Mr. Zero pitching nicely

[DBAHO]

TUCSON, Ariz. -- About 20 reporters drove two hours Monday to see a pitcher throw 15 pitches.

 

This wasn't just an ordinary pitcher, though. The reporters, from Japan, made the drive from the Seattle Mariners' camp to watch Shingo Takatsu pitch in the White Sox's first intrasquad game. He didn't disappoint anyone.

 

After walking the first man he faced, Takatsu set down the next three hitters easily with his moving changeup.

 

"Sometimes it kind of looks like it can defy a little gravity," Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said of the pitch. "How can you throw it that slow and get it there on a fly?"

 

As soon as Takatsu, 35, took the mound, a group of Japanese photographers gathered behind home plate, snapping pictures of every pitch.

 

"When he's around all the people from his country it must be uncomfortable for him—trying to impress them," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

 

Takatsu, through his interpreter Hiroshi Abei, said the walk resulted more from trying to overthrow the ball than from nervousness.

 

"I wasn't nervous at all," he said.

 

Considering he earned the nickname "Mr. Zero" because he never gave up a run in postseason play while pitching in Japan, it's unlikely an intrasquad game would make Takatsu uneasy.

 

Monday's pitchers threw a maximum of 15 pitches an inning, regardless of how many outs they got. Takatsu actually got four outs in the inning before using up his 15-pitch limit.

 

"Ozzie told him, 'Welcome to America. We have different rules here. You have to get four outs in this league rather than three in Japan,'" Cooper said.

 

Takatsu needed 14 pitches—nine strikes—to get through his inning.

 

"He commands the ball really well," Guillen said. "His breaking ball is real good, and I know his fastball is going to be better."

 

Outfielder Joe Borchard got a firsthand look at Takatsu's best changeup, which fluttered up to the plate dipping and diving.

 

"I thought I'd get up there and see a couple of fastballs," Borchard said. "Every pitch was changeup, changeup, changeup. He kept it down and looked really good. It dives down and is pretty effective."

 

Takatsu sounded as if he didn't have his best stuff, though. "I thought it was a little bit high in the zone, but still I am satisfied," he said.

 

What he wasn't satisfied with was the opening walk. Takatsu knows that he will likely pitch in the seventh or eighth innings of games and can't afford to put runners on base freely.

 

"I need to fix it," he said.

 

During his 13-year career in Japan, Takatsu walked only 233 batters in 695 innings.

 

There was a thought of keeping Takatsu out of spring games in which the Sox face American League teams so he'd be a surprise to them during the regular season. But Guillen said he has no problems using Takatsu at any time against anyone.

 

"He doesn't have to change his style or the way he pitches," Guillen said. "No matter where he pitches, scouts are going to see him. I'm not afraid to put him against anybody."

[CSF]

I hope Ozzie doesn't put him in there against AL teams until the season starts. Let him catch them off guard.

[Goldmember]

I hope Ozzie doesn't put him in there against AL teams until the season starts.  Let him catch them off guard.

our own lil' secret weapon

[Pastime]

If Mike Jackson makes the team, then I like the thought of Jackson, Takatsu, and Politte being "savvy veterans" in the bullpen who know that you can get hitters out without blowing the ball past them every time. It's not always just about "raw talent" or "speed of pitches." Experience and knowledge can be extremely valuable as well.

[YASNY]

If Mike Jackson makes the team, then I like the thought of Jackson, Takatsu, and Politte being "savvy veterans" in the bullpen who know that you can get hitters out without blowing the ball past them every time.  It's not always just about "raw talent" or "speed of pitches."  Experience and knowledge can be extremely valuable as well.

That experience can also turn into another Rick White for us, too. May the best pitchers win, is what I say. Kids or vets, it doesn't matter.

[Pastime]

That experience can also turn into another Rick White for us, too.

 

True, but I'm being positive and looking for the bright side of things. I'm trying to exorcise the negativity in my life.

 

I personally think Rick White was done before he came to us. Dave Duncan has a great eye for pitching, and White was a big part of their bullpen, and then all of a sudden the Cards just dumped him (and we saw why).

[SoxRule]

here was a thought of keeping Takatsu out of spring games in which the Sox face American League teams so he'd be a surprise to them during the regular season.

 

Jerry Manuel used that tactic with Keith Foulke in 2000 and Foulke was untouchable that year. That might not be a bad plan.