Major League Baseball

Angels ready for bullpen boost from Takahashi

Published Feb. 16, 2011 11:16 p.m. ET

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By his own calculations, Los Angeles Angels newcomer Hisanori Takahashi hasn't fared too well pitching against fellow countryman Hideki Matsui.

The lefty from Japan said Wednesday he faced Matsui eight times in exhibition play - five hits, including four home runs.

''It's OK,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ''He'll get another crack at him.''

Scioscia shed a little bit of light on how he would use Takahashi, the 35-year-old who started 12 games for the New York Mets last season and finished the season as their closer.

With the closer's job a whole lot more wide open than in any one of Scioscia's 12 springs trainings, Scioscia said Takahashi would most likely be facing a hitter like Matsui - now with AL West rival Oakland - toward the end of games rather than the first inning.

''His role is going to be anywhere from the sixth to the ninth inning,'' said Scioscia, while not completely closing the door that Takahashi would fill the role of spot starter on occasion. ''I think he has the possibility to be a spot starter. I think we'll see how these pieces evolve in the spring.''

Scioscia said Matt Palmer and Trevor Bell would more than likely be the top candidates for a spot starter role, listing them as the sixth and seven starters behind the rotation of Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana, Joel Piniero and Scott Kazmir.

Takahashi and fellow newcomer Scott Downs figure to hold down the left side of the bullpen. Both have been mentioned as closing candidates although the team is hoping veteran right-hander Fernando Rodney can improve on consecutive up-and-down seasons as a back-end pitcher in Detroit in 2009 and with the Angels in 2010.

Scioscia likes what he knows about Takahashi, who went 10-6 with a 3.61 ERA in 53 games with New York last season.

''His versatility is very real,'' Scioscia said. ''I think he showed it last year. A lefty never hit a home run off him last year.''

Takahashi's numbers as a reliever were clearly better than his stats as a starter.

As a reliever, he went 6-2 with a 2.04 ERA, going 8-for-8 in save chances over 57 1-3 innings; as a starter, he was 4-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 64.2 innings.

He had an 0.59 ERA against lefties, a 4.61 ERA against righties.

Through an interpreter, Takahashi said he tried to make hitters off-balance with an assortment of pitches including a fastball, changeup, slider, curveball, cutter and two-seamer. He added he had other pitches he didn't want to talk about.

Takahashi signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Angels as a free agent last December, numbers that would more often be paid to a starter than a setup man.

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