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Arizona Diamondbacks
www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/diamondbacks
30-18 1st in West
RIGHT ONE: After initially saying he would mix-and-match Jose Guillen, Quinton McCracken and Danny Dellucci in right field to replace Danny Bautista (shoulder), manager Bob Brenly said Guillen would get the bulk of time. Brenly said he liked the idea of adding Guillen's righthanded bat--and power potential--to a lineup that usually features five lefthanded hitters: LF Luis Gonzalez, CF Steve Finley, 1B Erubiel Durazo, 3B Craig Counsell and SS Tony Womack. Bautista, who suffered extensive injuries when diving for a sinking liner on May 20, will be out until September, if not the rest of the season.... RHP Matt Mantei had another setback in his recovery from elbow surgery. After he intensified a game of catch last Saturday, be said his elbow felt "throbby," and he had some shoulder tendinitis.
SCOUTING REPORT: RHP Byung-Hyun Kim sometimes seems unhittable because of his sidearm delivery and 90-plus fastball. Most sidearm pitchers don't have Kim's velocity. He also has a slider and rising fastball and has added a change to use against lefty hitters. And he has quickened his delivery off the stretch to do a better job of holding runners. Rather than show aftereffects from the '01 World Series--when he twice allowed late game-tying homers--Kim seems more confident than ever. He's expected to remain the closer after Mantel returns.
SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: RHP Rick Belling believes a missed start affected his next outing. Helling, whose ERA rose to 6.34 after he allowed seven runs to the Dodgers, was coming off a nine-day layoff. It was the first time his turn was skipped since he became a starter in August '97. It resulted from a decision to keep Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling on their normal four days' rest and to get RHP Miguel Batista a start against the Giants. Helling had a 3.00 ERA in three games before the break.--Ed Price
BURNING ISSUE