Trouble Brewing Between Kim v. Brenly over Injury

"Badly need a break." (Byung Hyun Kim)

"You are okay, man!" (Bob Brenly)

A "family feud" is brewing between Bhyung Kim and Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly.

After losing a game by 5 runs to the Florida Marlins, Kim later told reporters, "My ankle`s not good." Again yesterday, through his agent, Kim told the coaching staff that he really wanted to take one or two games off in order not to make it worse.

Kim first injured his right ankle by a broken bat, during a game with the Colorado Rockies on April 15. But the situation faced by the Diamondbacks kept him on the mound.

Taking to the mound continuously would probably call for the worse, Kim thought. That was why he asked for help from his agent.

In response, Brenly confessed, "It`s perplexing. X-rays indicate no problem with his ankle. Why did he say so? I don`t get it."

He also said, "I`m not ready to pull Kim out of the rotation." Thus, whether Kim likes it or not, he has to pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the May 6th home game.

Falling from last year`s National League West championship to rock bottom, Arizona is facing nothing but difficulties this year. For example, its ace Randy Johnson would not take the mound at least for the next one month to come, due to a knee operation announced yesterday.

Curt Shilling will come back from his 15-day rest on May 4. But, no one can tell for sure whether he will pitch his best. He has already lost two (1 win), and possibly suffers from some surgery aftermath. Putting Kim also on the injured list means giving-up on the season.

Meanwhile, Hee Choi of the Chicago Cubs was put in the lineup after three absent games against the San Francisco Giants, but recorded 0 for 3, pulling his batting average down to 0.241. The Cubs were shut out 0-5.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com