 09/11/2002 9:48 pm ET
MLBeat: Managing the calendar
By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com
PHOENIX -- Manager Bob Brenly said Wednesday he hadn't yet decided if or how he
would tinker with his rotation to prepare for the postseason.
Curt Schilling
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As it stands right now, if the Diamondbacks continue to start Curt
Schilling and Randy Johnson every fifth day, Johnson's turn would fall on the
season's final day, while Schilling would be rested for Game 1 of the NL
Division Series.
The D-Backs faced a similar scenario in 2001 with Johnson's turn falling on the
season finale in Milwaukee. Because the club already had clinched the NL West, Johnson did not make the start. Rather he threw a side session that set
him up to start Game 2 of the Division Series with Schilling starting the
opener.
Brenly is loathe to discuss possible playoff plans until his club clinches a
berth.
"We've got some time here to kick it around," Brenly said. "I don't think we can
really make plans until there's a reason to make plans. We'll just have to
discuss it and see. Obviously those are our two horses and we're going to get
them as many starts as we can should we get to the postseason."
Speaking of Johnson and Schilling: Brenly said Wednesday he was glad he
does not get to vote for the NL Cy Young Award, because choosing between his two
aces is just too tough.
Randy Johnson
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"I told somebody awhile ago it's like having twin daughters and have both of
them up for homecoming queen," Brenly said laughing. "I love them both. How do
you pick?"
Seeing straight: Outfielder David Dellucci was OK to play Wednesday, one day
after getting hit in the head by a throw while stealing second base. Dellucci
suffered a concussion and eventually left Tuesday's game.
The concussion was the first Dellucci ever had suffered on the baseball field, though he says he's had others while playing football. One memorable one occurred
while he was returning a punt and it ended with him jogging to the wrong
sidelines after play.
"I had a bad habit of running toward defenders instead of running away from
them and I got hit head on," said Dellucci.
So how did Dellucci know he was OK to play Wednesday?
"I was 3-0 on PlayStation [football] today so I'm seeing things all right," he
said smiling.
Versatile Grace: Mark Grace batted second Wednesday, the first time he's
hit in that spot all year.
Brenly said that he hoped that Grace, who has now batted in every spot but ninth
and leadoff this year, would get some pitches to hit, batting in front of Junior
Spivey and Luis Gonzalez.
"Grace is a guy who's capable of hitting in a number of spots in the lineup, but
we're trying to maximize the guys we have in the lineup tonight," Brenly said.
The last time Grace hit 2nd was on June 12, 2001.
Fantasy Edge: Steve Finley, who has been hot as of late, was moved down to
the fifth spot of the batting order Wednesday as Brenly hoped to give him as
many RBI opportunities as possible.
Steve Gilbert is an editorial producer for MLB.com. He can be reached at stevegilberts@aol.com.
This story was not subject to approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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