 10/06/2003 8:28 PM ET
Notes: Kim a work in progress
Little puts A-Team on field in decisive Game 5
OAKLAND -- Another tumultuous October for Byung-Hyun Kim has left the
side-winding right-hander's role on the team in limbo.
With the Red Sox clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth inning of Game
1, Kim played a significant role in letting the game slip away.
When the Red Sox returned home for Game 3, Kim was booed during pregame
introductions and responded by making a rude finger gesture to the
Fenway fans.
He apologized for that thoughtless act via a written statement, but
then, according to Red Sox manager Grady Little, couldn't pitch in the
game that night because of tightness in his shoulder.
Little also held him out of Game 4. In fact, Kim was in the dugout
during the ninth inning.
|
|
"The bottom line is the kid is 24 years old and he's in a strange
place. Even though he's been here several years, there are still some things
that are a little different. It's still an adjustment for him."
|
|
-- Grady Little on Byung-Hyun Kim
|
|
The Boston manager said that Kim would be available for Monday night's
Game 5, as will everyone on his pitching staff with the exception of
Game 4 starter John Burkett.
It's highly doubtful Kim will be used in a closing situation, though
Little did stop short of anointing red-hot righty Scott Williamson as his
closer when given the chance.
"We're going to do whatever we can to win the games," Little said. "I'm
not going to sit here after (166) games and tell you who our closer is,
(heck), I still don't know. But he's done a good job for us the last
few days and we like people who are on a roll."
Clearly, Kim is not on a roll.
And given his recent adversity and his well-chronicled failures against
the Yankees -- both in the 2001 World Series and this season with
Boston -- it's possible he won't be on the roster for the next round if the
Sox advance to the ALCS.
Little said that Kim remains a work in progress.
"It's kind of an ongoing conversation with this guy," Little said.
"There's a lot of things different in his custom than ours. A lot. I learn
more and more every day. We all do. A lot of customs they have are much
different.
"The bottom line is the kid is 24 years old and he's in a strange
place. Even though he's been here several years, there are still some things
that are a little different. It's still an adjustment for him. It might
still go into next year, into Spring Training. But I think it would
help a guy like that tremendously to be able to start Spring Training in
one place, and grab a role on a ballclub and stick with it for a whole
season."
If Kim is back with the Red Sox in 2004 -- the team has the option of
non-tendering him in December -- Little is leaning towards putting him
in the starting rotation.
"If it was brought up, it was brought up by me," Little said. "We told
him there's still a strong possibility for (starting) next year.
There's a whole lot of communication with, not just me, but with several
people in the organization with BK to try to get him comfortable here where
he can be more productive."
Trot Nixon
/ RF
|
|
|
|
A-Team out there for the finale: With the Red Sox needing a win
to go to the ALCS, Little abandoned his typical pattern of keeping
right fielder Trot Nixon on the bench against a lefty.
Though Gabe Kapler started Game 2 in right field against Barry Zito,
Little wanted Nixon on the field in this one.
Nixon's calf injury in September affected his timing at the plate when
the postseason started. But Little feels that Nixon, who struck a
walk-off, pinch-hit homer in Game 3, is over all of that.
"Trot's ready to go. And he's the man we want on the field," Little
said. "We've seen enough, we think he's ready. He did throw together a
good at-bat against (lefty Ricardo) Rincon (in Game 4)."
Caution to the wind on Pedro: Though the Red Sox have carefully
monitored Pedro Martinez's pitch count for the last two seasons, that
won't apply for this winner-take-all Game 5. Not even after Martinez
threw a season-high 130 pitches in Game 1.
|
Pedro Martinez
/ P
|
|
|
|
Pitch count?
"Not at all. We'll go strictly on how he feels," Little said. "As
everyone knows, when this kid is feeling good and throwing good, he's the
man we want on the mound as long as we can keep him out there."
Martinez stuck around for Game 4 and flew to Oakland with the team,
instead of flying out early.
The Red Sox got into the Bay Area before 10 p.m. Sunday night, so
Martinez was able to get plenty of rest.
"On the trip, I walked to the back of the plane and (Martinez) was
stretched out across three seats and had a tent over him," said Little. "He
looked like my grandson playing in the living room, to tell you the
truth. I didn't want to disturb him. He looked pretty comfortable to me."
Cloninger pumps up Williamson: Since pitching coach Tony
Cloninger returned from medical leave late in the regular season, he has
worked as much with the pitchers emotionally as physically. Interim pitching
coach Dave Wallace is still running the staff, just as he has since
Cloninger took a leave of absence in June to recover from bladder cancer.
One of the players Cloninger has focused on is reliever Williamson,
who has gone on a roll in the playoffs after struggling for the Sox
following his trade to the team in late July.
Viewed as an inspirational man by almost everyone who has ever met him,
Cloninger gave Williamson encouragement and told the reliever the team
still had full confidence in him.
How much did Cloninger help Williamson?
"Tremendously," Little said. "Tony's been a big asset since he's been
back here."
Ian Browne is a
reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major
League Baseball or its clubs.
|
