Yoda Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Story Japanese reliever Takatsu enjoying first season with Sox, dominating AL batters BY JEFF CARROLL Times Sports Writer MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Q: "You can't gong and then have Cliff Politte come out." -- White Sox marketing director Brooks Boyer, on the music and video montage that accompany Shingo Takatsu's entrance into games. CHICAGO -- Shingo Takatsu was a kid, a college student, when he made his first trip to the United States. What stands out, however, isn't the games that the pitcher actually played in for a team of Japanese collegian all-stars. It is one he attended. Takatsu and his teammates went to a game at the old Kingdome in Seattle, where a long-haired Mariners left-hander with a blazing fastball and nearly untouchable slider took the mound. Years later, Randy Johnson is still going strong for the Arizona Diamondbacks and is a natural folk hero with his 6-foot-10 height. But Takatsu, nearly a foot shorter than baseball's most dominant starter the last 10 years, has quickly attained that status himself in Chicago this summer. That's because he has established his own dominance in his first year in the U.S. major leagues. Takatsu enters games from the U.S. Cellular Field bullpen to the chime of a gong over the public address system. And so the show begins. After 13 seasons with Japan's Yakult Swallows, Takatsu was curious, even worried, about what playing in the United States would be like. "I was expecting to it to be so much different," Takatsu said through his interpreter. "I don't feel so strange, though. It's not that bad." American League hitters have flailed at the 35-year-old Takatsu's 60 mph change-up. The Sox's multicultural bullpen has embraced Takatsu, who speaks little English -- and never publicly. "He knows it a little bit better than he lets onto you guys," says Jon Adkins, a West Virginian country boy who shares bullpen space with the Japanese Takatsu, Dominican native Damaso Marte and Korean bullpen coach Man Soo Lee. Joining them to help the communications impasse is Hiroshi Abei, Takatsu's interpreter. Marte, said Adkins, has picked up bits of Japanese quicker than anyone else among the relief corps. Relievers socialize to pass the time before they are needed. On the other hand, communication is absolutely critical once Takatsu is called on to close a game for the White Sox. Catcher Jamie Burke said that Abei helps him go over signs with Takatsu, either in the clubhouse before a game or in the dugout during a tight contest in which his services might be required. "He knows the key words," Burke said. "We pretty much have stuff set in stone when we go out there." It gets trickier, however, when a game situation dictates that Burke talk to the pitcher on the fly. "Sometimes they tell me to go out there and talk to him for a little bit, and I don't know what to do," Burke said. "I go out there and try to say what I can. I think he understands a little bit of some words. I just try to go out there and just smile at him." Takatsu, who enjoyed hitting more than pitching while growing up in Hiroshima, began his professional career in 1991 with Yakult. He didn't earn the team's closer role, the one that would garner him the well-known nickname "Mr. Zero," until 1993. He had his ups and downs in Japan, losing the closer's role when he posted a 5.56 ERA in 1998. He has gotten better with age, though, and his 34 saves in 2003 allowed him to move into first place in Japan's all-time career saves list with 260. With that out of the way, he decided to make a jump he had been considering for two or three years. Takatsu tried out for numerous major league teams in the off season, and signed with the White Sox in January. Like many of today's Japanese big leaguers, Takatsu was inspired by Hideo Nomo's breakthrough 1995 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he was named the National League Rookie of the Year and paved the way for Japanese players who followed him over the Pacific. "It was really tough for him to come to the United States and perform," Takatsu said, through Abei, his interpreter. "It took great courage." He was originally slotted as a middle reliever, and didn't sufficiently impress manager Ozzie Guillen or pitching coach Don Cooper enough in spring training to supplant Billy Koch in the closer's role. Takatsu has eight saves and a 1.13 ERA in 36 appearances, through Thursday. He retired 29 consecutive hitters at one time, the equivalent of a perfect game plus two more batters, which finally sold Guillen and his staff on him. "Shingo was having trouble even throwing in the bullpen when nobody was hitting in spring training," Guillen said. "I'm thinking, ‘He's gonna have a real tough time' in spring training. "I think coming to the States and all of the media was talking about him and what a great career he had in Japan, I think he had a lot of pressure. Wherever that kid goes, he has media around him. "But since opening day, he's been a different pitcher. He's in the spot he's always wanted to be, he's just taking advantage of it." Takatsu said he hasn't thought beyond this season -- he's signed through 2004, but the team has an option to bring him back in 2005. General manager Kenny Williams must decide whether he has caught lightning in a bottle for a season, or found an aging mainstay for the bullpen. Many expected A.L. hitters eventually to catch onto Takatsu's deception-reliant stuff. To this point, that hasn't happened. So about that entrance. Brooks Boyer, hired as the White Sox's new director of marketing in May, wanted to establish a closer entry like Eric Gagne of Los Angeles or Trevor Hoffman of the Padres -- to re-energize the fans after the lull of the middle innings. Koch was the initial target of his plan, but first he lost his closer role and then was traded to the Florida Marlins. Guillen was reluctant to name Takatsu his closer immediately, but once he did, Boyer and his marketing department sprang into action. Takatsu's ninth-inning entrance is preceded by the ring of a gong. Another ring bounces through the stadium when he emerges from the gate. A montage of Takatsu plays on the scoreboard while music, taken from the soundtrack of the movie "Speed," plays while he warms up. The music was the entry music for Takatsu's favorite wrestler in the Japanese version of the WWE. Takatsu T-shirts, which read "He gong" -- a takeoff on broadcaster Ken Harrelson's catch phrase, "He gone" -- are now for sale at U.S. Cellular Field. The gong has caught on. "The second time we nailed it, and we've nailed it ever since," Boyer said. "Our guys upstairs are always watching. You can't gong if Shingo's not coming. Then you're basically lying to your fans. "You can't gong and then have Cliff Politte come out." I’ve noticed that no one has made a Shingo Takatsu fan club... so I’ve decided to make one myself. If you want to be in the Takatsu club, go ahead and shoot me a pm and I’ll be glad to add you. Long live Shingo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxbadger Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Id be part of the Shingo fan club, I still remember the night when I chose not to add him to my Soxtalk Fantasy league team. And barring some crazy thing like Shingo's arm falling off, I think its safe to say they will pick up his option for next year. Id expect jerseys of his next year as well to try and tap into the Japanese and Asian market. SB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wong & Owens Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Hasn't it been cleared up like 1000 times that he was never called Mr. Zero in Japan? Don't journalists do research anymore? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wise Master Buehrle Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 I’ve noticed that no one has made a Shingo Takatsu fan club... so I’ve decided to make one myself. Ahem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Ahem. Yahtzee/Mr. Zero has the rights to this one. He's the first one here to jump on the Shingo bandwagon. Let me join the Shingoites! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinnesotaSoxFan Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 I'll join whoevers fan club. Add me to both, I don't care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlaSoxxJim Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Hasn't it been cleared up like 1000 times that he was never called Mr. Zero in Japan? Don't journalists do research anymore? Yes, I think it had been earlier established that he had been confused with "Monster Zero" (aka Ghidra) from Toho Studios Godzilla fame... It's an honest mistake... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traydragen Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Count me in Yoda, I'm very surprised one hasn't been started. Nice article, does anyone know where I could get a "He Gong" t-shirt at, being that I can't go to any games in Chicago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winning Ugly Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 I am SO in. Shingo should have the same bumper sticker that John Heffron from Last Comic Standing has: Yeah, dude...I ROCK!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosMediasBlancas Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Hasn't it been cleared up like 1000 times that he was never called Mr. Zero in Japan? Don't journalists do research anymore? When they do the Shingo Time piece on the scorebaord at the park, it still reads: 'Mr. Zero' at the end. I think it just stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wong & Owens Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 When they do the Shingo Time piece on the scorebaord at the park, it still reads: 'Mr. Zero' at the end. I think it just stuck. That's fine, I have no problem if they want to call him that now. It's this that I have a problem with: Takatsu, who enjoyed hitting more than pitching while growing up in Hiroshima, began his professional career in 1991 with Yakult. He didn't earn the team's closer role, the one that would garner him the well-known nickname "Mr. Zero," until 1993. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowand44 Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Count me in for the shingo fan club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 I want to be in the Shingo club. It'd be a great honor for anyone to be in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POPPY_HIDALGO Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 I find that article, the title of this thread and several comments made to be racially insensitive and morally bankrupt. If this is how you to choose to present yourself, I pity you all. :puke You people make me sick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 :puke You people make me sick! Then why are you still here!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowand44 Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 :puke You people make me sick! I'm sure many people feel the same way about you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinnesotaSoxFan Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 I find that article, the title of this thread and several comments made to be racially insensitive and morally bankrupt. If this is how you to choose to present yourself, I pity you all. :puke You people make me sick! :headshake Someone is a little :puke happy. It's a shame when new people waste server space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnB Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 I find that article, the title of this thread and several comments made to be racially insensitive and morally bankrupt. If this is how you to choose to present yourself, I pity you all. :puke You people make me sick! rolleyeyes.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoda Posted August 3, 2004 Author Share Posted August 3, 2004 Count me in for the shingo fan club. I thought I told you guys to pm me!!! Just kidding. Anyone else want to join? New members get peanut butter and cookies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowand44 Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 I thought I told you guys to pm me!!! Just kidding. Anyone else want to join? New members get peanut butter and cookies. I've never been good at listening. Now where the hell are my damn cookies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Anyone else want to join? New members get peanut butter and cookies. Aw, what the hell? I didn't get any peanut butter and cookies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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