AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFF NOTES : Blue Jays Are Feeling Up to Speed

Center fielder Devon White predicted that if the Toronto Blue Jays capitalize on their speed, they will make fast work of their American League championship series against the Minnesota Twins.

“If everyone relaxes and plays the way we did all year, it’s going to be a short one,” said White, Toronto’s leadoff hitter.

Short and quick is the Blue Jays’ game plan, and their speed might be decisive in an otherwise even matchup.

“Right now, the only advantage we have is team speed,” said right fielder Joe Carter, who owes many of his 108 runs batted in to the baserunning of White and Roberto Alomar.

The Blue Jays mastered the art of unnerving opposing pitchers and manufacturing runs as Alomar stole 53 bases, White 33 and Carter 20. Toronto stole 148 bases, second to the Oakland Athletics’ 151 and 41 more than the Twins.

“Anything to get to second base and in scoring position is always on my mind,” White said. “If I get to second, Alomar or Joe Carter are going to drive me in.”

Said Carter: “If we can get Devo and Roberto going, as far as stealing bases (goes), it will be a big advantage for us. The more pressure you put on the other team’s defense, the more apt the defense is to make a mistake.”

Much of the pressure will be on Minnesota catcher Brian Harper, who threw out only 22 of 121 runners trying to steal. Harper says he is not that ineffective.

“I’m not saying I’m Johnny Bench, but the percentage of runners I’ve thrown out can be misleading,” he said. “A lot of it depends on the pitcher, and our pitchers are very slow to the plate. And I have to handle a lot of forkballs in the dirt.

“I don’t know if pressure is the right word, but I do feel a lot of responsibility. I think their 1-2 hitters (White and Alomar) are the best in the league. Obviously, it’s going to be a key factor. If they’re stealing bases and scoring runs, we’re in trouble.”

Minnesota Manager Tom Kelly knows that slowing White and Alomar will be crucial.

“They’re Rickey Henderson-types. They don’t have the reputation Rickey does, but they can flat-out run,” Kelly said. “It’s very important we get the first two guys out, or we’re going to be watching a merry-go-round on the bases.”

In recognition of their success, the Twins rewarded General Manager Andy MacPhail with a three-year contract extension. MacPhail said he considered the division title more gratifying than his first, in 1987.

“This is more rewarding because the division got so much tougher,” MacPhail said. “Every club was at .500 or better. To make the jump from last to first in that environment is something the organization can look on with a great deal of pride.”

Anticipating that the roaring Metrodome crowd will drown out any conversation, White and Carter will use hand signals to indicate who should catch fly balls if there’s any doubt. The two developed the system after poor communication led to two outfield misplays in a series the Boston Red Sox swept from them earlier this season.

“Basically, Joe is a lot better outfielder than people give him credit for and he’s fast, so he can get to a lot of balls,” White said. “He tells me I’m so fast, I get to balls he doesn’t expect I’ll get to. So we came up with the solution of waving each other off, even if noise isn’t a factor.”

Carter’s strategy is simple.

“Devo knows anything hit to left is his and anything hit to right is his, too,” Carter said. “If it’s hit right to us (Carter or left fielder Candy Maldonado), we’ll catch it. Otherwise, it’s Devo’s.”

White, who was traded by the Angels to Toronto with Willie Fraser for Luis Sojo and Junior Felix last December, enjoys knowing he and another Angel discard, Minnesota designated hitter Chili Davis, played prominent roles in their new teams’ division championships.

“For Chili and me, it’s been an in-your-face season,” White said.