Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to The Yankee Zone. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Ishii ready to pitch for a ring
Topic Started: Mar 21 2005, 11:04 PM (36 Views)
TheOne
Member Avatar
I'm still better than you!
Members
Ishii ready to win with the mets

Quote:
 
Kaz Ishii looks at the number of walks he issues and doesn't flinch.

Sure, the newest member of New York's rotation is well acquainted with the bases on balls, but it's a relationship that can often be one-sided. Ishii has walked 305 batters during the last three seasons, with only Russ Ortiz (308) issuing more free passes over that stretch. Victor Zambrano, who will form the back end of New York's rotation with Ishii, is third in that undistinguished category at 276.

That's not even close to the modern record (post-1900) of 535 walks over a three-year span by Nolan Ryan (1976-78) or even for the most walks over the first three years of a big league career -- 384 by Bobby Witt (1986-88).

Ishii, however, has a reputation of being a bulldog, not giving in when faced with the periodic control problems that have been his nemesis since coming to America. It was a popular topic of discussion on Monday when Ishii arrived at Tradition Field. The Mets were off, and the complex was virtually deserted, but Ishii was on hand to meet the media and Rick Peterson, his new pitching coach.

"It [the walks] don't really bother me," said Ishii, who was given No. 23, previously worn by Jason Phillips, the man for whom he was traded. "I may walk a lot of guys, but I survive for the wins as well. I would like everyone to not get too nervous about the walks.

"I have the most confidence in myself when I'm working from the stretch as opposed to the windup. And I don't think too much about holding runners on, I just practice the slide step and keep doing what I'm doing."

Ishii spoke with Peterson at length Monday afternoon, but won't get on a mound until Tuesday afternoon, when he throws his first side session as a Met. He's scheduled to start Saturday against the Braves in Kissimmee.

"The main issue is keeping run production at a minimum," Peterson said. "You don't get points for touching first base. Pitching with runners on base is not an advantage to the pitcher and it has an impact on the defense as well. But I think when you look at where different pitchers are in careers -- look at Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine -- they consistently evolve. There is constant evolvement, so I see nothing but great things in the forecast [for Ishii]."

While Ortiz and Zambrano often get into trouble because of their propensity to issue walks, Ishii does not. His 36 wins were, along with Hideo Nomo, the most by a Dodgers pitcher the last three seasons, leaving Los Angeles pitching coach Jim Colborn very impressed. In fact, Colborn wasn't entirely sold on moving Ishii.

"When I watched those two guys [Ortiz and Zambrano] from the opponent's side of the field, I don't have the same impression about them as I do Ishii," Colborn said. "I don't know why. Maybe it's just because he's on my side. I always looked at those guys as being tough to beat, and it wasn't their walks that I felt would allow us to beat them. When they had their stuff, they were hard to beat.

"Maybe those guys either have it or don't have it in any one game. With Ishii, he potentially has it every game, even if he walks a bunch of guys in the early part of the game. You've got to believe in him. If he's in there, you've got to believe he's going to win the game. He had a winning record in Japan. To me, that counts the most. That's what is unique about him. He does things in a way that are self-destructive, but he still ends up being successful."

Colborn said that this had been Ishii's best spring with Los Angeles, with the hurler adding that he has been working hard on increasing the velocity of his fastball.

Ishii said it will be a mental advantage for him to get out of Los Angeles and that the move to New York will be a plus both professionally and personally. He has a close friend on the Mets in Kaz Matsui, with Ishii saying it would be a comfort to look around the infield and recognize a Japanese face.

When asked what he knew about the Mets, he said he was aware they had improved this winter and that he was here to "pitch for a ring."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Zidanman
Member Avatar

Members
im sorry, i just have to do it: they give out rings for the most walks allowed in a season?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
timotime
Member Avatar

Members
I'm just glad the focus is on getting a ring, which is a far cry from last season's "Let's stay around .5000!" motto.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
TheOne
Member Avatar
I'm still better than you!
Members
timotime
Mar 22 2005, 04:58 PM
I'm just glad the focus is on getting a ring, which is a far cry from last season's "Let's stay around .5000!" motto.

lol exactly, omar is focused on winning a championship, gotta love that attitude!!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · MLB Talk · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Member Legend
Administrator | Moderator | Member | Validating | Banned

Please Visit Our Affiliates





Title banner © 2007 by Venom of The Yankee Zone.
All Rights Reserved.
edge created by tiptopolive of ifsz