Torre likes Saito’s stuff

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- From behind the portable cage, Joe Torre got his first close look at his new closer.

What Torre saw of Takashi Saito on Saturday as he threw live batting practice had the Dodgers’ new manager saying he was convinced that hitters wouldn’t be able to catch up to him the way they did to other pitchers who relied on deceptive deliveries.

“This isn’t only deception,” Torre said. “He has command. He has a number of pitches he can go to. He can locate the breaking ball away. As a hitter, I can tell you, ideally, you’d like to go up and look for one pitch. When a pitcher gets in trouble, he’ll go to his bread and butter. I think he’s got some options here.”

Saito converted 39 of 43 save opportunities and posted a 1.40 earned-run average last year. Even though this season will be Saito’s third, Torre said hitters might never be exposed to him enough to figure out the optical illusion.

“Starters are a little different,” Torre said. “You get a chance to gauge them. When a guy comes in for one at-bat, it’s a little tougher to do.”

Catcher Russell Martin also got a first look of sorts of Saito, hitting against him for the first time in their three years as teammates.

“I know why people have so much trouble against him,” Martin said. “He’s nasty, man.”

Like when Saito buckled Martin’s knees with a curveball, causing Torre to chuckle later when recalling the pitch. Martin took Saito deep, but said he didn’t make solid contact and that the ball was carried by the strong winds blowing through Holman Stadium.

Saito said he is more comfortable this spring than he was in any previous one because of the Dodgers’ latest Japanese import with the locker next to his, right-hander Hiroki Kuroda.

Kuroda’s signing resulted in the addition of two interpreters, and Saito, who was once isolated because of linguistic and cultural barriers, is now part of a Japanese-speaking foursome in the far end of the clubhouse.

“What makes me the happiest is that nobody has complained or said anything like, ‘Why are the Japanese players getting special treatment?’ or ‘Why are they always together?’ ” Saito said. “Everyone has been very understanding.”

An amateur chef, Saito has cooked meals this spring for the club’s Japanese-speaking contingent that includes Asian operations director Acey Kohrogi and traveling secretary Scott Akasaki. At his rental home in Vero Beach, “Chef Takashi,” as he calls himself on his blog, has prepared everything from a spinach salad with egg and bacon to a fried dish with shrimp and tofu.

Saito hasn’t been as enthusiastic about studying English, declining an invitation from Kuroda to join his daily 30-minute lessons.

“At my age?” Saito said, adding that he was never academically inclined.

Asked when Kuroda’s English would become better than his, Saito said, “He’s been studying the right way, from the basics, so it’s only matter of time.”

Yhency Brazoban, who is recovering from shoulder surgery and has been throwing once every three days, will now throw every other day like most of the other pitchers in camp. . . . Right fielder Matt Kemp, pitcher Jonathan Broxton, infielder Chin-lung Hu, pitcher Eric Stults and catcher Lucas May were signed to contracts.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com