Takahashi making things interesting for Mets

Another Amazin' night at Citi Field, with summer-like humidity and intensity covering the place, and we left pondering just one question:

How in the world did the Mets secure the services of Hisanori Takahashi with a guarantee of nothing more than meal money? Who is this guy?

Now, the 35-year-old lefthander can be known as the miracle worker who, in his first two major-league starts, didn't allow so much as a run to the two reigning league champions. Who pushed the Mets (24-23) back over .500 with a 5-0 blanking of the rival Phillies, for the team's fourth straight victory and second straight shutout of Philadelphia.

Not bad for a guy about whom one opposing scout, upon learning back in February that the Mets signed Takahashi to a minor-league contract, said, "He's Jamie Moyer with a little bit better velocity."

"I can do it, I think," Takahashi said, through an interpreter. "If they want me to stay in the rotation, I will do my best."

They want him to stay in the rotation. Said Jerry Manuel, whose job security becomes less of an issue with each passing day: "He'll get start after start after start, until something goes wrong."

So far, so much has gone right for Takahashi and the Mets, since he followed six stellar weeks of long relief work by replacing the injured Jon Niese in the rotation.

First, he pitched six shutout innings against the Yankees Friday in a game the Mets proceeded to lose. Takahashi followed that smashing debut last night with six more shutout innings against the Phillies, allowing five hits again, with no walks and six strikeouts.

Takahashi is the scrawny stranger entering the saloon and defeating the joint's two biggest varmints in back-to-back fistfights. He procured 11 swings and misses against the Phillies, baffling them with his mixture of fastballs (the fastest at 90 mph), sliders, curveballs and changeups. No Phillie reached base more than once against him.

Now, let's not be too facetious. Takahashi brought a reputation with him from Japan as a winner. Said the other team's scout, who watched Takahashi pitch in Japan: "He's got a quality game face."

But that same scout, when told that Takahashi would earn $1 million and have another $2 million in incentives, said, "Oof! To me, that's not worth it."

Manuel said he knew practically nothing about Takahashi when, on the verge of pitchers and catchers reporting to Port St. Lucie, Manuel's superiors told him of the latest acquisition.

"I did not have any expectations at all," Manuel said. "Then we went to spring training, and he had his side sessions. We charted his command. He was off the charts. He's Mark Buehrle for me, and [former Expo and Giant] Kirk Rueter. He kind of reminded me of those types of guys.

"The thing I was concerned about was his velocity," Manuel admitted, but 90 mph with movement can get Takahashi through the National League.

This Mets team has a resurgent Jose Reyes, and an emerging Jason Bay, and a David Wright who isn't freaked out by his new home ballpark. And Mike Pelfrey, seemingly finding himself as a front-end starter.

And it has Takahashi, who has come through and delivered in a way that none of the 30 clubs could have anticipated.

Are these Mets playoff-bound? I doubt it. But they appear destined for an interesting campaign, at the least. You'll be tuning in for Takahashi's next start in San Diego, won't you?