Fans cheered Byung-Hyun Kim when the p.a. announcer introduced him this spring. They cheered him when he took the mound. They cheered him when he retired a batter. They even cheered him when he stepped to the plate and struck out.

The applause is nice and he appreciates it, but after awhile, he says, it did get a little embarrassing. "I would like to ask the fans to stop the ovations," Kim said through a translator.

	An all-to-familiar pose for Byung-Hyun Kim during last year's World Series.

After all, it's not as if he's a tender child trembling like Barney Fife facing a Gay Liberation parade through Mayberry. Kim is a resilient, capable major-league pitcher with a devastating sidearm delivery and he doesn't need people feeling sorry for him. Even if things looked a little different during the World Series when Kim appeared so vulnerable his manager almost needed to carry him off the mound and buy him a cherry snowcone to make it all better.

With the eyes of two nations on him, the first Korean in the World Series allowed a two-run, game-tying homer to Tino Martinez in the ninth inning and a game-deciding home run to Derek Jeter in the 10th inning of Game 4. Despite throwing 62 pitches in Game 4, he pitched the ninth inning again the next night and gave up a two-run, game-tying homer to Scott Brosius. He reacted by collapsing into a crouch, a baseball fetal position, while teammates rushed to his side to make sure he was all right.

Arizona manager Bob Brenly said he spoke with Kim after each game and the pitcher seemed fine and ready to pitch again. Kim's teammates generally say the same thing, but it became clear he felt the pressure in Game 7. When Alfonso Soriano homered in the eighth inning to take a 2-1 lead, Kim fired a baseball across the bullpen.

"BK was really upset," Arizona pitcher Brian Anderson said. "I think that was the first bit of emotion he let fly. And I thought, 'Wow, he is taking this personally.' Before that he had kept it in check and was doing well.

"But after we won it I know he was one of the most relieved guys in the world. And he doesn't seem to be bothered by it one bit."

Kim said he learned a lot from the experience -- "too much" -- and is ready to move on. "I am OK and I feel good for anybody who believes in me, especially Bob Brenly and my teammates."

He was outstanding this spring, going 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings. That after striking out 113 batters and allowing just 58 hits in 98 innings last year. As long as he can find the strike zone (44 walks last year) he'll be fine. "BK is throwing the ball probably better than he did last year," Brenly said.

Of course, it's one thing to look good on a Tucson mound in front of spring breakers in sunglasses and halter tops. It's another thing to maintain composure in a hostile environment when the games count in the standings. Check back in June when the Diamondbacks go on six-game swing through Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium.

That's when Kim will go through a BK Broiler and be reminded of the many relievers who did not recover from postseason failure.

Closers On The Spot

ESPN analysts tell us who's on the hot seat: Dave Campbell Billy Koch, A's. Koch has a magnificent arm, but is very inconsistent. He needs to be better for the A's, who will have a lot of pressure on them as it is. Tom Candiotti Jason Isringhausen, Cardinals. Isringhausen should be exactly what the Cardinals need. A different league with a ton of save opportunities spells huge success for Izzy. Rob Dibble Billy Koch, A's. A closer for the best starting rotation in baseball, Koch has the best job in baseball -- he just has to get the last three outs.

Calvin Schiraldi was a promising young reliever in 1986 before melting down in the World Series (he was the losing pitcher in Game 6 and 7), and never was effective again. Mitch Williams saved 43 games for Philadelphia in 1993, but saved only six games the rest of his career after serving up Joe Carter's World Series-winning homer that fall. Donnie Moore saved only nine games after giving up Dave Henderson's home run in the 1986 playoffs and committed suicide in 1989.

All those pitchers, however, differed from Kim in one significant way. Their teams all lost their postseason series. Kim's won. And rather than jeer Kim, fans have been incredibly sympathetic.

"Winning the World Series certainly helps with that," Brenly said. "A lot of things would have been pointed in my direction and in his direction had we not won it, but I don't see a lot of lasting effects."

Besides, Kim has dealt with pressure before and thrived. Pitching for the Korean national team as a teenager four years ago, he pitched so well in the Asian Games that he earned a military deferment, avoiding a three-year hitch in the army.

"This is a kid who had to pitch his way out of the Korean army," Brenly said. "The World Series certainly is pressure, but when you're talking about the difference between sitting in the dugout and sitting in a foxhole and it all depends on how you pitch -- now that's pressure."

Plus, the Diamondbacks can always look to Dennis Eckersley for inspiration. Eckersley gave up Kirk Gibson's home run in the 1988 World Series, but he was the best closer in baseball the next four seasons, saving 175 games, winning the Cy Young and MVP, and probably earning his place in Cooperstown.

"BK is still a young kid and he likes to play video games and he sleeps whenever he can," Brenly said. "I don't think this will have the lasting effect a lot of people say.

"It will follow him around his whole career, I have no doubt of that, but I don't think it will affect his career."

Five other closers to watch
1. John Smoltz, Braves. Smoltz knows better than anyone what lacking a good closer has cost Atlanta over the years. As long as his arm stays healthy, he'll end that problem.
2. Eddie Guardado, Twins. Everyday Eddie has been a good, dependable set-up man for the Twins. Can he make the jump to closer? He'll need to for the Twins bullpen to be strong enough to help Minnesota win its first title in 11 years.
3. Antonio Alfonseca, Cubs. With Tom Gordon injured again, the Cubs needed the closer and they got a successful one in Alfonseca. But can he be as successful while shouldering Cubs fans huge expectations? Is he healthy enough to pitch all year? And has he recovered from his run-in with the Demon?
4. John Rocker, Rangers. With Jeff Zimmerman hurt, the closer role goes to Rocker. It's time for him to show that he has some control to offer in addition to a high-90s fastball and radio talk-show host opinions.
5. Billy Koch, A's. The young starters are great, but can Koch and his plus-heater finish off the games as well or better than the departed Jason Isringhausen?

Jim Caple is a senior writer for ESPN.com.