ken takahashi

2010 Analysis: Hisanori Takahashi

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Takahashi was the less-heralded Japanese pitcher signed by the Mets last winter, and some less-in-touch fans might have confused him with Ken Takahashi. But by the end of 2010, there was no confusion as to who was Hisanori Takahashi, and he far outperformed the supposedly better-skilled Ryota Igarashi.

“Tak” did everything that was asked of him and more – starting, mop-up relieving, executing matchup situations, setting up, closing. He was effective in all of those situations – a pitching jack-of-all-trades. If he had a flaw it was as a starting pitcher, where his performance usually fell off quickly after batters saw him a second and third time. Was it because he was not conditioned to throw beyond 40-50 pitches? Or was his first-round success due to mystery? No one knows for sure.

Perhaps the most surprising skill was

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2009 Analysis: Darren O’Day

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darren-oday-metsHey! Darren O’Day wasn’t on the team by Game 162 — in fact he was gone before the end of April. So what the heck is he doing as part of the 2009 analysis?

It’s a sore spot, that’s why — and O’Day’s brief tenure as a New York Met is a symbol of the organization’s shortsighted, knee-jerk “strategies” of building and maintaining the 25-man roster.

What this post should have been was a congratulatory note to Omar Minaya and his scouting staff for having the boldness and acuity to pluck Darren O’Day in the Rule 5 Draft. The acquisition could have been a soothing bright spot amidst a dark year of disappointment. But even when the Mets did something right, they found a way to undo it.

O’Day earned a bullpen spot on the strength of a sparkling

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2009 Analysis: Ken Takahashi

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Ken Takahashi is the lefthanded version of Elmer Dessens: a well-traveled, international man of intrigue, with ordinary stuff, who won’t embarrass himself — but won’t have much of an impact on a championship club, either. The Mets were in dire need of another lefthander for the Jerry Manuel Matchup Strategy of late innings management, but … Read more

Carlos Beltran to the Disabled List

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Just got word that Carlos Beltran’s MRI did not look good, and he’s headed to the DL. Fernando Martinez reportedly is on the way back up to take his place on the roster. In addition, Wilson Valdez has been DFA’d and Ken Takahashi demoted to AAA Buffalo. Taking their places will be lefthanded pitcher Pat … Read more

Perez Placed On DL

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Omar Minaya announced that Oliver Perez would be placed on the disabled list with “tendinitis in the knee”. (Ha), and that Jonathan Niese would take his place on the 25-man roster. He also announced that Niese would start on Friday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates instead of Ken Takahashi. Thank goodness someone in the organization … Read more