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Closing it out

With a title on the line, Brenly says he's sticking with Kim

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By John Donovan, CNNSI.com

	• Storylines • All Thumbs • Heroes & Bums • High Hard Ones • The Pitch • The Bottom Line

PHOENIX -- This much you have to give Bob Brenly, the Arizona rookie manager, as he maneuvers his way through this tricky World Series.

He's one stubborn dude.

Refusing to give credence to all the second-guessing that's been thrown at him in the wake of the sweep in New York, the Diamondbacks' skipper is not panicking. He has a veteran team, he says, that will not crack and a young closer who he says still can do the job.

Yep, Brenly insists, Byung-Hyun Kim, the 22-year-old Korean who so famously blew Games 4 and 5 for the Diamondbacks, is still his man.

"I think he's going to be fine. He's a very resilient kid," says Brenly. "I'm sure he's very disappointed that he was not able to close out Games 4 and 5, but I don't think that's going to affect the way he pitches if we need him in Game 7 and Game 6."

In fact, Brenly insists he will use Kim if the situation presents itself. That's what he says.

"I don't know what else to say. He's our guy. He's done it all year long for us," Brenly says. "He's given up a couple of very discouraging home runs over the last couple of days, but he's also pitched tremendously before and after those home runs. So he's going to be our guy."

For sure, Brenly would like Randy Johnson to go a complete game Saturday. And Curt Schilling to shrug off any soreness he has and go all the way in Game 7.

But the Yankees will be doing everything they can to get to that Arizona bullpen. They want Kim.

Kim, of course, was crushed after blowing the two saves. He was one out away from a save in both games. In both, he gave up a score-tying two-run homer. After the homer Thursday night by Yankees third baseman Scott Brosius, Arizona catcher Rod Barajas and first baseman Mark Grace consoled a distraught Kim on the mound. Several players, including left fielder Luis Gonzalez, talked to him on the long flight back home to Phoenix.

"It's all of our fault. We failed to execute on a lot of plays. We don't drop the hammer on one guy. We blame all of us for when we don't win," Gonzalez said. "He's going to be all right and everybody in here, on our team, has confidence in him if he gets the ball on Saturday, or Sunday, whatever it may be. He's the go-to guy for us."

If the situation presents itself, it will be interesting to see if Brenly stays true to his words and goes with Kim. The youngster's confidence has to be shaken. Everybody will be watching.

"You can't be human and not feel for what he's gone through the last two nights," said the Yankees' Andy Pettitte, the Game 6 starter. "That's a tough situation. But, you know, he's their closer."

For better or for worse.

On to the World Series Day at a Glance, which asks: Is the Big Unit big enough for a must-have Game 6?

The answer: The Diamondbacks wouldn't want anyone else.

Back in the Desert Hundreds, if not thousands, of people showed up at Bank One Ballpark on Friday when extra tickets were put on sale. Some scalpers are said to be getting $1,000 or more for a ducat. Baseball stories are splashed all over the front page ("D'backs against the wall") and all over the airwaves. Phoenix is into this team -- still.
Achy, Breaky Arm What if Randy Johnson can win Saturday night to force a Game 7 ... and Curt Schilling couldn't pitch the finale? Schilling complained more about soreness after Game 4 than he did after Game 1, and this time he would be going on three days' rest for the second consecutive outing. He says he'll go. Manager Bob Brenly says if his righty can go, he'll give him the ball. May be moot. May be critical.
No. 4 What makes a dynasty a dynasty? If the Yankees win Saturday or Sunday, they'll have won four straight World Series titles and five of the last six. Talk about economics all you want and, for sure, that has something to do with it. But you still have to win with all that talent. To do it four straight years would be ... dynastic.
The Southpaws Game 2 of the Series, with Arizona's Randy Johnson and New York's Andy Pettitte facing off, was a 4-0 Arizona win. But through 7 2/3 innings, it was perhaps the best-pitched game of the Series. Saturday, they go at it again, with Arizona's season on the line.
The 2001 Series . No matter how it ends up, this has been the most enjoyable Series to watch of the Yankees' recent run. And the potential for a Game 7 -- the last was Florida-Cleveland in 1997 -- means it could turn into a classic.
Paul O'Neill . The Yankees' right fielder has made his impending retirement official, and now the aging hero is trying for his sixth World Series ring (he won one with the Reds in 1990). What a way to go out.
TOG . There were the extra innings, of course, and we're not complaining about that. But the games moved at a snail's pace in New York. They'll be speedier here, sans the DH, but with so much riding on each pitch, the Time of Game won't be much faster.
Rebounding . You have to give some credit to the Diamondbacks, who could have folded a couple times but have been in charge of all but one game -- until the bullpen got to the scene.
Hero -- Randy Johnson: At least for now he is. Talk to us after Game 6.
Bum -- Mike Mussina: If the Yanks win, it won't be because of this guy (0-1 in two starts, 4.09 ERA).
Hero -- Andy Pettitte: At least for now he is. Talk to us after Game 6.
Bum -- Byung-Hyun Kim: But, boy, we'd love him to switch categories soon.
That labor messiness in the background? Get used to it.
Those two N.Y. comebacks mean nothing if the Yanks don't win one of these.
The Diamondbacks have to get to Pettitte early, or else.
Still-early MVP candidates: Johnson, Schilling, Clemens, Rivera.
If you can't push a run over from third with no outs, you deserve to lose.
A look at the Game 6 pitchers Yankees' Andy Pettitte (15-10, 3.99 ERA regular season). Outdueled by Arizona's Johnson in last weekend's Game 2, Pettitte is 2-2 with a 2.93 in the postseason. The lefty pitched beautifully through most of seven innings last Sunday before giving up a three-run homer to Matt Williams that essentially iced the game for the Diamondbacks.
D'backs' Randy Johnson (21-6, 2.49 ERA regular season). The Big Unit lost his first decision this postseason but has since ripped off three straight wins, including a three-hit complete game shutout in Game 2 of the Series in Phoenix last Sunday. Johnson is 3-1 with a 1.36 ERA, with two complete games in the playoffs. The lefty has 39 strikeouts in 33 innings and has given up just 19 hits. Opponents are hitting just .165 off him.
Two of the game's best left-handers will decide if this goes to a seventh and final game. If the Big Unit can keep his pitch count down early, that favors the Diamondbacks. If the Yanks make him work and Bob Brenly has to go to his bullpen ... that's good for the Yanks.

The World Series Day at a Glance appears every day through the conclusion of the Series.

 

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