DON'T FORGET WHO'S SLITHERING OUT WEST.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN

They are the forgotten ones in the National League. A collection of poor hitters and old pitchers that represent one last fading hope at glory.

They also are the team the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants better not forget about.

Nobody has heard much from the Arizona Diamondbacks since the dawning of the season, but some rumblings are coming out of the desert that suggests the D'backs are more than just a memory of glorious years gone by.

Curt Schilling, who is 4-3 with a 3.04 ERA, last pitched May 30. Randy Johnson, who is 1-2 with a 6.94 ERA, last pitched April 27.

Yet, somehow the Snakes kept things together enough to reach .500 with a victory Friday and stay a manageable, if not ideal, seven games behind the division-leading Giants and Dodgers. The last time Arizona (36-36) was at .500 was the second game of the season.

And the kicker?

How about Johnson and Schilling, the most dominant 1-2 punch baseball has seen in decades, close to returning to give the D'backs a much-needed post-All-Star-break thrust?

Yes, it is about to happen. All the D'backs have to do is remain within striking distance while the two finish mending.

A battered and beleaguered club could get very healthy in the next month. Certainly, a month is a long time, but the D'backs, filled with capable veterans in the clubhouse if not currently capable on the field, managed to hang around this long despite the injuries.

Imagine what it will be like if Johnson and Schilling return and dominate.

Schilling, who broke bones in his right hand, could begin throwing next weekend and be back with the Diamondbacks in a few weeks.

Johnson, who had right-knee surgery May 1, could be on a rehabilitation assignment within 10 days and be pitching for Arizona the second week of July.

It could be the return of two pitchers who went a combined 90-24 with a 2.76 ERA the past two seasons, and not even the Dodgers can boast recent history like that.

Of course, there is no guarantee Johnson and Schilling will return at the top of their games, but there could be an incalculable benefit from each missing substantial time. Schilling and Johnson have a history of throwing an unconscionable number of pitches in the past, but both had extended time to rest their arms. Thus, they could be strong in the final two months of the season because the rigor of a six-month season was lessened considerably.

But the D'backs, who have more than $35 million in 2003 payroll on the disabled list, aren't waiting on the return of only Johnson and Schilling.

Closer Matt Mantei could go on a rehab assignment shortly and be back by the end of the month, and sparkplug Craig Counsell could be back the first week of July.

Consider the D'backs also have plenty of games left with the Dodgers (13) and Giants (14), who will again try to beat each other up beginning Monday in San Francisco while Arizona plays Houston. And next weekend, while the Giants play Oakland and the Dodgers oppose the Angels, the Diamondbacks visit hapless Detroit.

The D'backs used nine starters other than Johnson and Schilling this season and will piece it together however it is needed until both are back. The likes of Elmer Dessens, Miguel Batista and Andrew Good kept Arizona within striking distance to this point, and could for a few more weeks.

Making up seven games in three months isn't impossible, especially when Johnson and Schilling, if healthy, will be starting twice every five games.

Remember, Arizona trailed the first-place Dodgers by 3 1/2 games on July 2 last season and won the West division rather easily, finishing six games ahead of the third-place Dodgers.