Another Tough Test for Irabu

Detroit’s Brian Hunter became a footnote to Hideki Irabu’s major league debut last week when he became the first batter to face the Japanese pitching sensation.

After Irabu struck out nine Tigers in 6 2/3 innings, Hunter was asked for an assessment of the right-hander’s repertoire.

Unlike many of Detroit’s players, Hunter wasn’t impressed by Irabu’s 90-mph fastball and the equally blazing slider that limited the Tigers to five hits in New York’s 10-3 victory.

“I don’t think he’s ready for the major leagues,” Hunter said. “I didn’t see anything overpowering. Everybody was hyping his fastball, but we didn’t see it.”

Then, Hunter had a question of his own.

“Who does he start against next?” he asked.

“Tuesday afternoon against Cleveland,” he was told.

“Yeah,” Hunter said, “check that out.”

Irabu will make his second major league start Tuesday afternoon against the Indians, who entered Monday night’s game against the Yankees as the second-best hitting club in the American League.

Will the Indian lineup filled with fastball hitters like David Justice, Jim Thome and Matt Williams be a better gauge for judging Irabu?

“We’ll find out,” New York manager Joe Torre said Monday. “If he has the same stuff he had the other night then he should be successful.”

Irabu’s debut against Detroit filled Yankee Stadium, and the club is expecting another large crowd for their Tuesday matinee. A team spokesman said advance sales exceeded 30,000.

The 28-year-old’s second outing isn’t expected to generate the same interest as his debut, but you couldn’t tell that to the Japanese journalists who were anxious to talk to the Indians about being Irabu’s second opponent.

“The excitement may not quite be the same,” Torre said. “But I think the anticipation is.”

Julio Franco, Cleveland’s second baseman-designated hitter, has seen more of Irabu than any other major leaguer after playing with him in 1995 for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.

“He’s for real,” Franco said. “He has all the tools to be very, very successful over here.

“But we’re here to go out and beat the Yankees, not Irabu.”

Cleveland hitters weren’t planning any special preparations for their first look at Irabu.

“I don’t think we even have any film of him,” said All-Star catcher Sandy Alomar. “Unless they get us one by tomorrow. Julio says he’s really good, and if Julio says that than you know he is.”

Indian batting coach Charlie Manuel said he’s been impressed by the footage he’s seen of Irabu.

“The thing that makes him so tough,” Manuel said, “is that he changes speeds so well. He doesn’t have to use his fastball to beat you. We’ll make adjustments during the game if we have to, but we’re not going to do anything special.”

Manuel said Irabu reminds him of another hard-throwing pitcher in the American League.

“He a lot like [Roger] Clemens,” Manuel said. “Except he’s got one more pitch than Clemens.”

Alomar was reminded of the last time he faced a highly publicized pitcher while on a tour of Japan in 1990.

“Hideo Nomo struck me out the first time up,” Alomar said, “then I hit a couple of easy ground balls off him.”

Was he eager to finally be seeing Irabu in person?

“Hey,” the All-Star game MVP said, “it’s big league baseball and you’d better be excited every day.”