Seeing Kuroda for the first time (again)
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Mar 06, 2012 
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When Hiroki Kuroda steps on the mound tomorrow afternoon, the Yankees will have completed their first trip through the spring rotation. They start over again with Ivan Nova on Thursday, and Joe Girardi said everyone’s pitch counts should be bumped up 15 pitches (more or less going from two innings to three).
“I still think it’s too early (to evaluate the next time through),” Girardi said. “I think you have to give them a couple of outings because you throw 30 pitches and two innings, you might not be able to work on anything. You want them to be able to work on their pitches and get some sides in between and get on a normal rotation, it should be helpful.”
In some ways, the last Yankees starter to get on the mound is a bit of a curiosity. Kuroda is one of the new guys, but he’s also a 37-year-old who’s been pretty consistent in his four previous big league seasons, including an interleague start against the Yankees in 2010.
“I think I’ve got a pretty good idea what I’m going to see, but I still want to see it,” Girardi said. “From just when I watched his bullpens and his (batting practice), it was no different than what I remember when we were preparing to face him. But you want to see it again.”
Associated Press photo
I’m having some red bean ice cream in honor of Hiroki.
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Now that Hughes has fed the vultures on conditioning woes, maybe they’ll leave the kid alone.
” maybe they’ll leave the kid alone”
I hope so. He’s more delicate than a Faberge egg
Pat M., you have some professional playing experience in the game of baseball, no? In that sense, you have a perspective that few of the rest of us have… you have said that you love the trade of Montero/Noesi for Pineda/Campos, haven’t you? But that’s not my question.
It seems like you talk to a number of former pro players, scouts, and other assorted people who have a background in the game of baseball. Of all the people you’ve discussed the trade with, has anyone said to you that it was an awful trade for the Yanks? A bad trade? A borderline 50/50 trade? Have any of these professional baseball people told you that they thought it was a good trade for the Yanks? Or even better than good?
Just curious. I’m just a fan — a casual fan, if you will — so I feel it’s useful to hear perspectives from professional types once in a while to add to the information coming in. Thanks!
He’s more delicate than a Faberge egg
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Sounds more like AJ than Hughes. At least with Hughes you won’t have hit batters, wild pitches, pitches in the dirt, walked batters and implosions at any time.
“so I feel it’s useful to hear perspectives from professional types once in a while to add to the information coming in. Thanks!”
“so I feel it’s useful to hear perspectives from professional types once in a while”—— in a lame attempt to gain credibility when really all I want to do is twist the knife in the back of the pro Montero traders every chance I get.
//fixed
Nick in SF…….Everyone I spoke with about the trade thinks the Yanks acquired a future Ace / Top of the rotation guy that every time he takes the hill has the potential to throw a no hitter……..However, the consensus was the Yanks gave away a real good stick……Most guys didn’t think Montero is going to round out to be much of a catcher, in fact the attitude was he’ll be a liability…..But he’ll be an impressive force when he digs into the box but he’s a one way player….Seattle needed a bat to hit as they have plenty of outstanding young arms in their system…..Campos is the guy they were shocked was included……
Pat M, thanks. So no one thinks the Yanks were fleeced?
Tar, don’t be a baby, please. You’re off base on the target of the knife, if indeed there is a knife, and even more off base about trying to “gain credibility” — for what? From whom?
Tar…..A little surprising coming from you…..
Did I hit a nerve Nick? Not like you to get flustered.
“Off base on the target of the knife”
Hmmmm
Ok Nick what was your motive?
“Just curious”? “Useful to hear perspective ”
Yeah ok sure I believe that.
“Off base on the target of the knife”
Why not past Nick’s whole quote?
paste
It seems that since Anthony rejoined the lineup things have gone south. I’m not necessarily putting in on Anthony as much as I wonder about the mix.
Meanwhile, the Knicks went on quite a run.
Maybe it depends on the night and the opposition but I like the lineup when Fields, Novak and Shumpert are in the mix. And of course Jeremy Lin.
Speaking of “fragile” Lin gets knocked around like a ragdoll! He’s horizontal as much as he’s vertical.
Tar, you did not hit a nerve and I’m not flustered.
Maybe you need to dial back the Defcon Five combat mode and think a little.
If one was so inlined, there are opportunities to pour salt in the wound (a less violent metaphor than “twist the knife” and also a better one, since I didn’t insert the knife to begin with — maybe a needle?) just about every other minute.
And thre are also nights when the ball just doesn’t seem to drop. Like tonight.
Chris Webber is funny, for those watching this game on NBA.TV.
And Melo rejoins and things fall apart again.
What gives here?
“Tar…..A little surprising coming from you…..”
Pat
I like Nick— usually a lot ( unlike Tin cup ). But I am starting to be able to tell when he’s up to something. There was an ulterior motive, and I don’t think it was so innocent.
If I’m wrong, my apologies.
Tom
I put in what I thought was the relevant thought, if you think differently have at it.
Thanks Mike D’antoni.
Second unit brings the Knicks back to take the lead and he takes them out.
Also nice of Melo to be visibly sulking on the bench as his team came back.
Yeah I don’t know what it is about Melo, but I don’t see him as a huge team player.
Just terrible to be down by 4 and within a few minut4es to be down by 11!
“Maybe you need to dial back the Defcon Five combat mode and think a little.”
Nick
I’m standing down, now no ambushing on your part. Ok deal
Tar, without being extremely explicit, I actually appreciated Nick’s post. I’m thinking it was a well-placed one.
In fact, I smiled heartily when I read it.
**********
This game was just awful. Maybe D’Antoni has to think about staying with his second line more often, or at least using them and adding some of the first to it but not using the entire first line.
The fact of the matter is that Pat M definitively has the experience and connections, IMO, but you’d never know it by reading his posts…
Tar, you’re not crazy. Of course there was an ulterior motive in my questions to Pat M. and how I asked them, although I was genuinely curious if he’d heard much diversity in opinion about the trade or it was all pretty much in agreement that the Yanks got the best of it.
I didn’t think I was really being very subtle, to tell you the truth. Think about it.
SJ 44, come back, we miss you.
IMO, but you’d never know it by reading his posts…
–
Do you skip all the ones where he mentions it?
I get it Nick. And I am not taking sides. But the end doesn’t justify the means.
Sorry if I was out of line. Goodnight everyone
“Do you skip all the ones where he mentions it?”
Best I can say is that I’m not here 24-7 but I can say that when I am here, I never see him name drop.
Nick, you’re not ambushing people with your lame, credibility seeking, knife in the back twisting, pro-Montero-trade ways again?
Tar, I’m not saying you were out of line. I just read his post differently is all.
Kind of sad but Melo is on the verge of becoming the new ARod in NY.
He’s probably going to get crucified in the papers tomorrow.
The question remains then whether Melo has the ability to get out of his own way and change his game. I see the different configurations and just about all seem to be like a relatively well-oiled machine, but when he’s out of the floor I don’t ever get the sense of t-e-a-m. I get the sense of 4 players and Melo.
Best I can say is that I’m not here 24-7 but I can say that when I am here, I never see him name drop.
–
Ok well as someone who is here quite often, I can tell you he name drops talking to so and so and such and such quite often. He just does it in a more respectful manner than Randy.
It’s less dangerous than using my camera to ambush Yankee-hat-wearing thugs in the ghetto.
Name dropping always makes me queasy, especially when entire posts are devoted to name dropping.
And coming from the Show Me state (not literally) I always wonder if any part of name-dropping is fiction. It’s easy for someone to post on a forum where nobody knows her or him and say all kinds of things. Who knows how much is true.
I know there are posters here who say they love hearing some of those stories but I’m definitely not one of them.
Wow. Melo bolted from the arena without talking to reporters. Can’t do that as a team captain.
but he’s also a 37-year-old who’s been pretty consistent in his four previous big league seasons
—-
consistently good IMO. hopefully for one more year.
“A curious phenomenon has emerged at the intersection of fashion, sports and crime: dozens of men and women who have robbed, beaten, stabbed and shot at their fellow New Yorkers have done so while wearing Yankees caps or clothing. ”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09......html?_r=1
Randy is trying to name drop as a form of transference, “I talked to this guy so I must know more about this than you!” rather than Pat M’s name dropping as a means to convey some information he reportedly heard from the source.
Usually about Joba being a reliever, or Hughes being in really good shape
I trust the latter more than the former. The former just isn’t trustworthy. I wouldn’t bet with him thats for sure.
consistently good IMO. hopefully for one more year.
–
Kuroda has the stuff to be good. I look at him like an Andy Pettitte type but with better stuff. He has pitched for a long time, doing it in a harsh environment in Japan, and then managing to do even better in a harder league in the majors. Now he is facing the ultimate test, doing it for the Yankees.
With his good command, and nasty split finger I don’t think the Yankees should have any worry about him being lost in translation.
Bronx Jeers,
Interesting. West Coast gangs have adopted baseball caps of different franchises as ‘their cap.
Here is an article on it: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....ortCat=mlb
I’m watching Watch What Happens: Live, and Sandra Bernhardt just did her nightly schtick and used a word (two words?) that I think sums the whole thing up: self promotion.
I cannot stand self promotion. It makes my skin crawl.
LGY March 6th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Wow. Melo bolted from the arena without talking to reporters. Can’t do that as a team captain.
—————————-
Not good at all
JF, the only thing about Kuroda that worries me is he is indeed 37, I would not overtax him inning wise during the regular season. by that I meant keep him at about 180-200.
Taking pictures of people in Yankee hats used to be a relaxing hobby, but it’s turning into this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzORu1dqEE0
Nothing can top Mohammed Al Bibi in terms of baseball cap/gangster imagery.
Pat M,
I’d love to hear more about your conversation with Bret Boone (and ?) on the trade…. if you’re in the mood to share tonight.
Sorry Aaron Boone. Oops
Melo is sorta caught in-between right now. He wants to play team ball, but isn’t use to playing without it. Needs to move without ball especially when they trap Lin. It seems like there’s a bounty on JLin’s head when he drives the lane nowadays. Melo must pick up some slack.
Nice to hear Hughes velocity reading. I’m expecting a big bounce back season for him.
If they find a way to move to robots instead of refs, the NBA would dramatically improve.
SJ44 Has Spoken –
@sportsJC16
#Yankees fans: Do me a favor. Stop panicking. Pineda’s gun readings are meaningless right now. Act like you know something about baseball.
Lot’s of Carmelo Anthony banter. The Knicks will never win a championship with Anthony. He is a one dimensional, selfish, individual players who plays no defense. Easy to see that the Knicks were playing better as a team when he was injured. Trading him now while you can get a decent return would be a good thing.
According to my sources it’s not hard to go from the BP to being a SP.
http://www.boston.com/sports/b.....its_a.html
For those with a weak stomach you may not want to read it.
It gives a visual that may haunt you and keep you up at night.
:
s/b….individual player
Deal With It March 7th, 2012 at 7:04 am
Lot’s of Carmelo Anthony banter. The Knicks will never win a championship with Anthony. He is a one dimensional, selfish, individual players who plays no defense. Easy to see that the Knicks were playing better as a team when he was injured. Trading him now while you can get a decent return would be a good thing.
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It sounds like Denver doesn’t miss him.
Wow. Melo bolted from the arena without talking to reporters. Can’t do that as a team captain
============================================
In fairness, after quickly bolting after the game, Anthony did return later and speak w/ reporters.
It sounds like Denver doesn’t miss him.
———–
Same reason Denver got rid of him, the Knicks are seeing it now. His act is tiresome as he drags down his teammates.
Melo bolted from the arena without talking to reporters. Can’t do that as a team captain
————————
And that would be because it is all about him, all the time.
Is Melo the team captain?
I guess the Knicks saw some leadership skills there.
:
Is Melo the team captain?
—————–
Probably bought off his teammates with bribes to become Capt. and make it even more about him. The guy is a cancer.
Nice piece on the active career BABIP leader at .262.
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....yFnEvB6fYI
Mo is the man….they’ll never be another like him…..he’s a total outlier at the closer position.
MaineYankee March 7th, 2012 at 7:09 am
According to my sources it’s not hard to go from the BP to being a SP.
http://www.boston.com/sports/b…..its_a.html
For those with a weak stomach you may not want to read it.
It gives a visual that may haunt you and keep you up at night. :
———————————————
I assume you are referring to the priceless comment:
“[John] Lackey walks around with no pants on and bounces a baseball and eats peanut butter and jelly,” Bard said. I’ll just try and be me, whatever that is. Kind of find it. … I don’t think you ever quite figure out what to do with that time. Most guys try and keep their mind off the game.”
I like the comment that he may not be the best role model…
Wonder which Yankee closer would be considered the 2nd best in Yankee history ?
Sparky Lyle
Goose Gossage
Luis Arroyo
I would have to think Gossage….though he probably still thinks he’s #1
Arroyo wasn’t around long enough. Close race between Lyle and Righetti.
Probably Lyle a little ahead of Gossage.
I guess I was excited about Arroyo’s 1961 stats 15 wins and 29 saves on my favorite Yankee team of all time
One season Yankee wonder.
What if Kuroda only throws 89 today? PANIC!
What if he doesn’t throw any CUs? Double panic! He will have to be sent to AAA
“Mo is the man….they’ll never be another like him…..he’s a total outlier at the closer position.”
blake-
there are not many like him.
none exactly like him.
but at different times there have been others
mantle, yogi, dimaggio, gehrig … rivera
yes he belongs to this select group
Article from NY Times why Dave Righetti was switched to bullpen.
Pascual Perez
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/12.....038;src=pm
In fairness, after quickly bolting after the game, Anthony did return later and speak w/ reporters.
——–
Didn’t know that. Good for him.
What if Kuroda only throws 89 today? PANIC!
—–
KURODA keeps himself in midseason form 365 days a year.
/legendofKURODA
i’d go with ryne duren as the second best closer.
just kidding , but he had two years of 75 innings at 2.02 and 1.88 era – 20 saves one year (1958)
Randy,
Let’s say you get 5 faces for the Yankees Mt. Rushmore does Rivera get on there? Does Jeter?
Mine would be Babe, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Jeter. Love Mo….but the role and position he plays just doesn’t hold the value of those great position players IMO.
KURODA should show Hughes his splitty
As Yankees Righetti had 224 saves, Gossage 151 and Lyle 141
Gossage (2.14) had the best ERA, Lyle (57) had the most wins.
I got to see all three and Gossage was the most dominant, but all were excellent.
Of course Sparky is a little extra special since the Yanks got him in a trade with BAHSTUN for Danny Cater!
rhighetti would be the second best , but he came at a bad time with no championships.
i must have liked gossage at some point, but his mouth in recent years has made me forget if i did.
has there been a better combined pitcher/pitching coach career than righetti’s ?
he’s had an amazing run out in san francisco.
“Let’s say you get 5 faces for the Yankees Mt. Rushmore does Rivera get on there? Does Jeter?”
gehrig, dimaggio, berra, mantle, rivera
these are my 5
Hector Lopez, Horace Clarke, Ed Whitson, Jerry Kenney and Tim Leary