Author Topic: Angels sign LHP Hisanori Takahashi to two-year contract  (Read 96 times)

MistaNova

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Angels sign LHP Hisanori Takahashi to two-year contract
« on: December 03, 2010, 05:05:46 AM »


ANAHEIM -- The Angels today signed left-handed pitcher Hisanori (HEE-SONOR-EE) Takahashi to a two-year contract through 2012 in an announcement made by General Manager Tony Reagins.
"We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Hisanori Takahashi," said Reagins. "We believe that his contributions in various roles in our bullpen will be extremely important to the overall success of our club."

Takahashi, 35, appeared in 53 games (12 starts) with the New York Mets in 2010 going 10-6 with eight saves and a 3.61 ERA (122 IP - 49 ER). Takahashi started the season in the bullpen before making his first start against the Yankees on May 21. He assumed the closer role over the final month and a half of the season converting all eight save chances. He became the first Mets pitcher since Roger McDowell in 1986 to post double-digit wins and record eight or more saves in the same season.

Prior to his stint with the Mets, the 5'10", 170-pound southpaw spent 10 seasons (2000-2009) with the Yomiuri Giants. In his final season in 2009, he helped lead the Giants to the Japanese Championship posting 10 wins and a 2.94 ERA in 25 starts. For his Japanese career, Takahashi was part of three Japanese League Championships (2000, 2002 & 2009) and logged a 79-66 record with 21 complete games, eight shutouts, 15 saves & a 3.70 ERA (1289 IP - 530 ER) in 245 games (202 starts). In that span, he walked just 359 batters while collecting 1,032 strikeouts. He was a teammate of Hideki Matsui for three seasons during his tenure with the Giants (2000-02).

The native of Tokyo, Japan graduated from Syutoku High School and Komazawa University. Takahashi was selected by the Yomiuri Giants in the first round of the 1999 draft and signed by the Mets as a minor league free agent on February 11, 2010. He is slated to be the third Japanese player to appear in an Angels uniform (S. Hasegawa & Matsui).

Source: http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20101202&content_id=16244696&vkey=pr_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana

Takahashi comes in as Matsui went out, what are the odds :P.