Many of you might recognize the man whose head is sunk into his hand in this famous photo from the 2001 World Series. This is former journeyman relief pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim. Kim(or B.K., however you choose) was the Ray Finkle of relievers due to his uncanny ability to crack in tough spots. Diamondback fans got a good look at this pose from B.K. back in 2001, when he blew Games 4 and 5 when he gave up game-winning homers to Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius in back-to-back nights. To put it plainly, Kim was the second biggest disappointment to his Arizona, just behind Mustafa Shakur.
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However, it wasn't always that way. Kim came up with Arizona in 1999 as hard-throwing, side-arm closer of the future. He got the chance to shut the door in 2000 when then-closer(and perennial Milk Carton candidate) Matt Mantai opened the season on the disabled list. He struck out 111 in 70.2 innings before imploding in July and getting demoted to Triple-A, which opened the door for Mantai to take the job back. Kim came back in '01 as the setup man and then took over as the closer down the stretch after Mantai went down once again and struck out 113 in 98 innings. Then, as mentioned earlier, in the '01 World Series against the Yankees, Kim blew harder than Kim Kardashian after a Saints victory.
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Even after his implosion in the Series(which Arizona inevitably won after Mariano Rivera got a sudden case of Byung-Hyun Kim in Game 7), Kim showed no signs of being effected by his poor postseason performance. He set the franchise record for saves with 36, struck out 92 and went 8-3 with 2.04 ERA and notched his first All-Star appearance. The next year, Mantai attempted another comeback and that forced Kim into the starting rotation where he stunk the joint up with a 1-5 record and a 3.56 ERA. In May, he was dealt to Boston for first baseman Shea Hillenbrand. Kim became the closer for the Red Sox in July and converted 16 of 19 saves despite injuries to his ankle and shoulder. The most notable moment of Kim's Boston stint came in Game 3 of the '02 ALDS when, after a cacophony of booing from the Fenway faithful, he flipped off Red Sox Nation. A year later, he was dealt to Colorado for a minor league pitcher and washed up catcher Charles Johnson(who was subsequently released). Kim fluctuated from the bullpen to the rotation while with the Rockies, with his most notable moment being giving up Home Run # 715 to Barry Bonds to pass Babe Ruth for 2nd on the all-time list in 2006.
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Then came a very crazy 2007. Frustrated with his lack of a set role in Colorado, Kim and agent Scott Boras asked for a trade and got one as he was sent to the Marlins for fireballing Hefty bag Jorge Julio. After recording his 50th career win, Kim was put on waivers where he was picked up by.........the Arizona Diamonbacks! Kim's Arizona return lasted two starts before being designated for assignment in August. Later that month, he returned to Florida where he won his 10th game of the season against the Mets. The next year, in 2008, he signed with Quadruple-A ball club, the Pittsburgh Pirates, but was so horrendous in spring training that he was released before the season. For his 9 year career, Kim was 54-60 with 4.42 ERA and 806 strikeouts.
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So let's give it up for the Korean John Wettleland.........Byung-Hyun Kim, ladies and gentlemen!
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