Time for a Change

No, I'm not talking about Peter Brady's voice cracking saga, I am talking about Jerry Manuel's fan cracking saga.  It's really just way, way, way past time for Jerry Manuel's dismissal.

We've been through the litany of his bad moves and ineffectiveness all season, in fact, there is a list I kept somewhere back that I could dig out, but it's really just not necessary right now.

Just look at the simple fact that the team cannot win more than one game in a row.  Or the fact that the team is devoid of any spark whatsoever.

But what really got to me last night was the fact that one day after proclaiming Hisanori Takahashi his "8th inning guy", Jerry pulls him after giving up a walk and a single after he got the first two outs....and went to Manny Acosta.

This is not a manager that has a strategy, much less a winning strategy.

This is not a manager that understands leverage.

This is not a man who understands advanced statistics, trends, and match-ups.

This is not a manager that will fight with every dying breath, and at all costs, to win.

A manager has four basic functions:  Keep the players motivated to play their best and win, put out the best starting lineup, manage the bullpen, and make the tactical in-game moves that maximize the team's chances to win.

In my opinion Jerry fails on all four counts, and his most egregious failures occur  with his bullpen moves and in-game tactics, like bunting a man over in the first or second inning of a game.

Not putting in Frankie Rodriguez with 2 outs in the 8th in a 2-1 ballgame was just mind-boggling.  Not staying with his anointed "8th inning guy" becuae he was in the slightest bit of trouble was bad.  And going to Manny Acosta as the choice was just one more example of what an awful in-game manager Jerry Manuel is.

Time for a change......way past time.

Takahashi has Amazing Control Numbers

I was looking at Takahashi's advanced pitching statistics this morning, and the numbers are just off the charts.

His control, the speeds, and the K and BB numbers are enough to make any manager smile.

Couple this with his poise and belief in himself, and you can see why the Mets have done so well with him on the mound.

Summary - Pitch Result

Type	Count	Selection	Strike	Swing	Whiff	Foul	In Play
FF	278	44.1%	72.7%	47.8%	7.6%	23.7%	16.5%
CH	118	18.7%	64.4%	47.5%	12.7%	16.9%	17.8%
FT	59	9.4%	59.3%	54.2%	22.0%	15.3%	16.9%
SI	57	9.0%	70.2%	64.9%	24.6%	21.1%	19.3%
CU	55	8.7%	50.9%	34.5%	10.9%	16.4%	7.3%
SL	52	8.3%	57.7%	42.3%	11.5%	21.2%	9.6%
FC	10	1.6%	50.0%	50.0%	30.0%	10.0%	10.0%
FA	1	0.2%	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%

His primary pitch is actually the fastball, which he works off of to great effect.  He is getting 72.7% strikes on the four-seamer.

How good is that?  Santana gets 71.1%.  A guy like Ollie Perez sits in the low 60s.

The amazing display of control we've seen from Tak has resulted in an extremely high K rate.  The hitters know that he will work the zone, or just off it, and you can see the confusion on their face with each pitch.  Hitters aren't up there waiting for a walk, they're up there and defensive, often falling behind in the count early.

He is only walk 6.33% of hitters.  How good?  Tim Lincecum walks 12.59% of hitters he faces.

His overall at bat result numbers:

Summary - At-bat Result

Strikeout	27.22%
Flyout	14.56%
Groundout	13.92%
Single	12.66%
Double	6.96%
Walk	6.33%
Pop Out	4.43%
Lineout	3.80%
Intent Walk	3.16%
Sac Bunt	2.53%
Forceout	1.27%
Grounded Into DP	1.27%
Home Run	0.63%
Strikeout - DP	0.63%
Sac Fly	0.63%

Finally there is the location itself.  He throws strikes, he is on the corners, and he keeps his pitches down.  I don't have the time to post a bunch of comparison pics, but here are Taks and Lincecums.  What you see from Tak below is as good as it gets.  I challenge you to find a tighter overall dispersion than Tak is putting up this year.

Here is Lincecum's:

 The Mets have really found themselves a gem.

Hisanori Takahashi Needs a Nickname

Yesterday we were treated to a very professional pitching appearance by one of the newest Mets, Hisanori Takahashi.

The 34-year old Japanese lefthander demonstrated exceptional control and command of his pitches in striking out six in three scoreless innings in his Mets debut. He threw 34 of his 42 pitches for strikes and moved the ball up and down and in and out of the strike zone with ease.

As Adam Rubin in the NY Daily News reports, the Mets coaching staff came away impressed. "Takahashi is fun," pitching coach Dan Warthen said. "He very seldom hits the middle of the plate. He changes speeds. He recognizes swings, works both sides of the plate extremely well. He's a consummate professional. He cuts the ball, sinks the ball."

All he needs now is a nickname. I can't see us getting through the entire 2010 season saying "Hisanori Takahashi".

I'll throw out this for starters and see what the blogosphere thinks:

"Taktor K"

Obviously I'm open to suggestions!

Hisanori Takahashi

21 : Pitcher : New York Mets

Hisanori Takahashi (Pitcher)
DOB	Apr. 2, 1975	AGE	34	BIRTH PLACE	Tokyo
HEIGHT	5-10 (177 cm)	WEIGHT	172 lbs (78 kg)	BATS- THROWS	Left - Left

Jonathan Papelbon, Clay Buchholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka? We got 'em all. Click Here for Rex Sox Memorabilia

Year	Team	W	L	SV	ERA	G	IP	SO
2000	Yomiuri Giants	9	6	0	3.18	24	135.2	102
2001	Yomiuri Giants	9	9	0	3.94	30	134.2	99
2002	Yomiuri Giants	10	4	0	3.09	24	163.1	145
2003	Yomiuri Giants	4	4	0	3.84	13	86.2	78
2004	Yomiuri Giants	5	10	0	5.44	16	91.0	61
2005	Yomiuri Giants	8	12	0	4.47	27	163.0	135
2006	Yomiuri Giants	2	6	15	4.94	35	62.0	51
2007	Yomiuri Giants	14	4	0	2.75	28	186.2	141
2008	Yomiuri Giants	8	5	0	4.13	23	122.0	94
2009	Yomiuri Giants	10	6	0	2.94	25	144.0	126

Domo Arigato Mr. Hisanori Takahashi

Lots of reports out there that the Mets are on the cusp of signing Hisanori Takahashi to a minor league contract.

From the NY Times:
The Dodgers, Orioles, Red Sox and Padres also offered minor league contracts, but the Mets made the strongest offer. According to the report, Takahashi would make roughly $1 million if he cracks the major league team, with a chance for an additional $500,000 in performance incentives. Takahashi, who turns 35 in April, posted a 3.70 ERA over 10 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. The veteran southpaw was a starting pitcher in Japan, but has been projected by many as a reliever in the United States. If that holds true, he would have a chance to be the second left-hander out of the bullpen behind Pedro Feliciano in New York.

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