In Japanese, Irabu Means, ‘Go Away, You Silly Writer’

While trying to figure out how Hideki Irabu threw 98-99 mph in Japan and 91-92 mph in the U.S., the Yankees have brought an iron curtain down around their once-and-perhaps-future sensation.

This seems fine with Irabu, who may be unaccustomed to the American-style culture of celebrity and seems offended by routine questions.

Asked after winning his debut what he would do to celebrate, he rolled his eyes and replied, “That’s a personal matter.”

Asked after his second start what pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre told him on the mound, Irabu said it was “confidential.”

The same day, Irabu’s interpreter was asked if he could explain how Irabu got his nickname, which translates literally into “Choice.”

“I can’t,” the interpreter said. “It’s a secret, sort of like the X-Files.”

After he was hit hard in his third start at Milwaukee, fans chanted “Overrated!” On his way to the showers, Irabu spat in the direction of the stands.

Of course, there’s the question of why such a shy young man would demand to play in New York.

Add shy: The Yankees, who are accustomed to the culture of celebrity, don’t look comfortable either.

Owner George Steinbrenner cleared the press out of the locker room before Irabu’s debut and has announced the pitcher will talk, or say no comment, only on days he pitches.

Meanwhile, back in San Diego: The Padres insist they’re happy with the package they got for Irabu: prospects Ruben Rivera and Rafael Medina and $3 million.

“We’re elated with our end,” General Manager Kevin Towers told USA Today. “Our scouting reports say the Padres have not had a player like Ruben Rivera since Dave Winfield.”

Of course, Winfield wound up with the Yankees too.

Trivia time: Between 1956, when the Cy Young Award was started, and 1967, when each league began to name a winner, only one pitcher won more than once. Who was he?

No cash, no carry: NHL executives weren’t the only ones fooled by John Spano, whose purchase of the New York Islanders fell through when he couldn’t come up with the cash.

Shortly after he was announced as the new owner, Spano met with Tom Croke, co-founder of a coalition of fans that had lobbied for the team to be kept on Long Island.

Croke told the New York Post that Spano offered him a job paying $135,000. Croke said he quit his job, purchased a new wardrobe and reported for work, only to find no one in the Islander office knew anything about it.

After months of trying, Croke reached Spano. He said Spano said, “I told you it would be difficult.”

Trivia answer: The Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax, who won in 1963, 1965 and 1966.

And finally: Cincinnati Red pitcher Brett Tomko, who recently gave up two upper-deck home runs to the St. Louis Cardinals’ Ray Lankford in Cinergy Field, asked his brother Scott what it looked like on TV.

“About 950 feet,” Scott said.