DODGERS NOTEBOOK: MAKE-OR-BREAK START FOR ISHII.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PHOENIX - After an eight-day layoff, several bullpen sessions and the hope of improved concentration, the decision-makers in the Dodgers organization are eager to see left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii's return to the starting rotation tonight against Arizona.

Waiting in the wings is right-hander Kevin Brown. Club officials said Brown could be back in the rotation next week at fellow wild-card contender San Francisco, a club he's dominated throughout his career, if Ishii falters again.

Ishii's last start was skipped after he allowed five runs in one inning Aug. 25. The wild, ineffective Ishii is 1-3 with a 9.12 ERA in his past six starts. With the Dodgers off Thursday, it gives manager Jim Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn an opportunity to reshuffle the rotation again.

Brown is lined up to pitch in long relief on days Ishii starts, making a smooth swap in roles possible. Though he pitched an inning of relief Monday, Brown is available to back up Ishii against the Diamondbacks, Tracy said.

``Depending on what we get (from Ishii) will determine what direction I go in with that off day as far as the rotation is concerned,'' Tracy said. ``But, obviously, some of it hinges on his effectiveness. With (25) games to go, I'm not knocking (Ishii), I'm just saying we're in a position with (25) to go I don't feel like we are sacrificing and/or giving the upper hand to the opposition because we are uncertain about a guy's consistency. Is it going to be there?''

Brown hasn't dominated in five relief outings since returning from back surgery, allowing at least one run in each of his first four appearances before allowing two hits in a shutout inning of relief in the 19-1 dismantling of Arizona. Brown has a 6.23 ERA in relief, but the organization believes Brown is making progress and could provide more consistency than Ishii.

And Brown overwhelms the Giants. He was plastered for seven earned runs against them in an opening-day loss, but he entered the season 8-1 with a 1.86 ERA in 12 games against San Francisco.

Tracy also is considering other options with his rotation.

--Houston, there's a problem: The Dodgers gave up a former No. 1 pick, pitcher Ben Diggins, so third baseman Tyler Houston would impact the pennant race. Though it's difficult to measure, things certainly have been different since the July 23 trade with Milwaukee.

Houston said he was ``surprised'' he barely is playing, but it's largely because of a stunning offensive six weeks from incumbent third baseman Adrian Beltre. It's kept a frustrated Houston on the bench, limiting his productivity to near nil. He didn't drive in a run in August.

Not even when first baseman Eric Karros is out of the lineup can Houston break in. Karros was 1 for 14 against Arizona starter Rick Helling, so Dave Hansen (3 for 4) started ahead of Houston (0 for 5).

``It's very weird, and I haven't felt this way since '97, the second year I was in the big leagues,'' Houston said. ``You're trying to stay sharp when you do get in there, but you're getting one at-bat every four days and starting once every seven days. I don't think you'd be human, or competitive at all, if you didn't want to play.''

Houston talked to Tracy about his struggles staying sharp, but he can't find a spot in the lineup. Houston has made one start at third base and eight at first. He's made three starts since Aug. 15, and the prospects don't look good for the next few days with Arizona pitching left-handers Brian Anderson and Randy Johnson, and the Dodgers being off Thursday.

DODGERS vs. ARIZONA

Time: 6:35 p.m., Bank One Ballpark.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: After being skipped in the rotation, the Dodgers expect more out of LH Kazuhisa Ishii (13-9, 4.33 ERA) in his first start in nine days. Ishii said his focus is better and he's worked harder in the past week, but he is dumbfounded by his league-leading walk total of 100. A poor start could be his last start. D'backs LH Brian Anderson (6-9, 4.76) is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA against the Dodgers this season. Dodgers 2B Mark Grudzielanek is 13 for 32 (.406) and LF Brian Jordan is 5 for 13 (.385) with two homers against Anderson.

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. ARIZONA (see text)