Takahashi Belongs in the Bullpen

Takahashi has come down with the Johan Santana disease. This is where a decent pitching outing is destroyed by one horrible inning. Both Santana and Takahashi have been plagued with this problem in 2010. One inning ruins the whole game.

Such was the case last night. Takahashi gave up 6 runs in one inning thanks to a grand slam and a two run shot by Uggla and hence digging the Mets in a hole after they gave him a 3 run lead.

The amazing thing to me about last night was how after that inning Takahashi continued to get himself into trouble. On multiple occasions he had runners on second and third with less than 2 outs and was able to get out of the jam. Ultimately he only lasted 5 2/3 innings but it made me realize he's a guy that needs to be in the bullpen.

Hitters are able to make adjustments after seeing him the second time thru the lineup. He doesn't have amazing stuff, but if he were to enter a game after say Pelfrey pitched the first 6 innings, Takahashi's pitches would be a tremendous change for hitters to deal with.

With 6 wins on the season, I can't rail on Takahashi too much for being the makeshift replacement that he has been. He's done a decent job, but his starting rotation days should be numbered.

Cliff Lee's 9 inning performance against the Yanks last night should help move things along.