Hisanori Takahashi pitched in the Japan Series last season, so he knows about pressure.
That’s why he insists he won’t be affected by making his first start with the Mets tonight at Citi Field against the Yankees.
“I’ve pitched in the playoffs,” Takahashi said through an interpreter yesterday before the Mets faced Washington at Nationals Park. “I was able to relax during those games, so I can do it against the Yankees.”
And since at the rate the Mets are going, this weekend’s series will be as close to the postseason as they’ll get, it could be the most pressure the longtime starter in Japan will face in his rookie year in the majors.
“I can name all the great Yankees,” Takahashi said. “I watched a lot of their games, because when they had Hideki [Matsui], all the games were broadcast in Japan, so I know a little bit about them.”
But the lefty isn’t looking at tonight’s start as a one-time thing. Given the Mets’ difficulties in the rotation so far this year — and the fact that he’s taking the injured Jon Niese’s spot (hamstring) — he’d like to be given a shot to stay there.
“I want to stick with the rotation, but Jerry [Manuel] and the pitching coaches will decide about it,” said Takahashi, who went 79-66 in Japan and helped the Yomiuri Giants to the Japan Series title a year ago and then signed with the Mets in February.
He’s quickly developed into one of the team’s most dependable relievers.
Takahashi spent his entire career in Japan as a starter before entering the bullpen this season with the Mets, and he has excelled there, going 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 15 appearances.
Despite having spent so much time in relief, Manuel said he had no trouble treating Takahashi as a starter.
When told Takahashi thought he’d be able to throw 100 pitches tonight, Manuel didn’t flinch.
“It depends how he gets to 100,” Manuel said with a laugh. “If he gets to 100 in the first two innings … but if it’s in six innings, seven innings, eight innings, sure. Let him throw 110.”
The Mets would take that from just about anybody these days, since only Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey have been able to do that on any kind of consistent basis so far this year.
Rod Barajas thinks he’s capable of doing that.
“He’s got four pitches and can throw strikes whenever he wants,” the catcher said. “He’s not predictable and keeps batters off balance.”
And Barajas also isn’t concerned about Takahashi’s relative inexperience in the majors.
“Technically he’s a rookie, but he pitched for the biggest team in Japan, so we know he’s pitched in some big games,” Barajas said. “And I’m sure he’ll treat it like another big one.”
And one that he hopes will lead to more starts.
“That would be good, but I’m not thinking about being tested,” Takahashi said. “I’m just having fun.”
But he is also aware that this won’t be an ordinary game.
“I know facing the Yankees in the Subway Series, everybody will be watching the game in New York,” Takahashi said. “But baseball is baseball. I know there’s gonna be a huge [amount] of people in the stadium, but I can’t change the way I pitch.”
