Ishii Sticks With Routine

Pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii, following an individual workout program this spring, is tentatively scheduled to start March 2 against the Houston Astros at Holman Stadium, Manager Jim Tracy said Sunday.

The left-hander’s 2002 season ended Sept. 8 against the Astros when he was struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of Brian Hunter. At his request, Ishii won’t face batters until his first Grapefruit League outing.

The 14-game winner struggled with his command last season while the club tried to make him conform to group training, so they’re trying an unconventional approach this time. Ishii is incorporating a cut-fastball and changeup into his repertoire, and would seemingly benefit from facing batters, but the Dodgers are confident he’s making progress. How do they know?

“By how loud the [catcher’s] glove pops when the ball gets in there, for one thing, and whether the catcher has to move his glove when he catches it,” pitching coach Jim Colborn said. “So far, the glove has been popping pretty loud, and [the catcher] hasn’t had to move. “For us to force our way would be stupid. He’s a mature professional athlete, who has developed his skills in a different system. To change him at this point in his career, to our system, I don’t see any sense in that.”

Although right-hander Hideo Nomo follows the Dodger program, he still has some different “elements in his training,” Colborn said.

Ishii said he believes he’s on the right path.

“I can see for myself that [his pitches] are making good movement,” Ishii said through an interpreter. “Regarding facing the batters, when I’m pitching in the bullpen, I’m always imagining counts against the batter. I’m thinking situational pitches.”

Ishii, who had a titanium plate inserted into his head after Hunter’s line drive fractured his skull, has not appeared apprehensive in drills with balls.

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Left fielder Brian Jordan, who underwent major knee surgery in October, did not participate in some drills because of soreness.

“Well, it’s still not 100%, but it’s doing pretty good so soon after the surgery,” Jordan said of his left knee. “It really hasn’t been a problem. I’m happy where I’m at with it.”

It is not unusual for players coming off knee surgery to experience discomfort in spring training, so the Dodgers are not especially concerned. Jordan hopes to resume full workouts today, but the Dodgers may want him to take things slowly.

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Left-hander Odalis Perez pitched a career-high 222 1/3 innings last season and another 26 1/3 in a Dominican Republic winter league, so the Dodgers have limited his work this spring.

“You can’t ignore the innings he pitched over there,” Tracy said.

Perez, a 15-game winner last season, won’t pitch much early in the exhibition season.

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Cesar Izturis, the opening-day shortstop in his first full season, agreed to a one-year, split contract. Izturis, whose .979 fielding percentage ranked fourth in the National League, will have a salary of $335,000 in the majors, $173,000 if he’s sent to the minors.

The switch-hitter batted .232 in 135 games.

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Andy Ashby (lower back stiffness) threw 27 pitches in his return to the mound. “It felt fine. The main thing is just doing [the exercises] to keep it loose,” he said.... Left-hander Wilson Alvarez and right-hander Darren Dreifort are scheduled to start Tuesday’s seven-inning intra-squad game, Tracy said. Setup man Paul Quantrill and Pedro Borbon, competing for the left-handed specialist role, are among others expected to pitch. After another intra-squad game Wednesday, the Dodgers open exhibition play Thursday against Detroit at Holman Stadium. Nomo will start and be followed by Guillermo Mota and All-Star closer Eric Gagne among others.