Sleeper Watch

Kazuhisa Ishii (P, Los Angeles Dodgers) might be an intriguing pick this season. A left-hander whose fastball has been clocked at 95 mph who also throws an effective slider, Ishii will join Los Angeles after ten seasons with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central League. He has averaged just over 1 strikeout per inning over this time, with a 2:1 k/bb ratio. However, he has been known to be somewhat wild on occasion. His role with the Dodgers is not yet defined, but the hefty price the team paid for him (a bid of over $11 million to Yakult) gives him the inside track on a spot in the rotation. How he adjusts to the Majors remains to be seen, but Hideo Nomo’s presence and the fact that he pitches in Dodger Stadium both work in Ishii’s favor. He is certainly worth considering as a mid-to-late pick in deep NL-only leagues, or late in mixed leagues, especially as part of a strategy that involves spending as little as possible on pitching, such as the LIMA plan. As with many Japanese pitchers, his impact may be highest early in the season, when hitters are getting their first look at his stuff, which makes him a candidate for a buy-low/sell-high trade.