In The Big Apple Japanese Pitching Sensation Irabu Makes Yankee Debut Tonight

Today couldn’t come soon enough for New York Yankees manager Joe Torre.

Ever since word of Hideki Irabu’s possible arrival began to circulate about six months ago, Torre has been answering questions about the Japanese pitching sensation whom he knows little about.

After tonight’s game against the Detroit Tigers, Torre said he wants Yankee Stadium back to normal.

“Hopefully we can do the Irabu thing, get the carnival atmosphere out of the way and go about our business,” Torre said.

So anticipated is Irabu’s debut that the Yankees have issued more than 300 media credentials, about six times the normal amount for a regular-season game. About half of them will be used by members of the Japanese press, the Yankees said. The game will also be televised in Japan.

“There’s so much mystique about him at this point,” Yankees ace David Cone said.

Some have compared Irabu, who compliments a mid-90s mph fastball with an exceptional split-finger fastball, to future Hall-of-Famer Nolan Ryan. That, said Atlanta Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone, is unfair.

“He’s coming in with superstar status right out of the gate,” said Mazzone, whose stable of pitchers includes Cy Young winners Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. “You can project he has a chance to be really good, but you don’t know for sure.”

What the Yankees do know for sure is that fans are interested. They’re expecting a crowd of about 45,000, 12,000 short of a sellout, although about 15,000 more than the Tigers average road gate.

If anyone knows what’s ahead for Irabu and the Yankees it’s Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Mike Piazza, who survived the media circus in 1995 when Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo joined the Dodgers.

“There’s a lot more hype with Irabu because he’s a high-priced free agent,” Piazza said. “He’s going to generate interest, not only in Japan, but here. There’s a lot of curiosity on my part to see what he can do.”

Irabu, 28, joined the Yankees April 22 with the largest contract ever given to someone with no major league experience.

Irabu’s four-year, $12.8 million contract with the Yankees - including a signing bonus of more than $8 million - raised some eyebrows around the major leagues.

“Free agency is free agency, but the guy hadn’t played one game in the majors yet and I’m sure a lot of people are (upset) at that,” Atlanta Braves pitcher Denny Neagle said.

And playing for the Yankees has its own set of rules, particularly for players hand-picked by owner George Steinbrenner.

Irabu weathered the storm during his six-game stint in the minor leagues, where he went a combined 3-1 with a 3.88 earned-run average, allowing 27 hits while striking out 34 and walking just one in 31 innings.