PORT ST. LUCIE — Hisanori Takahashi almost certainly will receive a spot on the Mets’ roster, just not in the starting rotation. Nevertheless, the Japanese lefty is just one more option manager Jerry Manuel can consider if there is a rotation vacancy at some point.
Yesterday the Mets got a look at Takahashi in a starting role for the first time, and winced. Takahashi’s perfect spring — he had a zero ERA over his first 8 2/3 innings, spanning three Grapefruit League appearances — ended, before he took an outright beating.
“It was not kind of my style of pitching today,” Takahashi said after allowing four earned runs over three innings in the Mets’ 7-5 exhibition loss to the Nationals in 10 innings.
Pedro Feliciano is the Mets’ primary lefty reliever, with the 35-year-old Takahashi in position to be a second option. This after the Mets expressed recent interest in veteran free agents Joe Beimel and Ron Mahay, before both signed elsewhere.
Manuel says Takahashi can fill a role similar to the one Darren Oliver held with the team in 2006. The lefty Oliver was a valuable swingman who could pitch in long and short relief and serve as an emergency starter.
Takahashi’s problems yesterday stemmed as much from a rare walk and hit batter as much as the four doubles he allowed.
Josh Willingham walked in the second and scored on Ivan Rodriguez’s double. An inning later, Takahashi nicked Adam Kennedy’s uniform to put runners on first and second with two outs before Adam Dunn and Willingham delivered consecutive doubles.
Takahashi blamed his poor performance on leaving balls up in the strike zone, but also said the Nationals were patient, particularly the second time around in the lineup.
“The batters watched the ball well the second time,” Takahashi said.
Takahashi’s most endearing quality to Manuel has been an ability to throw strikes. The lefty has struck out 13 batters in 11 1/3 innings and walked only two.
“I like the fact he mixes pitches very well and for the most part keeps the hitters in between,” Manuel said. “He has good pitching instincts.”
The Mets’ other Japanese arrival, Ryota Igarashi, has struggled this spring and is no longer considered a lock to make the team’s Opening Day roster. Igarashi allowed a run in the eighth inning yesterday to get stuck with his second blown save of the spring. Igarashi has allowed at least one run in five of his nine Grapefruit League appearances.
Of the two Japanese pitchers, Igarashi is considered to have the higher upside, but Takahashi has shown the Mets more.
Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez are the slam dunks to make the Opening Day bullpen roster. Takahashi and Fernando Nieve are next. The final three spots appear up for grabs, with Igarashi, Jenrry Mejia, Nelson Figueroa, Kiko Calero, Sean Green and Bobby Parnell all in the mix. Calero had a strong ninth inning yesterday only to allow a two-run homer to Alberto Gonzalez in the 10th.
Takahashi has spent the vast majority of his career starting, but would welcome a relief role. It appears as if he’s got a job.
“I see him definitely as a part,” Manuel said. “It’s because he has the ability to throw strikes.”
