By Joe Kay
The Associated Press

Byung-Hyun Kim is making the move out of choice. Danny Graves is doing it out of necessity.

The reasons differ, but the paths are the same. The two pitchers are trying to make the seldom-seen switch from closer to starter, trading in that late-inning pressure for the rigors of the rotation.

"I think I can pitch a lot (of innings), if I'm pitch-efficient," says Danny Graves. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Since the save became an official statistic in 1969, only a dozen pitchers have saved 15 games in a season, then made 15 starts the next year. Derek Lowe was the most recent, winning 21 games last season - including a no-hitter - after he lost his job as Boston's closer in 2001.

It seemed simple to him.

"It's not a big deal," said Lowe, who went 21-8 with a 2.58 ERA in 32 starts. "It'd be harder if you did it in the middle of a season. If you have all of the offseason to prepare, it's not that big of a deal.

"If you told me that Mariano Rivera or Trevor Hoffman was becoming a starter, yeah, that's a big issue. But you're talking about guys that have pitched 100 innings as a closer."

Starters often find themselves trying to extend careers out of the bullpen, but the switch rarely goes the other way. Once entrenched in the bullpen, a setup man or closer usually stays there.

The degree of difficulty isn't what keeps closers out of the rotation. The job of finishing off a game is considered so important that teams are reluctant to do anything that would disturb the back end of the bullpen.

In Kim's case, the Arizona Diamondbacks are granting a favor.

Kim wanted to be a starter when he came from Korea, where the best pitchers are in the rotation. The Diamondbacks decided to give him a chance this spring, and he did well enough to win the No. 4 spot in the rotation.

"This is something he's wanted since he was a little kid, I'm sure," catcher Chad Moeller said. "He's been able to go and make a good showing for himself. It's important to him, and it's important to his country."

In order to move a closer into the rotation, a team must have a replacement. The Diamondbacks have Matt Mantei, who was the closer before he underwent reconstructive elbow surgery two years ago.

Kim's whip-like delivery should help him handle the toughest part: The sudden increase in innings.

"He can throw a lot of pitches," Moeller said. "He's a perfect candidate for a closer because he can throw every day. As a starter, he can go out and throw and throw and throw and it doesn't seem to affect his arm."

It's more of a question for Graves, who is moving into the rotation because the Cincinnati Reds are desperate for starters. Scott Williamson, the 1999 NL rookie of the year, takes over as closer.

The main challenge for a closer-turned-starter is handling a lot more innings that come in bunches. Williamson, who has done both jobs in the majors, would rather be starting.

"I've believed relieving is harder," Williamson said. "People think that relieving is easier because you go in for one inning. I think it's harder because you're in there and the game's on the line and you've got to get an out.

"As a reliever, you've got to try to be on your game every day."

That doesn't mean it's easy to be a starter. Graves is finding out that the routine is a lot different and more than a little unnerving.

After four starts near the end of last season and a spring training of preparation, he's still not sure how to go about preparing on the days he starts. No one will talk to the personable pitcher on his start days - a baseball tradition - so the nerves act up.

"I don't like sitting around and waiting," Graves said. "I get so nervous. I feel anxious. Then I get in the bullpen and I can't throw a strike."

He eventually settles down and uses his sinker to get quick outs, which is what manager Bob Boone had in mind.

"I think that's the whole idea of why Bob decided to make me a starter," Graves said. "I can be very pitch-efficient. People worry about how many innings I'll pitch my first year as a starter. I think I can pitch a lot, if I'm pitch-efficient." Teammate thinks that Graves has a chance to be one of the few to make the successful switch.

"Lowe was a reliever and went into the rotation, but you don't see that often," Williamson said. "With the way Danny pitches, he might be the exception to the rule. He might have an easy time because he doesn't throw many pitches."

If it doesn't work? There's always a place in the bullpen.