Dodgers ’06 First Look: Takashi Saito

Sporting Kenny Landreaux’s old number 44, the Dodgers’ newest acquistion from the Pacific Rim, Takashi Saito is working hard in Vero Beach to make the Opening Day line-up. With a minor league contract at age 36, Saito comes to the Dodgers as a 14-year Japanese league veteran and all star. A look at his numbers show mixed results as he moved from starter to closer, but had a good run from ’96-’99 winning at least 10 games in the stretch. In ’01, when he went 7-1 with an ERA under 2.00. He looks to be a versitile arm to plug-in for spot starts, middle relief and mop-up work for the staff. Here’s to hoping he makes the squad and then stays on Jeff Kent’s good side.