TUCSON, Ariz. -- Tuesday was the kind of day that would have had the Rockies singing the blues in years past. They scratched fifth starter candidate Sun-Woo Kim from his first Cactus League appearance because of a hamstring "tweak," and watched Byung-Hyun Kim go down on the basepaths with a hamstring strain.

But the 2006 Rockies are built for depth, and after an offseason spent stocking up on arms, they didn't blink in the face of Tuesday's news.

"We've got options," said manager Clint Hurdle after Byung-Hyun Kim was sent to the trainer's room, cutting his outing down to two innings of shutout ball. "We've created depth all winter to take care of any situations like this. It's very unfortunate. But it has happened, and we'll deal with it accordingly."

Sun-Woo Kim will pitch in a simulated game on Wednesday, allowing him to focus on his pitching without worrying about covering first or breaking for bunts.

"When I pitch, I have no problem," Sun-Woo Kim said. "The problem is when I sprint."

Byung-Hyun Kim will be re-evaluated on Wednesday, and if his gut feeling proves valid, he won't miss a beat.

"I'm OK," Byung-Hyun Kim said, with just a hint of doubt creeping into his confident assessment. "A couple of days. Maybe. Hopefully."

The fact that both pitchers sustained running-related hamstring injuries after spending much of March away from the club while pitching for Korea in the World Baseball Classic revives concerns about the timing of the tournament, but the Rockies remain focused on finding a solution rather than assigning blame.

Ironically, the best-case scenario is also the most complicated: If both Kims are fine and able to pitch without restriction, then all the roster races are as wide open as ever.

"Two to three weeks. That's the worst case," said trainer Keith Dugger of Byung-Hyun Kim's condition. And, since in baseball medical terminology Sun-Woo Kim's "tweak" is less than a "strain," the Rockies' world isn't going to fall apart if they temporarily lose what could be two-fifths of their rotation.

That's where the depth comes in. Sun-Woo Kim has been in a three-way battle for the fifth spot in the rotation. The other two candidates, Zach Day and Josh Fogg, have each stepped up their game, pitching better in their last two outings, and could end up with the opportunity to start the season in the four and five spots.

Fogg gave up two runs on two hits in six innings on Sunday, and Day gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings on Tuesday.

"We've got Day in place. We've got Fogg in place," said Hurdle. "We've got pitchers to step up if they need to step up."

One pitcher who has the opportunity to step up is Miguel Asencio. Asencio was reassigned to Minor League camp earlier on Tuesday and expected to fit in the rotation at Triple-A Colorado Springs, but he was impressive in three Cactus League games, including two starts, going 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA.

Now Asencio will get a spot start in Wednesday's game against Arizona, according to pitching coach Bob Apodaca, while Sun-Woo Kim tries to prove himself in a simulated game and Opening Day starter Jason Jennings throws a Minor League game, presumably to keep the division rival D-Backs from getting too familiar with him.

"One of the things you continually hear from pitchers in Spring Training is, 'All I need is an opportunity,' " Hurdle observed. "Well, you know when this thing flushes out, there's going to be a couple of guys with opportunities, and it'll be time for them to pitch."

Moving day: The Rockies made a total of six cuts on Tuesday, sending catcher J.D. Closser, outfielder Jeff Baker, right-handed pitchers Acencio and Jose Acevedo, and infielders Carlos Rivera and Ian Stewart to their Minor League camp.

Though none of the moves was unexpected, Closser's departure is the latest turn in a tumultuous year for last year's Opening Day backstop. He was with the big-league club for the entire 2005 season, but he struggled throughout -- both at the plate, where he hit .219, and behind it, where he didn't convert his first 17 attempts at throwing out basestealers, losing ground to Todd Greene and, later, Danny Ardoin.

"He made nice strides this spring," said Hurdle, noting Closser's .296 Cactus League average and improved defense. "He just needs to keep making the strides that he made. There was a point in time last season where we were having trouble throwing the ball around the infield. Now he threw the ball accurately, his release times were quick and efficient. I think he swung the bat efficiently. He's using his off-gap again from both sides. He had a good spring."

Yorvit Torrealba, expected to make the club along with Ardoin, continues to have health issues after being struck by foul balls in the right biceps four times in a week, leaving his status "cloudy," as Hurdle put it. Closser remains a top candidate for promotion if Torrealba has to go on the disabled list, a possibility "on the outskirts," according to Dugger. By starting the season in Colorado Springs, Closser can continue to play regularly and build on his strong spring.

"It's always hard," Closser said of the move that separates him from the big-league teammates he spent a year battling beside. "Everybody wants to be in the big leagues. It's a little disappointing, but I still get a chance to play. It's not like they're telling me I can't play anymore. That's exactly how I have to go about it: Go down there and play. It's a long year."

Baker also had a good spring, notching four homers -- second on the club -- and making progress at learning to play the outfield. By reassigning him to the Minors, the Rockies give him the opportunity to continue to sharpen his outfield skills as well as ample time at his natural position, third base.

Beat the clock: Scott Dohmann remains a strong candidate for a spot in the bullpen, but he has spent more than a week battling flu-like symptoms and is losing ground in a crowded field.

"He's still very weak," said Apodaca after Dohmann threw long toss and rode a stationary bike on Tuesday. "I really don't know when I can get him off a mound, let alone in a game. So the clock is ticking, and it's not going to stop. It's going on nine or 10 days since he's pitched a game. These are all the things you can't make up for. All you can do is, first and foremost, get him healthy."

On deck: Asencio takes the hill on Wednesday as the Rockies host the Diamondbacks in a 1:05 p.m. MT game. Asencio's reassignment to Minor League camp affirms his longshot status of breaking with the club, but with a handful of health issues on the pitching staff, it is not inconceivable that he could pitch his way onto the plane ride north for the start of the season.