Although L.A. Has Colborn, Seattle Is Riding Its Suzuki

I like one of the Dodgers--I’m sure I will get over it.

It could take awhile, though.

Jim Colborn is the pitching coach for the Dodgers, and while he has done his best work for Seattle so far in uniting Japanese outfielder Ichiro Suzuki with the Mariners, it shows he knows something about making baseball exciting.

I’m not talking about that look of excitement in the eyes of those who get to bat against Eric Gagne, but a thrilling reason to come to the park.

ICHIRO, WHO leads the major leagues in hits, has done that in Seattle. He has already earned one-name fame like Kobe and Shaq while appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated two months into his rookie season.

While in Japan, he spent his off-seasons traveling to the United States to film commercials. And while here, he worked out at UCLA, Ventura High, Cal State Fullerton and Pepperdine with Colborn, who pitched batting practice. The two became close.

In fact, Colborn goes all the way back to the beginning with Ichiro, working as a coach for the Orix Blue Wave when Ichiro signed professionally to play baseball with the organization. I guess you just never know who you are going to run into when you’re coaching the Orix Blue Wave.

“Just another slap and run Japanese player until you noticed the head of the bat found the ball all the time,” Colborn said.

Years later, when it came time for American teams to make bids for the right to negotiate with a Ichiro, Colborn was working for the Mariners as Director of Pacific Rim Scouting. Colborn, who speaks Japanese and who had been supplying Ichiro with Mariners’ paraphernalia, had already given the Mariners their present-day closer in Japan’s Kazuhiro Sasaki.

“The Mariners asked me for my evaluation and I said if Ichiro plays five years, at some point he will challenge for the batting championship, will be an All-Star, have 15 outfield assists and steal 50 bases,” Colborn said. “I didn’t think he’d do it his first year.

“Since the Mariners were under Japanese ownership they said they had to get this guy, so they wanted a fail-safe number to bid for him. They asked me, and I said I was 85% sure they could get him for $10 million, but if they wanted to be 99% sure, the fail-safe bid should be $13 million.”

The Dodgers bid a little more than $10 million--the rumor now being they finished second--to Seattle’s bid of $13 million.

The Dodgers weren’t disappointed--they had Devon White and Tom Goodwin.

WHEN THE Dodgers sought permission to hire Colborn, he was in Japan working on a contract for Ichiro. The Mariners went on to sign Ichiro and the Dodgers got Colborn.

I like Colborn, all right. Right now he’s my favorite Dodger, but I’d trade him straight-up for Ichiro. I’d miss him, but I’d get over it.

I’m not sure Manager Jim Tracy would, however. Tracy worked with Colborn in the Cubs’ organization and developed a deep respect for Colborn’s attention to detail, his passion for success and his sense of humor.

“He speaks Japanese, Spanish and English,” Tracy said, “although I tell him he doesn’t speak English all that well.”

Tracy also said Colborn has the kind of qualifications to take almost any position in baseball, which explains why he took the toughest--working with Kevin Brown every day.

WHILE THE Dodgers took batting practice before Wednesday’s game, pitcher Luke Prokopec stood in the outfield firing the ball against the left-field wall trying to hit the smiling picture of Don Sutton--right in the teeth.

I wouldn’t think Prokopec is some relation to Steve Garvey. . . .

FOR WEEKS now the New York Post has reported that Cablevision has been making a run at Staples Center President Tim Leiweke to run Madison Square Garden, begging the question: Why would someone want to leave the best entertainment/sports arena for the runner-up?

“I’m not going anywhere,” Leiweke said. “I didn’t even talk to Cablevision. I love what’s going on here. I have great respect for the honor and tradition of the Garden, but we have so much going on here.”

Leiweke, the point man for billionaire Philip Anschutz in building Staples Center, is hoping ground will be broken this fall on “L.A. Live,” an entertainment district that will include restaurants, theaters, a hotel and parking garages adjacent to the downtown arena.

The guess is that Leiweke is the best bet to solve the football stadium dilemma in L.A. and renew the NFL’s interest in placing a team here. P.S. Leiweke’s good, but it will also take Anschutz’s money to get a stadium built.

I COULDN’T understand why Venus Williams lost so early in the French Open until I noticed her sister, Serena, was still playing. I get so confused trying to figure out who’s turn it is to tank it.

HOW GOOD is the Dodgers’ pitching staff?

“I don’t think there is a team in baseball that wouldn’t be willing to trade their 12 pitchers for our 12,” Colborn said.

I’ll call the Yankees when I get the chance.

I WOULD like to quell a nasty rumor. The Angels were not Times’ handicapper Curtis Crayon’s “best bet’ this year to win the World Series.

JUST THE facts: The Sparks--I believe they are a women’s basketball team--were fined $2,500 for being late to their first game.

TODAY’S LAST WORD comes in an e-mail from Adam Lenkin:

“I represent Spike McRoy and Craig Barlow and I was quite offended by your reference that getting their trading cards would be a disappointment. Although you are enamored by Tiger Woods, I’m sure you have no idea how accomplished both of these players are.”

Two of the best caddies anywhere?

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T.J. Simers can be reached at: t.j.simers@latimes.com.