MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with sports commentator Howard Sinker about the status of 1991 World Series and potential game plans for Game 6 between Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves.
MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with sports commentator Howard Sinker about the status of 1991 World Series and potential game plans for Game 6 between Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves.
HOWARD SINKER: Well, yeah. There are two games left. They're both at the Metrodome. I'm not saying it's a sure thing. I wouldn't bet the house on it. I probably wouldn't even bet $5 on it right now without good odds. But the Braves are coming back into the dome. And there are going to be 55,000 people there, 54,000 of them screaming wildly for the Twins.
Stranger Things have happened. And the Braves were down three games to two to Pittsburgh in the National League playoffs and came back and beat him on enemy turf. So the Twins could do the same thing to the Braves on their home field.
SPEAKER: Realistically, do the Twins have a hope with Scott Erickson pitching?
HOWARD SINKER: Oh, they could.
SPEAKER: He's scheduled to pitch, of course.
HOWARD SINKER: --surprised, for one thing, if it's one of those 11 to 9 games, one way or another. Avery didn't look that sharp his last three innings on the mound against the Twins. Erickson didn't look sharp at all. At the same time, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if people get to the park tomorrow night and find that Scott Erickson isn't starting for the Twins.
SPEAKER: Who would be?
HOWARD SINKER: The only choice I would think would be Mark Guthrie. I was intrigued by the fact that in game 5, Kelly did not use him in the late innings, when he could have been used to burn off an inning or two. Instead, he sent out Carl Willis, who generally plays a more prominent role and who had already pitched in games 3 and 4.
SPEAKER: Let me throw out a wild card. What about Rick Aguilera?
HOWARD SINKER: I don't think so. Somebody's got to finish him off. The thing about Guthrie is he's been a starting pitcher this year from time to time. He could go five or six or seven innings. I'm not sure that they could get Aguilera past three or four.
I'm not sure you can do that to a closer. I'm not sure you can do that to a guy who pitches an inning or two at a time. And besides, somebody's going to have to finish off the game. And I don't think they have nearly as much confidence in anyone else to finish up. But 100 points for you and a new car if they do do that.
SPEAKER: [LAUGHS] Well, it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. But on the other hand--
HOWARD SINKER: On the other hand--
SPEAKER: --he's well-rested.
HOWARD SINKER: He'll do Chili Davis make much sense. Do the Twins not hitting a lick with runners in scoring position, does that make any sense?
SPEAKER: Well that brings us to the next question, Howard. No matter who pitches, at some point, somebody has to get a hit. Is there even the faintest glimmer of hope that the big hitters on the team are going to break out of their slump?
HOWARD SINKER: Well, one of the things about having big hitters-- let's talk big hitters Hrbek and Puckett. They're the guys who are hitting right now, more like Jarvis Brown and Junior Ortiz. Brown and Ortiz, you write off as lightweights.
Hrbek and Puckett, you say these guys are eventually going to get a hit. These guys are eventually going to get a big hit. These guys are eventually going to drive in runs. Well, eventually for the Twins, better be game 6 and 7. They've run out of time to say snap out of it, guys. It has to happen Saturday and Sunday, or it's not going to happen at all.
SPEAKER: Do you think we can expect any more lineup changes, a la Chili Davis in right field. Not that he'd go out there to play, but are any other big surprises in store tomorrow?
HOWARD SINKER: Well, let's see, they could start Walter Johnson on the mound and Willie Mays in center and Harmon Killebrew at first. But no, I think that they're going to go back to the plan A lineup. I don't see any changes they could make at this point.
I think the biggest disappointment right now might be Gladden. He's at the top of the order and he's not doing a thing. And if there was one change that would be made for game 6 in the lineup-- and I don't think it's going to happen-- it would be to maybe put someone else in the outfield.
SPEAKER: Howard, I know you-- before we even started the series, you swore off predictions. But I do have to ask for one from you. As we head into the final weekend of the World Series, do you think the Twins can put out of the fire here, or are they cooked?
HOWARD SINKER: I think they can, but whether they will or not, that's a story we'll know by about 10:30 Sunday night.
SPEAKER: Still dodging that issue.
HOWARD SINKER: I'm going to dodge that issue right down to their final out.
SPEAKER: Thanks, Howard.
HOWARD SINKER: OK
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