Standing by the batting cage, one of the best left-handed hitters born in the past 30 years playfully flexes his biceps.
Several minutes later, arguably the best player ever born crushes batting-practice fastballs over the center-field fence.
Colorado’s Todd Helton, save for this season’s first two months, has provided consistent muscle for the win-starved Rockies. San Francisco’s Barry Bonds has staged a nuclear assault on pitchers that eventually will be chronicled in Cooperstown.
But for fans seeking real power, fixating on the Coors Field mound was required Saturday night. Sunny Kim was awarded an honorary degree from Korea University for bringing national prestige.
On a canvas famous for hitters’ spraying graffiti, Kim stenciled a masterpiece in a 6-0 victory that left the Giants’ little chance of reaching the playoffs.
For San Francisco to advance to the postseason, they will have to make history as the only team to advance with a losing record. Kim etched his name in the Colorado record book, becoming only the 11th Rockies’ pitcher to post a complete-game shutout.
Nobody noticed when Kim was claimed off waivers Aug. 5 from the Washington Nationals. He was just a warm body to plug a hole. Or so it seemed. In seven weeks he has gone from an emergency starter to a strong candidate for next year’s rotation.
The club debated during last week’s organizational meetings whether Kim was better suited as a reliever – there’s concern about maintaining his velocity. He presented a compelling case Saturday, yielding just three scratch hits. None came courtesy of Bonds, hitless in three at-bats, as the Giants fell to 7-2 when he’s in the lineup.
Kim struck out three and walked just one in a crisp 2-hour, 12-minute game. It was the first complete game shutout by a Rockies starter since John Thomson tamed the Brewers on Sept. 30, 2001. As a starter, Kim is 4-0 with a 3.60 ERA.
“I am comfortable wherever they put me,” Kim said. “But I really like starting.”
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5447 or trenck@denverpost.com.
