Olerud Benched By Jays -- Molitor To Replace .363 Hitter

PHILADELPHIA - John Olerud spent five months this season resurrecting memories of Ted Williams, easily winning the American League batting title, and producing one of the finest seasons of any player in Toronto Blue Jay history.

His reward?

Olerud will be sitting on the bench tonight in Game 3 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Paul Molitor, the team's designated hitter during the season, was privately informed yesterday by Manager Cito Gaston to expect to be in the starting lineup tonight at first base. Olerud will watch, hoping he might be used later as a pinch-hitter.

"That's just the way it goes," said Olerud, who batted .363 this season. "As long as we win the series, that's all that matters. If it's best for the ballclub, I'm all for it."

Gaston decided to start Molitor at first base primarily because left-hander Danny Jackson is starting for the Phillies. Although Olerud was quite respectable against left-handers this season, batting .291, Molitor batted .363 against them.

"It's kind of an unusual situation," Olerud said, "but what are you going to do. I mean, how are you going to bench Paul Molitor?"

Gaston would have liked to start Molitor at third base instead of Ed Sprague, who batted .260 with 12 homers and 73 runs batted in this season, but Molitor's arm strength remains a concern. Although he continued to take ground balls at third base and first during yesterday's workouts, Molitor acknowledged that it might not be wise to trust his arm during critical situations.

"I just don't have the arm strength I once did," Molitor said.

Olerud is expected to return to the lineup tomorrow for Game 4. It will leave Gaston trying to decide whether to keep Molitor on the bench, or Sprague.

"If Paul had worked at third regularly all season," Sprague said, "I'm sure I'd be the odd man out the whole series. . . .

"The bottom line is that we want to win, and none of us will be opposed to whatever Cito decides. Really, it's that simple."

Although it continues to be speculated upon by the Toronto media, Gaston again insisted that Molitor will play either first or third base in Philadelphia and will not be taking Rickey Henderson's spot in left field.

---------------------------------------------------. Comparison. . World Series Avg. H/AB HR RBI. John Olerud .333 2-6 1 2. Paul Molitor .429 3-7 0 1. Ed Sprague .125 1-8 0 0. . ALCS. . John Olerud .348 8-23 0 3. Paul Molitor .391 9-23 1 5. Ed Sprague .286 6-21 0 4. . . Regular season. . John Olerud .363 200-551 24 107. Paul Molitor .332 211-636 22 111. Ed Sprague .260 142-546 12 73. .

Note: Against left-handed pitchers during the regular season, Molitor batted .363, Olerud .291 and Sprague .247.