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Memories of Ken Takahashi

bmfc1 Oct 20 2009 11:16 AM

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.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 20 2009 11:20 AM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 20 2009 11:28 AM

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.

Edgy DC Oct 20 2009 11:25 AM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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 Oct 20 2009 11:26 AM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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 Oct 20 2009 11:33 AM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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.

attgig Oct 20 2009 12:06 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 20 2009 12:41 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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

seawolf17 Oct 20 2009 01:30 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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

Edgy DC Oct 20 2009 01:31 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

You send the Mets your autograph?

seawolf17 Oct 20 2009 01:33 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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 Oct 20 2009 01:38 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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."

themetfairy Oct 20 2009 01:58 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 20 2009 01:58 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 20 2009 02:47 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

[quote="Fman99":gi5hq2u2]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.

themetfairy Oct 20 2009 02:57 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

G-Fafif Oct 20 2009 03:56 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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 Oct 20 2009 04:33 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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

Farmer Ted Oct 20 2009 04:38 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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

G-Fafif Oct 20 2009 04:42 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

[quote="Benjamin Grimm"]I think it's just a Japanese syllable that happens to be the same as our abbreviation for Kenneth.

Sounds reasonable. However he got there, he joins Messrs. MacKenzie, Boyer, Boswell, Singleton, Sanders and Henderson as Ken among boys. There were also Kenny Greer and, just over ten years ago now (brrrr...), Kenny Rogers.

Frayed Knot Oct 20 2009 04:47 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

Japanese actor Ken Watanabe says hi!

Ashie62 Oct 20 2009 05:35 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

[quote="seawolf17":2138sa2e]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 Oct 20 2009 06:18 PM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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 Oct 21 2009 07:15 AM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

[quote="smg58":rju1xvhv]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 Oct 21 2009 09:28 AM Re: Memories of Ken Takahashi

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