Memories of Ken Takahashi

[bmfc1]

From Adam Rubin:

Forty-year-old rookie reliever Ken Takahashi won't return to the Mets in 2010. The Mets released the lefthander Tuesday. Takahashi was 0-1 with a 2.96 ERA in 28 relief appearances. He said at the end of the season that he intended to pitch next year, but that it might be back in Japan.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Loser of that crazy afternoon gay dame with the Phillies in early May. (edit -- twas the Braves, and Martin Prado HR)

Seemed like a good guy to party and drink beers with.

Edited October 20, 2009 by Guest

[Guest Edgy DC]

Probably got scrod by not being enough of a lefty specialist. His overall effectiveness was fine and he might have stuck with the team if they looked at him earlier as a long man, a spot he'd perform fine in once it was too late to matter.

[metirish]

He'll end up in Cleveland with Bobby V. My memory of him is surprise anytime I did see him becasue it seemed it was only every few weeks.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Was almost the Schaefer Mets Relief Pitcher of the Month for September 2009. (He was close enough that I prepared a Topps Retrocard for him, but never got to use it.)

I seem to recall that he was penciled in as a tentative starter at least once during the season, but he never did start a game for the Mets.

[Guest attgig]

ouch. whip 1.69 & baa.302 vs lefties probably did him in.
awesome verses righties:
whip 1.05 baa .156

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Had a better year than might have been expected of a 40-year-old guy cut by the Blue Jays in spring training.

[seawolf17]

One of the only active Mets to return my autographed card request this year.

[Guest Edgy DC]

You send the Mets your autograph?

[seawolf17]

Yep. You never know; might be worth something someday, and these ballplayers don't make that much money these days. Ken apparently thought enough to send me one back, which was nice.

[Fman99]

I liked it when he won the tricycle race for the Lambdas by taking the pill that kept him from getting drunk. Also his hilarious pronunciation of words like "flush" and "lobster claws."

[Guest themetfairy]

Saw him pitch in Buffalo in August. Wasn't impressed.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I liked it when he won the tricycle race for the Lambdas by taking the pill that kept him from getting drunk. Also his hilarious pronunciation of words like "flush" and "lobster claws."

Right you are, Ken.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I liked it when he won the tricycle race for the Lambdas by taking the pill that kept him from getting drunk. Also his hilarious pronunciation of words like "flush" and "lobster claws."[/quote:gi5hq2u2]

Looking back at his bullpen work, a mixed bag of effective longer outings and loopy, two-batter hair pies, is a bit like tossing salad.

[Guest themetfairy]

[G-Fafif]

I never really stopped to think about how a player from Japan came here with the first name Ken. We've had Masato, Hideo, Takashi, Tsuyoshi, Shingo...Ken? Without knowing all the ins and outs of the culture, WTF?

ETA: And just like that, my next post made me Kaz or Kazuo Matsui. Ken?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think it's just a Japanese syllable that happens to be the same as our abbreviation for Kenneth.

[Farmer Ted]

With Kenny gone, rumor has it Misch has been told to get strong for a starting rotation fight in the spring.

[G-Fafif]

I think it's just a Japanese syllable that happens to be the same as our abbreviation for Kenneth.

[Frayed Knot]

Japanese actor Ken Watanabe says hi!

[ashie62]

Yep. You never know; might be worth something someday, and these ballplayers don't make that much money these days. Ken apparently thought enough to send me one back, which was nice.[/quote:2138sa2e]

An Autograph signing beer buddy...

[smg58]

I'd have kept him around. It seems odd that after the pen troubles of 07 and 08, the Mets would sour on a guy for NOT being a specialist.

[Fman99]

I'd have kept him around. It seems odd that after the pen troubles of 07 and 08, the Mets would sour on a guy for NOT being a specialist.[/quote:rju1xvhv]

If you look at his numbers against righties, and believed they were repeatable, he could have been kept as a ROOGY. But then Jerry would have to (gasp!) bring in a left handed reliever to pitch to righthanded batters! Oh the humanity!

Sigh.

[Farmer Ted]

Kenny just needed a good pitching coach, like Peterson...who is now in Milwaukee with the Macha-Randolph family reunion.