The Michigan!

March 3rd is the 4th annual Michigan APBA Tournament hosted by the gracious Rich Zawadzki.

This year the theme is the DH era, or any American League team 1973-2017.  I selected the 1988 Twins.

The 1988 Twins finished 91-71, a solid year coming off their World Series win in 1987 and on their way to their next ring in 1991. Statistically, it was one of the best years for the big three: Puckett, Hrbek, and Gaetti.

Here is how they stack up by batting order and position:

1.  John Moses  (F)  RF-2
2.  Kirby Puckett (F) CF-3
3.  Gary Gaetti  3B-5
4.  Kent Hrbek (S) 1B-4
5.  Randy Bush (S)  DH
6.  Tim Laudner  (S) C-7
7.  Tommy Herr (F) 2B-8
8.  Dan Gladden (F) LF-2
9.  Gregg Gagne (F) SS-9

The Michigan tourney uses a three man rotation and each arm must go 5 innings unless injured.

The Rotation:

Frank Viola  Ayz
Allan Anderson Az
Bert Blyleven  Dyz


The rotation is hot or cold with two As at the top and Bert as a D at the bottom with z's up and down.

Bull Pen:

Jeff Reardon  A*xz
Keith Atherton  B*yz
Juan Berenguer C*xyw

The pen looks OK with the z's for the #1 and #2, Atherton and Reardon may get work when Bert takes the bump.

Bench:

Brian Harper (S)  C-6
John Davidson  (F)  OF-2
Gene Larkin  1B-3
Al Newman   (F) 3B-4, SS-7, 2B-7
Steve Lombardozzi  2B-8, SS-6, 3B-3

Some speed off the bench and the necessary reserves for injuries with a decent pinch hitter or two in Larkin and Lombo.

Defense is almost always a 1.

In a DH tourney, Randy Bush gets the nod for the Twins.

Here are the APBA cards for the starting 9.

Lead-off hitter and short-time Twin Moses playing Right Field.  I like the 11s.

Mr. Twin and HOFer Puckett in CF.  Look at that card!  Try to ignore the 13-13.  Batters 2-6 have a 66-1.

You can't sneak the cheese by The Rat!  A very solid #3 hitter. and great with the glove.

 Heribie!  The hometown hero hitting cleanup and playing 1B.

Randy Bush holding down the DH spot in a DH tourney. Another single column card for this team.

 Tim Laudner behind the dish.

 Another short-time Twin, T-Bone Herr at 2B.  Starring the Speed-at-the-bottom part of the lineup.

The best nickname on the team- Dan "Wrench" Gladden in LF.

Long-time Twin hero at SS-Gags. With some pop, don't miss that 66-1