BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : WORLD SERIES : Molitor to Need a Glove in Philadelphia

While the Blue Jays still are keeping their intentions a secret, sources close to Toronto Manager Cito Gaston said that designated hitter Paul Molitor will definitely be in the lineup when the World Series moves to Philadelphia and the DH rule is prohibited.

Molitor, who probably will replace third baseman Ed Sprague in the lineup, has not played regularly at third in a regular-season game since 1989. However, Molitor has played third in 793 regular-season games since 1978, and was the starting third baseman in the 1991 All-Star game.

“I haven’t heard anything,” Molitor said, “but if I play defensively it will be at third base, with an outside chance at first. I personally would not want to take (first baseman) John Olerud out of the lineup, and I’d say the same thing for (left fielder) Rickey (Henderson).

“I think it would be best I play third--not out of lack of respect for Eddie--but in terms of offensive potential and defensive risk.”

Molitor batted .332 with 111 runs batted in during the season, including .391 with a homer and five RBIs in the playoffs. Sprague, who was converted from a catcher during the off-season, batted .260 with 73 RBIs, and .286 with four RBIs in the playoffs.

“I’m still kicking it around,” Gaston said. “You don’t want to put a guy at a position where he’s uncomfortable. I’d like Paul to be comfortable, otherwise, it could hurt you more than he could help out.”

The Blue Jays weren’t happy about the designated hitter situation.

“I think it’s unfair when the DH is part of a team’s scheme of things for an entire season,” Molitor said, “and have it suddenly taken away. How can you penalize a team when you do the same things all year, and then tell them that you can’t?”

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Henderson revealed that he’s still aching from being hit by a pitch Aug. 22 against Jeff Nelson of the Seattle Mariners.

“I’m fighting the pain,” said Henderson, who batted only .120 in the playoffs. “I have two hand injuries, and I know anyone who’s ever played the game will tell you that you can’t hit with bad hands.

“I’ll keep taking it out there, give you what I got, but they are not well. It’s not going to stop me from playing because I know I can do something.”

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Gaston confirmed that Juan Guzman will start Game 1 of the World Series with Dave Stewart going in Game 2, but he refused to divulge whether he will go to a four-man rotation. If he uses four starters, however, Al Leiter probably will get the nod with Todd Stottlemyre going to the bullpen. Pat Hentgen is the likely choice for Game 3. . . . The Phillie starting rotation will be Curt Schilling, Terry Mulholland, Danny Jackson and Tommy Greene.