By Richard Justice
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 24, 1999; Page D4

ATLANTA, Oct. 23 – Atlanta Braves left-hander Tom Glavine, suffering severe flu-like symptoms, was scratched as tonight's scheduled starter in Game 1 of the World Series. Manager Bobby Cox hastily rearranged his pitching rotation by using Greg Maddux, who had been set to start Game 2.

Kevin Millwood, who was supposed to pitch Game 3 in New York, will start Sunday's Game 2 at Turner Field. The Braves are hopeful Glavine will recover in time to pitch Game 3.

Glavine telephoned Cox with the news late Friday. He had trouble reaching his manager, and by the time they spoke Glavine already had telephoned Maddux to alert him of his condition. Glavine remained at home as the Braves and New York Yankees opened the World Series.

"It's unfortunate, but things like this do happen," Cox said. "Tommy has pitched with a bad arm, two broken ribs, an infected toe and a number of other things. He's never missed a start. But he's really sick. He's dehydrated. They're giving him fluids. I'm sure he feels badly he can't start the opening game of the World Series. If he can go Tuesday, he can still get two ballgames."

Glavine's illness means Cox probably will abandon his plan of using scheduled Game 4 starter John Smoltz as a long reliever. Cox doesn't want to take a chance that Glavine won't be able to pitch Tuesday, thus forcing Smoltz to pitch on only one or two days of rest.

For Cox, the next couple of days will be more nervous than usual as he awaits to see if the flu affects other players.

"I'm a little concerned," he said. "Tommy's family has been sick since New York. His wife had to leave the game there. His children had it. There's nothing you can do about it – just keep Tommy home for a day or two and hope nobody else gets it."

Familiar Teams, New Personnel
This is the second time in four years the Braves and Yankees have played one another in the World Series. But calling this Series a rematch is a stretch because both clubs are substantially different.

Just seven Braves remain from the 1996 Series team, excluding catcher Javy Lopez, who is recovering from knee surgery. The Yankees have undergone fewer changes since 1996, but only 11 Yankees remain from the 1996 squad. Yankees utility specialist Jim Leyritz also was a Yankee in 1996 but was only recently reacquired.

The only Braves back for a second chance against the Yankees are pitchers Glavine, Maddux and Smoltz, third baseman Chipper Jones, center fielder Andruw Jones, first baseman Ryan Klesko and catcher Eddie Perez.

Only two Braves – Smoltz and Glavine – have been with the team through their entire string of eight consecutive postseason appearances in the 1990s.

Sojo Goes Home for Father's Funeral
The Yankees hope utility infielder Luis Sojo will miss only the first two games of the World Series to attend his father's funeral in Venezuela. Sojo's father died in a New Jersey hospital on Thursday after being rushed there during the first game of the AL Championship Series last week.

The cause of death was a heart aneurysm. Manager Joe Torre spoke with Sojo on Thursday and said the infielder assured him he would be back for Game 3 on Tuesday. The Yankees were denied permission to replace Sojo on the roster for the first two games.