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“I try to stay sharp by still staying on a routine of some kind,” Dickey said. “I throw bullpens more frequently than I ever have before because I’m trying to stay sharp in case I’m needed, but it is difficult and you never really know how sharp you are until you get out there in a competitive environment. I’m preparing to pitch and doing everything I can possibly do to be ready, but the truth of it is, it’s difficult for anybody to stay sharp when they haven’t thrown for a long time.

“Once you start getting above 10 days without pitching, it starts to be a real challenge.”

Dickey’s at eight days and counting now.

With Francisco Liriano pitching lights out for the past month and no discernible role for Dickey in the bullpen, manager John Gibbons understands how it could be tough on the former National League Cy Young Award winner.

“It hasn’t been easy for him,” Gibbons said. “He’s been the odd man out and a big part of that’s because Liriano’s been so good and we wanted to run our five (starters) with a lot of off-days and things like that.

“The one thing you can always count on is he stays ready and he’s willing to do whatever you need. That’s not easy for a guy that’s been around as long as he has and been successful.”

Behind closed doors, there have been conversations about where Dickey fits on a multitude of post-season roster scenarios, if at all.

Dickey hasn’t thought too much about it, even though he feels like he’s “really been throwing well” for the last month or so.