Hideo Nomo

Dodger catcher Mike Piazza, who jokingly wonders whether he'll have to become a foreign language expert to communicate with his pitchers, might have to start brushing up on his Japanese. The Dodgers signed Japanese star pitcher Hideo Nomo to a minor-league contract Sunday, and will introduce him and his family today at a downtown news conference. According to one source, Nomo will receive a signing bonus in excess of $2 million, the largest ever provided to a non-major league player.

— In case Chris Capuano was unaware of what was at stake Sunday, there was a heckler near the on-deck circle at Marlins Park to remind him every time he prepared to hit. Capuano had a no-hitter. The heckler shouted at him in the fifth inning and again in the seventh. At one point, Capuano turned around and told the man, "Yeah, I know. " Capuano smiled as he told the story. "I think I probably made a mistake by acknowledging him," he said. Capuano's no-hitter was broken up in the seventh inning when Jose Reyes singled up the middle.

They began gathering at dawn Friday, standing impatiently in front of the clubhouse in Vero Beach, Fla., trying to get the first actual sighting. He is unknown to most American fans, with no more appeal than a replacement pitcher from Iowa, but to Japan, he is a hero. Hideo Nomo arrived at Dodgertown, did little more than play catch for 10 minutes, watch minor league practice and chat for 30 minutes at a news conference. Yet every move, every word, was chronicled and heard 'round Japan.

Once they were at the forefront, veritable explorers of international baseball. The Dodgers led the way, and every other team scrambled to catch up. They had the first baseball camp in the Dominican Republic, they signed the first player from South Korea, Chan Ho Park, they signed the first Japanese major leaguer, Hideo Nomo. And then under owner Frank McCourt, the Dodgers disappeared from the international scene. Last year, of Major League Baseball's 30 teams, Baseball America estimated the Dodgers came in dead last in international signing bonuses.

Chan Ho Park remembers walking into the Dodger clubhouse this spring, scanning the room for his locker and wincing the moment he saw it. There was his locker, with his nameplate hanging prominently: No. 61. Chan Ho Park. Immediately to his left was another nameplate: No. 16. H. Nomo. It might have been a cute publicity move for the Dodgers, putting a South Korean pitcher alongside Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo, but the relationship was hardly blissful at the outset.

Chan Ho Park watches the crowd of Japanese reporters hovering around Hideo Nomo, writing down every word. Park leans over, his voice little more than a whisper, and says, "Sometimes, when I see all of the Japanese reporters, I feel bad. It reminds you of Japan being real powerful, big and strong. It makes me sad. I want Korea to be big and powerful and strong too. "That's why I have to make the Dodgers this year. I just have to. My country needs me."

There are aspects of baseball in this country that Hiroki Kuroda still isn't used to. Heading into his third season in the major leagues, Kuroda hasn't completely adjusted to pitching every five days. Or to the slickness of American baseballs. Or to even the spring-training schedule. So before leaving Los Angeles for Camelback Ranch last month, Kuroda picked up the phone and called the Japanese pitcher who overcame these obstacles better than any other. A pitcher who did that while wearing the same Dodgers colors Kuroda wears today.

Six months ago in Japan, Hideo Nomo was treated as a spoiled brat, a rebel who'd quit Japanese baseball when his team refused to bow to his "unreasonable" demands for a multiyear contract. Today, as the pitcher who started for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game in Arlington, Tex., he is a national hero.

Hideo Nomo tilts his head back, the warm sunlight bathing his puffy cheeks, and runs through his first year of life in America. Let's see, there was his first major league game . . . his first victory . . . his selection to the National League All-Star team . . . his 16 strikeouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates . . . his near no-hitter. He abruptly stops and closes his eyes, his face showing an odd mixture of relief and appreciation.

The xenophobes are right. Here are two more aliens taking jobs from Americans: Hideo Nomo and Fernando Valenzuela! E.C. BRESSLER Los Angeles

There are aspects of baseball in this country that Hiroki Kuroda still isn't used to. Heading into his third season in the major leagues, Kuroda hasn't completely adjusted to pitching every five days. Or to the slickness of American baseballs. Or to even the spring-training schedule. So before leaving Los Angeles for Camelback Ranch last month, Kuroda picked up the phone and called the Japanese pitcher who overcame these obstacles better than any other. A pitcher who did that while wearing the same Dodgers colors Kuroda wears today.

Dodgers closer Takashi Saito said that when team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache diagnosed him with a sprained ligament in his right elbow on Tuesday, the option of undergoing surgery was presented to him. Saito refused. "There is still a possibility of that happening," Saito said, "but I want to try to rehabilitate over the next six weeks and pitch again this season."

Although his decision was expected, Manager Jim Tracy said Tuesday it was nonetheless difficult to exclude Hideo Nomo from the National League division series roster. "I wanted him here, I'll tell you that, because I cannot forget contributions players have made over the course of the four years I have been here," Tracy said. "He is an integral part of that."

Hideo Nomo, playoff starter? It seemed unlikely Nomo would be part of the Dodger postseason rotation after he was 3-10 with an 8.06 earned-run average in his first 14 starts and then was put on the disabled list July 1 because of rotator cuff inflammation. But things could change, especially considering the state of the Dodger rotation. "I tend to think with him that the impossible is possible," pitching coach Jim Colborn said.

Regardless of how well he pitches tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his first appearance since June 30, Hideo Nomo is guaranteed at least one more start for the Dodgers, Manager Jim Tracy said Tuesday. Nomo, who will be activated today from the disabled list, also is scheduled to pitch against Arizona on Sept. 7 at Dodger Stadium. The right-hander, who is recovering from tendinitis in his rotator cuff, could earn further starting assignments based on his performance.

Hideo Nomo to the rescue? Manager Jim Tracy said Friday the Dodgers planned to activate Nomo from the disabled list to take Wilson Alvarez's spot in the rotation, and they hope the veteran right-hander provides a boost to a group that has an 11.01 earned-run average in its last six games. Tracy said the Dodgers have not determined when Nomo would start, but he is expected to pitch Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second game of a three-game series at Bank One Ballpark.

Regarding Harry Caray's derogatory comments on Hideo Nomo: It's a shame that while Vin Scully has aged like a fine wine, Caray has become old and bitter. HUGH T. RYONO Fullerton

The Dodgers, looking for starting pitching, are negotiating with the agent for free agent Hideo Nomo, baseball sources said. The right-hander was 45-36 with the Dodgers from 1995-98. Nomo, 33, led the American League in strikeouts last season with the Boston Red Sox.

Pitching coach Jim Colborn is eager for Hideo Nomo to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment Monday at triple-A Las Vegas. Nomo on Friday had the best bullpen session of his throwing program, and Colborn expressed confidence that the right-hander's progress would continue with the 51s. Colborn won't attend Nomo's start, because the Dodgers also have a game Monday against Florida at Dodger Stadium, so Colborn said he would rely on the evaluation of Las Vegas pitching coach Roger McDowell.

Hideo Nomo had the best bullpen session of his throwing program Friday and is scheduled to start Monday for triple-A Las Vegas. "He was excellent," pitching coach Jim Colborn said. "In everything I use to grade pitchers, he got an 'A' in the bullpen. "The pitches were sharp, the command was good, and he had good extension on his pitches. He looked really good in the bullpen." But now comes a bigger test.