their do but he a not eligible. Manager Cito Gaston will probably go with the hot hitter a if there is one. Minnesota Chili Davis a Davis turned out to be one of the better free agent signings of the season As he hit a career High 28 homers and drove in 93 runs. Last season he had Only 12 homers in 412 at bats for California. Davis has slowed in the second half however. He had 19 homers and 51 Rols on june 29. Edge  pitchers Toronto Tom Candiotti 13-13juan Guzman 10-3jinty key 16-12 and Todd Stottlemyre 15-8 a Candiotti the knuckle Baller will Start game 1 for the Blue jays followed by Guzman and key. Toronto pitchers have been particularly Tough on Minnesota this season. The Blue jays like the contrast of the hard throwing Guzman Between Candiotti and key. Minnesota Jack Morris 18-12kevin Tapani 16-9 and Scott Erickson 20-8 a Morris is postseason tested and just the Pitcher a manager would want in a game 7 situation. The Trio combined for 54 victories to tic the club record set by Dave Boswell 20jim Perry 20 and Jim Kaat 14 in 1969. Erickson is Only 8-5 since coming off the disabled list on july 15. Edge  Toronto Duane Ward Tom Henke Mike Timlin Jim Acker and David Wells a when Henke missed some time in september because of tendinitis Ward came up big and appeared in 80 games this season with 23 saves. Henke led the Blue jays with 32 saves in 35 opportunities. Wells was a starter most of the season so he will be a Middle reliever if one of the starters gets in trouble. Minnesota Rick Aguilera Steve Bedro Sian Mark Guthrie Carl Willis David West and Terry Leach a the twins bullpen Isnit As deep As the Blue jays but with Aguilera 42 saves leading the Way almost As effective. Middle Relief could be a problem area for Minnesota. Edge Blue  Toronto a cookie Wilson provides a spark whether coming off the Bench starting or filling the do role. If the bases Are loaded look for Pat Tabler 42 for 86 Lije time with the sacks filled. Ranee Mulli Niks is 20 for 50 with runners in scoring position. Minnesota a part of the twins Success was their deep Bench. Minnesota Pinch hitters led by Randy Bush 13 Tor 33k topped the majors with a .303 47 Tor 1>m Mark. Gene Larkin Scott Leius and a Newman Are also major contributors Ami usually find their Way into the game. Edge twins