They Don’t Take Shuey Bait

Paul Shuey loves to fish, but the new Dodger reliever has discovered, much to his frustration, that many National League hitters do not share his passion.

The result has been a rocky transition from the American League to the NL after a July 28 trade from Cleveland--a 9.64 earned-run average, one blown save and a loss in his first six games as a Dodger, including Monday’s meltdown, when he gave up three runs in the eighth inning of a 7-5 loss to Philadelphia.

“They’re not as big a fish in the National League,” Shuey said. “In the American League, you throw something over the plate, someone is gonna take a big hack and try to hit a home run. Here, they’re more patient. I’ve had guys with two strikes, and they keep fouling pitches off. [Former Indian reliever] Steve Karsay warned me about that. Maybe I didn’t believe him, but [NL hitters] have made a believer of me now.”

Fatigue has been a factor in Shuey’s struggles. After pitching three days in a row only once this year, once in 2001 and once in 2000, Shuey has pitched three consecutive days twice in his first week as a Dodger. He said he was “gassed” after Monday’s game, and Manager Jim Tracy didn’t use the right-hander Tuesday night.

But Shuey, who relies on a 95-mph fastball, nasty split-fingered fastball and curve, said his struggles have also forced him to re-evaluate his pitching style.

“I have to take a hard look at how you pitch different here than in the AL,” Shuey said. “If they’re more patient, they’ll be later on the fastball, which may make that a better pitch.... This team is a great group of guys, [catcher Paul] Lo Duca has been fantastic, easy to work with. I need to get my end of the deal working.”

*

After a light bullpen session today, Kevin Brown hopes to throw between 80-90 pitches for triple-A Las Vegas in his second rehabilitation start Friday night. If all goes well, the right-hander, who underwent surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back June 11, will likely start next week in Montreal or New York.

The Dodgers haven’t decided who will be bumped from the rotation when Brown is activated, but with Omar Daal giving up only six earned runs in 19 1/3 innings of his last three starts and Kazuhisa Ishii struggling, there’s a good chance Ishii could be demoted to the bullpen.

Though Ishii’s control problems wouldn’t seem to suggest success in the bullpen, where throwing strikes is a priority, some in the organization believe Ishii could develop more rhythm and perhaps better control with more work instead of one start every five days.

*

A week after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, pitcher Darren Dreifort has regained almost full range of motion in the knee, and most of the swelling has dissipated. The right-hander, who has been rehabilitating his surgically repaired elbow for six months, will begin playing catch on flat ground later this week, but his chances of pitching this season are slim.

“We have to stabilize the knee and re-start his throwing program,” said Pat Screnar, Dodger physical therapist. “Whether we have enough time to do that and get some rehab games in ... it’s going to be difficult.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ANDY ASHBY

(7-9, 3.75 ERA)

vs.

PIRATES’

BRIAN MEADOWS

(0-1, 3.00 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Third baseman Adrian Beltre has been the Dodgers’ hottest hitter, going 17 for 46 (.370) with four homers, two triples, three doubles and 15 RBIs in the last 11 games, and he’ll be happy to see Meadows, the Pittsburgh right-hander. Beltre has a .636 average (seven for 11) with two homers and four RBIs against Meadows.

Tickets--(323) 224-1448.