A curious coincidence occurred a week ago when, on successive days, stories ran in major national newspapers about the height of a leg kick by a pitcher fighting for the fifth spot in the rotation of a NL East team.

In New York, the Times ran a piece on Orlando Hernandez and how, after a career chock full of high leg kicks, El Duque will now forgo his trademark windup for a more traditional delivery. The reason? Hallux valgus. That’s bunions to you and me. No, really. Bunions.

Evidently, when he lifts the heel of his right foot off the rubber during the high-kick version of his delivery it has caused a bunion to develop. Presumably, the lower leg kick causes less lift on the right foot, thereby resulting in less pressure and reduced risk of bunions. Personally, I think that bunions are common in 66 year olds and it’s more a function of age than foot stress. O.k., so he’s 50. But still, age is probably catching up with him.

There is also some question about whether Hernandez can maintain, with the new windup, the deception and effectiveness the high leg kick has afforded him in the past. Mets Skipper Willie Randolph declared that it won’t have an impact on the deceptive nature of his delivery. We’ll see.

The next day the Post published a story about Matt Chico who, at the behest of pitching coach Randy St. Claire, reverted to his high school-era delivery that included a high leg kick. Why the Diamondbacks had him jettison that style wasn’t explained but with the new delivery Chico said he felt like his old self. Hopefully it’ll help him improve on a mediocre rookie year.

Almost on cue Manager Manny Acta noted that the new windup “gives him more deception.” Take that, Mets.

It’ll be fun to follow the story lines this year and see if both guys adjust to their new form. As an experimental control we can watch how Dontrelle Willis – now of the Detroit Tigers – will do this season.

He’s had a high-leg kick since he came up in ’03 and will continue to use it this year. Both Chico and Willis will have to do some pitching to match El Duque’s .581 lifetime W/L percentage.