Gloomy Chan-Ho, Happy Byung-Hyun

Park Chan-Ho (29, Texas Rangers), who are on the disabled list due to a strained right hamstring, will not back soon.

Texas Rangers General Manager John Hart said to Korean reporters that, “Park is not expected back at full-strength until mid-May,” on 12th. Hart continued, “Because he is not doing regular training, Park needs real pitching exercise, including simulation pitching (pitching practice against hitters with all defense players like a real game), after his recovery. Although he might back little bit earlier, we expect that Park needs time to back at full-strength.”

Therefore, Park, who has been expected to take the mound on 18th, will come back to play around mid-May after being listed on the disabled list one more time.

After hearing Hart`s interview, Park just said, “I do not know,” to the reporters` questions on his condition.

Rangers played the Opening Game in the absence of closer Jeff Zimmerman because of his injury. Moreover, clean-up hitter Juan Gonzalez was listed on the disabled list because of torn muscle fibers between his thumb and first finger on his right hand. They are all pretty big blows to the Rangers from the beginning of this season.

While Rangers` starter Doug Davis hurled a two-hit complete game to lead to the Rangers to a 7-0 victory against the Oakland Athletics on 12th, the Rangers (3-6) are in the lowest-ranking of the American League West with the Anaheim Angels.

`Atomic Submarine` Kim Byung-Hyun (23, Arizona Diamondbacks) continues his `untouchable pitching.`

It was Diamondbacks` game against the Colorado Rockies at Colorado Coors Field. Kim came to the mound at the bottom of 9th inning when Diamondbacks were leading the game by 8-4. Closing the game with 2 strikeouts and no hit, Kim continued three consecutive games without allowing any runs.

Kim Byung-Hyun had been in no chance to take the mound because the starters of the Diamondbacks, except Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, had collapsed in the early stages of games. Kim came to the mound when the Diamondbacks were leading the game due to Johnson`s powerful pitching, which allowed only three hits and two runs through 7 innings. Kim appeared to the mound after the game against the Milwaukee Brewers on 7th from which he had added another save.

Kim got Greg Norton with a strikeout, Juan Pierre with a ground out to shortstop, and Juan Uribe with a strike out again. Although a save was not recorded due to the big score difference, Kim presented his strength as a closer. Among his 10 throws, 8 were strikes.

Kim allowed 2 hits and caught 8 strikeouts (ERA 0) through 3 games (4 innings) in this season. He showed that he had escaped the `nightmare of the World Series.`

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com