Nasty Encounter

`A man in crisis` Park Chan-Ho (28, LA Dodgers) faces a tough opponent, Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants) chasing the single season home run record. Bonds hammered his 67th home run at Dodger Stadium yesterday. Park Chan-Ho may be a disgraceful victim, considering Bonds`s unstoppable home run race.

Bonds and his team San Francisco Giants have surely been the tough opponents for Park Chan-Ho. Park lost the most games from San Francisco, recording 6 wins and 7 losses out of 18 starts against San Francisco. And he allowed 5 career home runs and 10 RBIs in the head-to-head encounters with Bonds including one homer in this season.

Moreover, Park is confronted with the critical situation now. Since earning his 13th victory in game with Colorado Rockies on August 31, Park failed to add a victory recording only two losses out of 4 starts. He threw the scoreless 7 innings against Arizona Diamondbacks, but the relief blew out Park`s victory.

The LA newspapers have been pouring the nerve-racking attacks on Park. The LA Times has regarded Park`s leaving as the established fact, reporting that ``Park`s expensive salary would be a great burden for the LA Dodgers. The Dodgers will make a contract with players like Terry Adams other than Park.``

Park`s team is getting far away from the playoffs. The Dodgers failed to lessen the game difference in head-to-head match with the NL West leader Arizona Diamondbacks, and also lost the game with the NL West second place Giants yesterday. The Dodgers is 4.5 games behind the Diamondbacks, and 3 games behind the Giants. Unless something like a miracle takes place, the Dodgers cannot reverse the race for the playoffs.

Under the troubles from within and without, Park Chan-Ho is going up the mound today. If there exists any meaning for his start, it would be for the `recovery of his self-esteem` and `a lift of his value raise as a free agent`.

Kim Sang-Soo ssoo@donga.com