GM Smith not worried by how Twins finished

Bill Smith said he believes the Twins gained an advantage when they clinched a playoff spot early so they could rest players. Other teams had to use players nursing injuries until the final days of the season to make sure they made the playoffs.

"Every team in the game had banged-up players at the end of the season, so clinching the division with a couple of weeks to go [Sept. 21] has been a great benefit for us in that regard in that we've been able to try to get our guys healthy," Smith said. "We'll trade what the record is over the last few days or the last week for a healthy team.

"[Yankees pitcher] Andy Pettitte's been struggling, he's been on the DL. Evan Longoria down in Tampa, he didn't play for a week. Josh Hamilton down in Texas has been out for most of this month."

The Twins went 3-8 after clinching the division title, resting a lot of players in the process. Of the final stretch, Smith said: "Every team that has clinched has scuffled a little bit in the last week. The Yankees, the Rays and the Reds. We're disappointed, I think, in the way it's gone. But we tried to focus on getting our guys healthy and getting our guys ready and having them rested. Our challenge is to be ready to go when the playoffs start."

Though the Yankees announced their Division Series roster Tuesday, the Twins are waiting until the deadline Wednesday morning. It might not include Scott Baker, who started on Opening Day this year and has won 47 games in their rotation over the past four years. Reliable Kevin Slowey, who is 39-21 in his major league career, likely will pitch out of the bullpen. Slowey spent time on the disabled list and Baker also battled injury troubles down the stretch.

"Somebody gets hurt and somebody else has an opportunity," Smith said of the two righthanders. "Brian Duensing was pitching out of the bullpen, and Nick Blackburn actually wasn't hurt but wasn't pitching well so we sent him down to [Class AAA] Rochester.

"Duensing went into that rotation and has been spectacular, so he's earned a spot. Then Blackburn came back from Rochester and he has pitched very well, so as Baker and Slowey have had to deal with different injuries, it's created some opportunities and it's great to have some guys step in and seize the opportunity."

Different this time The Twins are 2-9 against the Yankees in the playoffs, but Michael Cuddyer looks for things to be different this time.

"We've obviously been there before, so it's not going to be anything new, but it's a new team for us, so we're excited," said Cuddyer, the only player on every Twins playoff team under manager Ron Gardenhire.

Cuddyer said he believes that having the Yankees series start here for the first time gives the Twins an edge they have not had before.

"Hopefully that will be a little bit different," he said. "... I think it makes a big difference. We get those first two here and hopefully we can get through."

Cuddyer said he thinks this is the best Twins team of recent years to face the Yankees.

Cuddyer wouldn't say that he would have preferred to face the Rays instead of the Yankees, who have dominated the Twins for a long time.

"We have no control over who we're going to play," he said. "Now that it's the Yankees, we can look forward to that, and we're excited about it."

Experience helps Center fielder Denard Span said playing the Yankees last year will help the Twins this year.

"They have been a tough opponent, but in the playoffs anything can happen," he said. "Of course, I think we're a year older in experience and I think we've added some key additions, and I think we're ready to go."

Despite their lack of success against the Yankees, the Twins are confident, according to Span.

"I don't think there was any fear at all last year, they just caught some breaks. They were the world champions, so you have to tip your hat off to them last year."