Whatever Happened to Ishii-Mania?

Six Kazuhisa Ishii starts have produced six victories but not much of a buzz in Dodger Stadium. There was talk of Ishii-mania from the time the Dodgers signed the Japanese left-hander on Feb. 8, but the first five weeks of the season have produced more Ishii than mania.

Unlike Fernando-mania, when Fernando Valenzuela fueled a fan fervor with his 8-0 start in 1981, and Nomo-mania, when fans unfurled large Japanese banners and snapped up Nomo merchandise as quick as it hit the shelves during Hideo Nomo’s phenomenal rookie season in 1995, Ishii has not created much of a stir.

He has made only two starts in Dodger Stadium, including Saturday night’s 3-2 victory over the Cubs, and neither was a sellout. There hasn’t been an excessive demand for Ishii merchandise, and he hasn’t sparked the kind of passion among fans that Valenzuela and Nomo did.

“But look at the other two guys who did that,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “One was a 20-year-old from Mexico in an area with a huge Latin community, with that windup where he looked up to the sky, and it just took off. Nomo was the first [Japanese player] to come to the U.S., so there was interest all over.

“There really isn’t any novelty [to what Ishii is doing]. The guy has had a great start, he’s been a big part of the first month of the season, but you can’t compare him to Fernando and Nomo.”

The Dodgers weren’t expecting those comparisons. At least, not this soon.

“We’ve been careful not to force-feed Ishii-mania to keep the pressure off him,” said Derrick Hall, the Dodgers’ senior vice president of communications. “But now that he’s shown he can handle the pressure, you’ll see more of a marketing effort in terms of merchandise, ticket and radio/television promotions.”

Ishii is drawing plenty of media attention. Sports Illustrated is planning an Ishii piece, possibly a cover story, and Ishii was the lead story on several television newscasts Saturday night, “even over the Kentucky Derby,” Hall said.

“It took a few home starts for Fernando-mania to catch on, and even for Ichiro [Suzuki, Seattle Mariner star], it took a little time for people to realize he was something special,” Hall said.

“Right now, I feel like we’re at the beginning of it.”

Ishii has heard of Valenzuela, “but the extent of my knowledge of him is seeing his picture on the outfield wall,” he said through an interpreter. “I really don’t know too much about Fernando-mania.”

Could there be an Ishii-mania to rival Fernando-mania and Nomo-mania?

“I don’t think so, because that’s not something I can determine,” Ishii said. “At the same time, we are just at the start of the season. If it happens, that is something that will happen from this point forward.”

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Center fielder Dave Roberts’ recent success--he is 13 for 29 with a .568 on-base percentage in his last 10 games--pushed his on-base percentage to .398, tops among National League leadoff batters.

Dodger leadoff batters have combined for a .370 on-base percentage, second in the NL behind Philadelphia, and a .292 batting average. Dodger leadoff batters hit .268 with a .306 on-base percentage, second worst in the league, in 2001.

With opposing third basemen moving in to defend against the bunt, Roberts has begun to slap more hits into left field. Shortstops have shaded Roberts toward the hole, and pitchers have used slide-step moves to home in hopes of slowing Roberts on the basepath.

“I have to continue to put pressure on the defense and not let them take away from my game,” Roberts said. “If they play in, I still have to bunt. If they slide step, I still have to run. I have to push the envelope a little bit.”

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Mike DiGiovanna