Married to Maki...the couple has two sons...during the 2004 season, met with the Japanese Chamber of
Commerce on two separate occasions at U.S. Cellular Field...was invited to the official residence of Japanese
Consul General Yutaka Yoshizawa on 9/2/04 in recognition of his contributions to U.S.-Japan relations...attended
Hiroshima Technical High School and Asia University...played in the "Koshien," the national high school baseball
tournament in Japan.
2005
Chances of Takatsu and his variety of offspeed pitches being included in the
plans for 2006 are remote. Four of his nine first batters reached
base, and he allowed six of the eight runners he inherited to score. Even when he
emerged from a Mets game as the winning pitcher, the circumstances were tainted -- he
pitched one-third of an inning and allowed one run. His ERA for the season -- his
work with the White Sox included --- was 5.20.
2004
Finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting
(44 points) behind Oakland's Bobby Crosby (138) ... received one first-place
vote, preventing Crosby from winning the award unanimously ... second-place
finish was the highest for a Sox player since James Baldwin also finished second
in 1996 ... Ozzie Guillen in 1985 was the last Sox player to win the award
... his .950 (19-20) save percentage led the AL and was the highest by a rookie
since at least 1990 (minimum 15 saves) ... 19 saves rank second all-time
among rookie White Sox relievers, trailing Salome Barajos (21 in 1982) ...
finished eighth in the AL Rolaids Relief standings, becoming the 17th rookie in
29 years to finish in the Top 10 in either league ... ranked among AL relievers
multiple categories (see box at right) ... began the season as setup man before
moving into closer role in mid-June ... earned first save on 6/12 vs. Atltanta ...
converted first nine save chances ... compiled a streak of 26.2 consecutive
scoreless IP from 4/23-6/29, 10th-longest in club history ... retired 29 straight
batters from 5/26-6/22, the longest streak by a Sox pitcher since Floyd Bannister
retired 32 in a row from 9/8-13/87 ... right-handers batted .150 (17-113) and lefties .215 (23-107) ... was 4-1
with a 1.30 ERA (5 ER/34.2 IP) and five saves in the first half and 2-3 with a 3.58 ERA (11 ER/27.2 IP) and 14
saves after the break ... posted sub-1.00 ERA in May (0.00), June (0.77) and July (0.96) ... ERA was a season-low
0.92 on 6/29 and 1.09 on 8/6 ... posted a 7.36 ERA (9 ER/11.0 IP) in August as season mark increased from 1.13
to 2.49 ... five of six home runs allowed came against lefties ... first batters faced hit .143 (8-56), seventh-lowest
by a Sox pitcher since 1972 ... posted a 4.05 ERA when pitching on no rest, compared to a 1.84 ERA with one or
more days between appearances ... tossed 2.0 IP four times ... 48 of 59 appearances were scoreless ... recorded
a 4.35 ERA (10 ER/20.2 IP) in save situations ... allowed two runs in major-league debut on 4/9 at New York ...
was scored upon in two of first three outings before making 24 straight scoreless appearances ... earned first win
on 5/1-1 vs. Toronto ... yielded one run in first 20 games at home (22.2 IP) ... suffered the loss and lone blown save
on 8/7 vs. Cleveland, allowing a three-run homer to Matt Lawton ... had retired 28 of 30 batters in save situations
prior to the blown save ... went 1.1 IP for saves on 6/26 vs. Cubs, 8/13 at Boston, 8/15 at Boston and 9/8 at Texas.
2003
Signed as a free agent with the White Sox on 1/22/04 after working out for several Major League teams on
1/14/04 in San Diego ... declared free agency from the Yakult Swallows on 11/5 after 13 seasons and four Japanese
League championships with the team ... is listed by
Baseball America as the No. 8 Prospect in the White Sox
organization entering the 2004 campaign ... is the all-time saves leader in Japanese Professional Baseball with
260 ... surpassed Kazuhiro Sasaki's 229 with his 230th career save on 4/23/03 ... led the Central League with 34
saves in 2003, the third straight season he has topped 30 saves ... finished 42 of 44 games and posted a record
of 2-3 with an ERA of 3.00 (14 ER/42.0 IP) ... struck out 26.
Major League Highlights
First name is pronounced "shin-GO" ... is the all-time saves leader for Japanese Baseball with 260,
surpassing Kazuhiro Sasaki (formerly with the Mariners) in 2003 ... also is the all-time leader in "saves points" with
269 ... helped lead the Yakult Swallows to four Japanese League titles (1993, b95, b97 and b01) and was on the
mound for the final out of each championship series ... is known as "Mr. Zero" in Japan because he did not
surrender a run in 10 championship series games during his career ... has topped 30 or more saves four times
and 20 or more eight times in his 13-year career ... has 103 saves in 140 games over the past three seasons b&
owns a lifetime ERA of 3.13 (242 ER/695.1 IP) and a record of 35-39 ... ERA has been below 3.00 seven times b&
has made 13 career starts, last time in 1997 ... has four complete games, the last three coming in 1992 ... has 545
career strikeouts in 525 games (695.1 IP).
2002: Saved 32 games in 44 appearances with Yakult.
2001: Set career bests for saves (37) and appeared in 52 games for Yakult as the Swallows captured the
Japanese League title ... ERA was below 3.00 for the third straight season ... topped 50 appearances for the third
time in his career.
2000: Allowed a career-low eight runs and recorded a 2.08 ERA (8 ER/34.2 IP) in 35 games ... posted 29
saves.
1999: Saved 30 games for the first time in his career and posted a 2.18 ERA (10 ER/41.1 IP) ... walked only
eight ... allowed 40 baserunners in 41.1 IP.
1998: Pitched in 42 games for the Swallows, going 2-3 with three saves.
1997: Appeared in 51 games, going 7-4 with seven saves as the Swallows won the JL championship for the
third time in his career ... posted a career-low 2.04 ERA (18 ER/79.1 IP).
1996: Finished 36 of his 39 games and posted 21 saves.
1995: Saved 28 games, a career high at the time, and went 1-3 in 39 games ... Yakult won the JL title.
1994: Won a career-high eight games.
1993: Appeared in a career-high 56 games and posted a 2.30 ERA (20 ER/78.1 IP) as the Swallows captured
JL championship for the first time in his career ... struck out a career high 72 in 78.1 IP ... earned his first career
save.
1992: Set a career high with 82.2 IP in 23 games ... started eight contests with three complete games ... went
5-3.
1991: Made his JL debut after being drafted by Yakult ... appeared in 13 games, going 1-1 with a 4.23 ERA (13
ER/27.2 IP).
