New Kid On the Hill

Kazuhisa Ishii was seen walking around the Los Angeles Dodgers' camp with a wad of bubble gum in his mouth. Catcher Paul Lo Duca noticed this and asked the former Japan League All-Star if he had taken a special liking to American gum. "Actually, he says it's horrible," Ishii's interpreter, Scott Akasaki, relayed. "He just chews it because you guys do." Ishii has since ditched the chew and found a far more effective way to gain acceptance as one of the guys: by winning his first six starts.

The 28-year-old Ishii, who spent 10 seasons with the Yakult...