ATLANTA, OCT. 13 -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have reworked their starting pitching rotation for this National League Championship Series to accommodate the sore hamstring of Doug Drabek.
Zane Smith is scheduled to start in Drabek's place here in Monday's Game 5, while Manager Jim Leyland said he's "90 percent certain" that Drabek would be ready for the sixth game Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
Drabek strained his left hamstring running the bases during his victory over the Atlanta Braves in the series opener, and Leyland indicated today that Drabek's condition has improved -- but not to the point where the right-hander could be ready Monday. So Leyland opted to go with left-hander Smith, the former Brave who lost a 1-0 decision to Steve Avery in Game 2, on three days' rest rather than start Bob Walk.
Leyland said he based his decision partially upon the belief that Smith, a sinkerball specialist, might be even more effective than usual with a shortened rest period. "With a guy like Zane, when he's tired, sometimes that helps make sure he doesn't overthrow and the ball sinks even more," Leyland said.
The Braves' Game 5 starter, Tom Glavine, said today that he's not as weary as he's been made out to be. Glavine admitted to feeling fatigued after the strain of a 246 2/3-inning regular season. Today he contended that he's rejuvenated.
"I think there's been a little bit too much made out of that situation," said Glavine, who won 20 games but lost Game 1 to Drabek. "I'm obviously not going to feel as strong as I did back in April. If you had asked me that question a few weeks ago, the answer might have been different. But for my last three starts, I've felt strong. I feel like I'm back to where I was." Dangerous Return
Leyland, upon being told that Falcons cornerback/Braves pinch runner Deion Sanders had a 100-yard kickoff return today against the 49ers in San Francisco: "He's not going to make it here by game time, is he?" . . .
Tonight's ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by former president Jimmy Carter, who was spotted tomahawk-chopping beside his wife Rosalyn in the box of Braves owner Ted Turner Saturday.
