NEW YORK -- Red Sox reliever Byung-Hyun Kim was left off
Boston's roster for the AL championship series because of a tight
shoulder and not because of his past problems against the New York
Yankees.
"Pure physical," manager Grady Little said Wednesday of the
reason for the decision.
Kim and outfielder Adrian Brown were dropped from Boston's
roster before Wednesday's series opener in favor of right-handers
Jeff Suppan and Todd Jones.
Kim failed to hold a ninth-inning lead in Game 1 of the
first-round series against Oakland and didn't pitch in the next
four games.
In the 2001 World Series while with Arizona, the right-handed
closer gave up tying homers in Games 4 and 5 at Yankee Stadium. New
York won both in extra innings, but Arizona won the series.
A doctor who examined Kim "is not alarmed by anything" in
Kim's shoulder, but his availability from day to day is uncertain,
Little said, and "we can't afford to have that right now."
Little feels Kim would be ready for the World Series if the Red
Sox get there.
Kim was with the team Wednesday and, wearing a gray Red Sox
sweatshirt, stretched with his teammates before the game.
Brown, who spent most of the season at Triple-A Pawtucket, went
0-for-2 in the Oakland series.
Suppan, acquired from Pittsburgh on July 31, was 3-4 with a 5.57
ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance for the Red Sox. Little
said Suppan could be valuable in long relief if the starter gets
knocked out early. He might start Game 4, although Little plans to
go with John Burkett.
Jones, who began the season with Colorado, was signed by Boston
on July 2. He was 2-1 with a 5.52 ERA in 26 relief appearances for
the Red Sox.
The Red Sox obtained Kim from Arizona on May 29 and he went 8-5
with a 3.18 ERA and 16 saves in 49 games.
Kim was jeered at Fenway Park before Game 3 Saturday against
Oakland when the public-address announcer read his name. The
usually reserved pitcher raised his right arm and touched the bill
of his cap. He then brought the arm down to his right side, raised
it again and put up his middle finger.
Kim apologized after the game in a statement released by the
team.
"It was an instant, reflexive reaction that I regret," he
said. "I appreciate the passion our fans have for baseball in
Boston; all of us depend on them and their support. I am very
sorry."
He warmed up during that game and felt tightness in his right
shoulder. If not, Little said, Kim would have been on the Red Sox
roster for the ALCS.
"This guy's important to this ballclub," he said, "but right
now we're not at liberty to have the luxury of a guy who may be
ready or may be not ready."