Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Despite going 0-for-9 in the first two games of the AL championship series, Twins left fielder Jacque Jones will remain in Minnesota's leadoff spot.

"I'm not worried about Jacque," manager Ron Gardenhire said Thursday. "He's hitting some balls on the nose, but he's just not getting any hits right now. You go through periods where you don't hit, and Jacque's going through a little phase. But good pitching can make you not hit."

Jones is 5-for-29 with 11 strikeouts in seven postseason games. He batted .313 against the Angels this season with a homer and three RBIs in 32 at-bats and is 1-for-7 lifetime against Friday's Game 3 starter, Jarrod Washburn.

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BACK TO GRASS ROOTS BASEBALL: The Anaheim Angels have been one of the most aggressive baserunning teams in the majors, and their series-tying 6-3 victory in Game 2 on Wednesday night at the Metrodome was a perfect example.

Now that the series has shifted to Edison Field for the next three games, the Angels may have an even greater advantage because of the way the grass slows up ground singles through the hole or up the middle.

"I know they play deeper in the outfield because they're used to playing deeper on the turf," said Angels right fielder Tim Salmon, who expects to be back in the lineup after leaving Game 2 because of tightness in his right hamstring.

"Because of that, maybe they're not quite as aggressive charging the ball on the grass, because it's not as true a bounce and it's snaking a little bit," Salmon said. "But they play well in any situation or circumstance, so I don't think you're going to see any noticeable dropoff in the way they play their game."

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CITY OF BIG SHOULDERS: Several years before his death, the Angels retired uniform No. 26 in honor of owner Gene Autry - signifying that Autry was the "26th man" on the team.

Autry's spirit will be felt throughout Edison Field during Games 3, 4 and 5. When fans enter the ballpark, they will see an inflated Angels No. 26 jersey that stands about 20 feet high above the seats in right-center field and to the left of the scoreboard.

The Angles have retired four uniform numbers worn by team personnel, including Nolan Ryan's No. 30, Jim Fregosi's No. 11, Rod Carew's No. 29 and longtime conditioning coach Jimmie Reese's No. 50.

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GOING THE OTHER WAY: Twins manager Ron Gardenhire hasn't decided on his right fielder for Game 3. He was displeased with the way Michael Cuddyer played Troy Glaus' triple and Scott Spiezio's bloop double that landed just inside the foul line.

"This kid's played very well for us during the course of the playoffs, but I wasn't happy with the tentativeness that he chased those balls with," Gardenhire said. "I've got a couple other guys I know need some playing time, too, and should get in there. But I haven't really given it a thought."

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BETTER BULLPEN: Ask anyone who was around the Angels in 1986, and they'll tell you the major difference between this team and the one that was in the ALCS 16 years ago against the Boston Red Sox is the bullpen.

"The '86 team had more power, but we didn't have the middle relief that we have at this level this year. I think it's the key," said Angels advance scout Moose Stubing, the team's third base coach in '86. "You can go get somebody in there sooner because you have confidence in the bullpen. You can get five or six out of your starter now and get one or two out of different guys without burning somebody out."

Stubing has trouble getting the disappointment of 1986 out of his mind. The Angels were one strike from advancing to the World Series when Dave Henderson broke Angels fans hearts with a home run, and Boston won the series with two one-sided victories at Fenway Park.

"You replay it all the time," Stubing said. "I replay that more than some of the golf shots I've hit."

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THE HAPPIEST PLACE IN ANAHEIM: Jackie Autry, who roots as hard for the Angels now as she did when her husband owned the team, had high marks for The Walt Disney Co. even before the team made it to the playoffs.

"This year, I'd have to give them an A-plus. The whole body of work over a four-year period, I'd probably give them a B," she said.

"They're in a business not to lose money. They, like most owners today, want to operate on a budget - which is a word I mentioned in 1990. The beat writers back then did not understand what the word `budget' meant, and they didn't understand `fiscal responsibility.'

"Now, that's all the owners want to talk about. And I got shot as the messenger in 1990 for saying that. But I have broad shoulders," she said.