DODGERS NOTEBOOK: NOMO STRETCHES TRACY'S FAITH.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

The situation involving Hideo Nomo and the Dodgers probably could get more bizarre, although it's hard to imagine exactly how that could happen.

In one afternoon, manager Jim Tracy said Nomo looks substantially better pitching from the stretch, but pitching coach Jim Colborn said he wouldn't even ask Nomo to do so full time. Tracy expressed his support for Nomo, but in the next breath said the pitcher had to show improvement soon.

Only two things seem certain: Nomo will start Saturday against the New York Yankees, and his first pitch will be delivered with his usual, unorthodox windup delivery. Beyond that, it's anybody's guess.

``I don't tell him how to pitch, and he doesn't tell me how to manage,'' Tracy said.

Except that minutes earlier, Tracy had told reporters the one thing he knew for certain was that Nomo has been more effective pitching from the stretch because it improved his balance and velocity.

``The numbers are overwhelming from the windup versus from the stretch in favor of the stretch,'' Tracy said. ``As far as any type of improvement from the windup, it's not happening.''

Nomo is 3-7 record with a 7.56 ERA. Given those numbers, it certainly would seem reasonable for Tracy and Colborn to at least ask Nomo if he felt comfortable pitching from the stretch.

``That's probably not a possibility,'' Colborn said, ``because he's a veteran pitcher and... anyway, that's not something I would suggest. I don't think that's the answer to the problem.''

Colborn and Tracy are usually on the same page, but there seems to be some disagreement here.

The difference, Tracy said, is that Nomo has better balance pitching out of the stretch, and that gives him better velocity on his fastball. Nomo's famous, twisting delivery has long been considered one of his strengths, something that kept hitters off balance, but now it seems to be hurting him.

Pitching out of the stretch could be the answer, but if not, the Dodgers have a major problem. Tracy has been emphatic in his support of Nomo, who won 16 games in both 2002 and 2003, but in recent days, Tracy seemingly has started the process of hedging his bets when it comes to Nomo's future.

``He's struggling right now,'' Tracy said, ``but to step out and flat out quit on him, we're not going to do that. When you look at the success this guy has had, you just don't quit on a guy. But you realize that something has to happen on the positive side because we need some results.

``It's the 15th of June, and we haven't seen a whole lot.''

At the same time, Tracy repeated what he said Sunday, that the Dodgers don't have many options even if they decide Nomo shouldn't be in the rotation. Even if the Dodgers wanted to call up Edwin Jackson, they essentially have no roster flexibility. And Tracy doesn't see Jackson as the answer.

``The last thing you want to do is thrust a guy into a situation when you are not completely convinced he's ready for it,'' Tracy said.

--Odds and ends: Reliever Paul Shuey (ruptured tendon in right thumb) is scheduled to throw live batting practice today. If all goes well, he could receive a minor-league rehabilitation assignment. ... Former Dodgers general manager Dan Evans attended Tuesday's game as part of his work as a scout for the Seattle Mariners.

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

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- Rich Hammond