Vikings coach Brad Childress talking about cornerback Antoine Winfield:  “With his physical stature, first of all, I don’t know anybody that hits harder than that guy pound-for-pound.  I mean we’re talking about coming up and taking on offensive linemen, sticking a knife in a sweep, hitting the screen. …Deep thinker. He’s with the program. …” 

Special teams coordinator Paul Ferraro said whether Troy Williamson returns kickoffs depends on Williamson’s physical condition and input from Childress. 

The Twins finished the season at 96-66 after a record of 83-79 last season.  The home and road records were 54-27 and 42-39, compared with 45-36 and 38-43 in 2005. 

Talking about his unusual facial expressions when pitching, Twins reliever Pat Neshek said he first became aware of them while viewing video tape in the minor leagues:  “I never even noticed that until I watched the videos every night and reviewed what I did the night before…it’s pretty funny.”  He added, “I don’t think it intimidates anybody. It just looks funny.”

Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said opposing pitchers and hitters make adjustments to one another in a playoff series, but hitters gain more advantage as a series progresses.  

It was 50 years ago this October the Gophers enjoyed one of their few wins against Michigan, defeating the Wolverines 20-7 in Ann Arbor.  The Gophers rallied from a 7-0 halftime deficit to score 20 second half points behind quarterback Bobby Cox.  The game helped the Gophers to a 6-1-2 season, a near Rose Bowl invitation and national publicity for Cox.  The next season Cox became the only Gopher football player ever to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

When the Twins made the playoffs earlier this week champagne and emotions flowed in the clubhouse.  A young team that had played under .500 baseball earlier in the season achieved a remarkable turn around to claim one of eight playoff spots in major league baseball.   

The Twins are a team with many performers that don’t have playoff experience.  Included are pitchers Matt Garza and Boof Bonser, catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau, shortstop Jason Bartlett, third baseman Nick Punto and outfielder Jason Kubel.  Players are young, too, such as Garza, 22, Mauer, 23, and Bonser, 24. 

Sometimes a young and inexperienced group can lose its focus and edge after earning a playoff opportunity.  Consciously or unconsciously the mindset is this: It’s good enough to make the playoffs, particularly when no one expected the team to advance.  

A visitor asked Twins manager Ron Gardenhire if he thought his Twins might be such a team. “They are going to go out and give you everything they have (in the playoffs),” he answered.  “That’s what they have done all year.  It won’t change in the playoffs.  They are going to play as hard as they can.”   

If the Twins fail in the playoffs it won’t be because the players “are afraid” or don’t know how to compete, Gardenhire said. “We have been through a lot of tough baseball games,” he said.  “Every game has been a playoff game for it seems like a month when you are trying to catch up (in the AL Central race to finish first).  If it doesn’t work out for us, if we were to get beat … it’s just the other team is a little better than us…. They (the Twins players) are so excited.  They know we can win. They have proved we can win so we will see what happens.”

The complete pitching rotation for the five game playoff series is to be determined.  Johan Santana will pitch game one and if there is a game five he will draw that assignment, too.  For certain the Twins will be characterized by playoff inexperience since eight pitchers are making their first playoff appearances.  Possible starters could include the previously mentioned young rookies, Bonser and Garza.

Pitching coach Rick Anderson expressed appreciation for having Santana, a leading Cy Young candidate with a record of 19-7 and a 2.77 ERA.

“It’s nice to probably have the best pitcher in the American league leading you off,” he said. “Let the kids who will follow him sit and watch a game and get that nervousness out before they have to run out there.” 

Anderson counsels more with this pitching staff because of its inexperience than others he has had.  His mantra: “Always stay positive.”  He tries to find the silver lining even in a poor performance.  He will tell a pitcher, “When you did this it was outstanding and that’s what we’re going to work on.” 

Anderson is determined to build confidence in his staff.  “Never let them drag their heads,” he said. “Try to keep them upbeat.”   

The Twins bullpen, arguably the best in baseball, and a rebuilt starting staff have provided pleasant surprises for Anderson and others. “Oh, my! This is probably the most rewarding (experience as the Twins pitching coach).  This is (my) fourth time to the playoffs.  All the other times we had some veterans to run out there. …But this one here you are running these kids out there and they are answering the bell. It’s a wonderful thing to see how these kids respond to it.” 

Anderson is hoping for similar results in the playoffs to the success of the regular season with his staff (second best staff ERA in the American League). “When you get to the playoffs (you) need to keep it loose and easy, and don’t let them get too uptight and start thinking about it,” he said.  “Just go out and keep doing what you have been doing.”