Twins, Braves Show Angels the Highway to Heaven

The 1991 World Series, the first to be played by worst-to-first climbers and the best to be played by anyone anywhere, captivated a country, resuscitated a sport and saved CBS, but it also raised as many questions as it answered.

In Minnesota: Is Jack Morris God . . . or is Kirby Puckett?

In Atlanta: What was Lonnie Smith thinking when he stopped at second base instead of looking at third base coach Jimy Williams? Wondering what Jimy did with the other m ?

In Anaheim: Can it happen here?

The Twins and the Braves represented more than their respective leagues and communities in this World Series. For the Angels, Indians and Astros of the world, they represented hope.

If the Twins can erase a 29-game deficit in the American League West in 12 months, why can’t the Angels clear a 14-game hurdle?

If the Braves can go from 65-97 to the 10th inning of the seventh game of the World Series, why can’t the Angels springboard from 81-81?

(No straight lines intended.)

If Whitey Herzog, Dan O’Brien and Buck Rodgers were taking notes this October, their rough draft for the winter ahead ought to look something like this:

1. Defense wins.

2. Knowing how to win wins.

3. Superstars aren’t required, but dogs will not be tolerated.

4. ‘Tis better to spend your free-agent dollars on three Honda Accords than one Mercedes-Benz.

5. Hold on to your pitching.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about the new-look Twins and Braves is how similar they looked to the old-look versions. Neither general manager, not Andy MacPhail of Minnesota or John Schuerholz of Atlanta, prescribed overhauls after 1990. Odds and ends were their means to an end. They didn’t make over, they accessorized.

MacPhail added a starting pitcher, a designated hitter and a third baseman--the third baseman only because his incumbent, Gary Gaetti, jumped to Anaheim--and promoted a second baseman from double A. Schuerholz added a relief pitcher, a first baseman, a third baseman and a shortstop. To do this, both opted for the free-agent route, but both settled for the middle lane.

Jack Morris was the only marquee name among the new Twins and new Braves--and his was well-faded. The so-acclaimed Pitcher of the ‘80s was 6-14 in 1989, 15-18 in 1990 and 36 in 1991. As for his fastball, Morris came to the Twins acclaimed as a pitcher in the ‘80s.

Elsewhere, MacPhail enlisted Chili Davis, unwanted by the Angels, as his designated hitter and Mike Pagliarulo, unwanted by San Diego, as his third baseman. Schuerholz signed Terry Pendleton (.230 in 1990) to play third base, Sid Bream (.270) to play first base, Rafael Belliard (.204) to play shortstop and Juan Berenguer (no saves) to anchor the bullpen. In late August, when Berenguer went on the disabled list with a career-high 17 saves, Schuerholz traded for Alejandro Pena and Pena converted all 11 of his save opportunities down the stretch.

Interesting note amid the mix: The Angels could have had Davis by simply re-signing him and could have chosen Pendleton instead of Gaetti. Once the decision was made to pursue a free-agent third baseman, that became the Angels’ choice--Gaetti or Pendleton. The Angels backed away from Pendleton, thinking him too fat, so the Braves wound up with Pendleton’s fat 1991 batting average and probable National League MVP acceptance speech.

Herzog, who managed Pendleton in two World Series in St. Louis, knew better, but his arrival in Anaheim was eight months too late.

Pendleton gave the Braves what Morris lent the Twins--pennant-winning know-how. The difference in the NL West race? Pendleton, who batted .319 with 22 home runs and aired out younger Braves for partying till 4 in the morning when they should have been bearing down on the late dates on their schedule.

The difference in the World Series? Morris and Puckett, the two and only baseball stars in North Star country. All one needs to say about the 1991 World Series is this: It took perhaps the greatest two-way performance in World Series history (Puckett, Game 6) and perhaps the greatest pitching performance in World Series history (Morris, Game 7) for the Twins to win it.

The Angels thought they were buying this type of know-how when they acquired Dave Parker, but they neglected one variable the Braves and the Twins didn’t: Pendleton and Morris can still play. The Angels need players who have been there--and have enough gas to get back. Among those names highest on the Angels’ off-season shopping list, Bobby Bonilla, Danny Tartabull and Ruben Sierra all feature full tanks, but only Bonilla comes equipped with the necessary road map.

Sierra, or Ellis Burks, another name making the rumor rounds, are non-free agents, meaning that the Angels would have to part with a pitcher to get one. Don’t. Schuerholz was similarly tempted last year, but he kept Young Guns III--Tom Glavine, Steve Avery and John Smoltz--intact and look where it got him. In Chuck Finley, Jim Abbott and Mark Langston, the Angels have a threesome to match--plus Bryan Harvey, the best young closer in baseball.

Don’t let any of them out of Buck Rodgers’ sight.

The Angels are desperate for more offense, but defense was responsible for the rise in Atlanta and Minnesota.

In 1990, Atlanta first basemen combined for an astounding 26 errors. Bream corrected that. Likewise, Pendleton and Belliard bridged the chasm that had been the Braves’ left side of the infield for years.

The Twins led the American League in fielding percentage in 1991 and have Gold Glove probables in Puckett, first baseman Kent Hrbek and shortstop Greg Gagne. Gagne is everything the Angels wish they had in Dick Schofield--airtight in the field (76-game errorless streak, nine errors all year) and an occasional threat with the bat (.265). Gagne’s home run in the World Series opener was one more than Schofield hit in 134 games.

With the possible exception of Brian Harper at catcher--and Davis in right field for the games in Atlanta--the Twins had no defensive holes. The Angels had a big one in left field, and a growing one in right, which is why Herzog is intent on moving Luis Polonia to the position he was born to play--DH--and replacing Dave Winfield’s 40-year-old legs with more sprightly ones.

The Twins and the Braves have shown the Angels the way. We shall see if the Angels shall follow.

They can use two new outfielders who can run and hit.

They can use a new contract for Wally Joyner.

They can use a veteran pitcher or two, more along the lines of Morris and less along the lines of Valenzuela.

And, they could use a home-improvement kit. How do you suppose Anaheim Stadium would look with a Teflon roof, air ducts in the upper deck and a plastic trash bag in right?