Ishii Still a Walking Contradiction

SEATTLE —  The setting was exactly what the Dodgers envisioned when they decided to start left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii in their final exhibition game against the Seattle Mariners.

The result, however, was far from pretty.

On a sun-splashed day before 13,679 at Safeco Field, the rookie from Japan continued his spring training struggles in a 6-3 defeat. Ishii gave up five runs, four hits, walked seven--including five consecutive batters in the third--and hit a batter before he was removed after 22/3 laborious innings.

“I was glad it was not opening day and that it was an exhibition game,” Ishii said through an interpreter. “It gives me the opportunity to find out what my problems are and fix those problems as we enter the season.”

The Dodgers had hoped that Ishii, their No. 5 starter, would leave behind the jitters that plagued him in Florida when he stepped onto the mound at a major league stadium. But with more than 50 Japanese media members on hand to chronicle the showdown between Ishii and Mariner outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, Ishii rarely looked comfortable.

Only 33 of his 82 pitches were strikes. He pitched from behind in the count to 17 of the 20 batters he faced.

“He has electric stuff but you have to get it over the plate,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “You can’t pitch two-balls-and-no-strikes and succeed in the big leagues. That’s a free swing for a major league hitter.”

Ishii finished the spring with a 13.33 earned-run average in 81/3 innings against major league competition. Tracy said Ishii’s performance this spring was “something to be discussed,” but would not say whether Sunday’s outing would have an impact on his status in the rotation. Ishii is scheduled to pitch Saturday against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.

“I won’t answer that question,” Tracy said. “Not today. That is a rush to judgment.”

Suzuki had one hit and two walks in five plate appearances against Ishii in Japan. But the reigning American League most valuable player said he did not remember Ishii’s style.

“In my mind, it was just like facing any other pitcher,” said Suzuki, who laced a high 2-and-0 fastball down the right-field line for a double in the first inning.

In the second inning, Ishii retired the first two batters on fly balls to left field before he hit No. 8 hitter Dan Wilson on the toe with a pitch and walked Mark McLemore to bring up Suzuki. The first pitch to Suzuki, a slider that was called a strike, sent him sprawling. Suzuki got up, dusted himself off and lined the next pitch into right field for a run-scoring single. Jeff Cirillo followed with a run-scoring single to left field for a 2-0 lead.

Edgar Martinez led off the Mariner third with a single, but Ishii got Mike Cameron to line out to first baseman Eric Karros and struck out John Olerud. Once again, however, Ishii could not close out the inning without damage.

He walked Carlos Guillen on seven pitches, walked Jim Horner on four consecutive balls, walked McLemore on five pitches to force in a run and then walked Suzuki on four pitches to force in another. He walked Cirillo on four pitches to give the Mariners a 5-0 lead and was replaced by Terry Mulholland.

It was not the first time that Ishii has struggled since signing a four-year, $12.2-million contract in February. He has not appeared comfortable on the mound in a game situation since March 8, when he threw two scoreless innings in his debut.

On March 16 against the Yankees, Ishii gave up six runs and six hits, including three consecutive home runs, and was removed with two out in the first inning. He did not pitch in a game again until last Monday, when gave up a run and five hits in a four-inning game against a team of New York Met triple-A players.

Before Sunday’s game, Dodger General Manager Dan Evans said he was not overly concerned about Ishii’s struggles.

“People forget that last year at this time Ichiro was hitting about .240 in spring training and all I kept hearing was, “Oh, he can’t pull balls. You can get him out pretty easily. He’s not a very good player,’” Evans said. “And on March 31 of last year he flipped the switch and he was one of the finest players in the game from Day One. So I’m not worried about [Ishii] at all.”

After the game, Evans said the Dodgers had purchased the contract of left-handed reliever Jesse Orosco and designated outfielder McKay Christensen for assignment.

Orosco, 44, did not give up an earned run, struck out 12 and surrendered only four hits in 12 innings this spring. Last season, he was 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 35 appearances.

Christensen, 26, could be traded or put on waivers during the next 10 days. He could be assigned to triple-A Las Vegas if he clears waivers, a prospect Christensen said Saturday that he would not welcome.

The Dodgers have today off and open the season Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.

“It’s a complete off day--I don’t want them around,” Tracy said. “Every person in every department [with the Dodgers] has worked extremely hard since the 15th of February. I think the off day is well-warranted.”

The Dodgers brought only 21 players to Sunday’s game. Outfielder Brian Jordan stayed in Los Angeles because of muscle soreness in his right side.

“We didn’t want to take a chance,” Tracy said. “With Tuesday being as close as it is and with us being as healthy as we are we thought it was best for him to stay [in Los Angeles].”

Peter O’Malley, the Dodgers’ president from 1970 to 1998, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Tuesday.

Patti LaBelle will sing the national anthem.