Postgame notes: Kuroda lacks consistency in second start
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Mar 12, 2012 
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Hiroki Kuroda said he usually gets off to slow starts in spring training. He leans on an assortment of pitches, and it makes sense that it might take him a while to get comfortable with all of them. Despite pitching three scoreless innings tonight, the new Yankees starter wasn’t happy.
“I don’t think I had all my stuff today,” he said. “Nothing was really consistent. Two-seamer wasn’t there. Cutter wasn’t cutting.”
Joe Girardi said the problem was consistency in the strike zone. Kuroda wasn’t throwing as many quality strikes, and so he had a few more runners on base. He didn’t throw many splitfingers tonight — arguably his best pitch — but he used to to strikeout No. 3 hitter Brian Bogusevic with the bases loaded in the third inning.
“I think probably most of the nights he’s going to have the split and he’s going to have his cutter and he’s going to have his sinker and four-seamer and his slider,” Girardi said. “But early in spring training, it’s hard to get them all going because you’re not out there long enough.”
• Typical for a night game in spring training, the clubhouse was pretty empty after the game. Pretty much everyone expect the guys who were still playing had already gone home, so notes are pretty night tonight.
• One guy who stood out was Dellin Betances. The big right-hander threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and one harmless single. “Good curveball. Good changeup. Good fastball,” Girardi said. “Throwing a lot of strikes.”
• No significant injury updates tonight. Girardi said, as far as he knows, everyone came through tonight’s game with no problems and he’s encouraged by the fact Dave Robertson was able to play catch. “He definitely feels better, so that’s a good sign,” Girardi said.
• Girardi was disappointed because the Yankees didn’t turn a double play — leading to two runs in the ninth — and they failed to catch a popup in foul territory which led to a run in the fourth. Ultimately, the Yankees lost 4-3 and had just five hits. They gave up 12 hits.
• Nick Swisher had an RBI triple in the sixth and J.R. Murphy had an RBI single in the ninth. The other Yankees run scored on a ground out. Robinson Cano, Dewayne Wise and Jose Gil — who’s have a nice spring — had the other Yankees hits.
• Girardi said he though Rafael Soriano threw the ball “alright” and should have pitched a scoreless inning had the Yankees caught that popup. It looked like Francisco Cervelli’s ball, but he seemed to not see it until it was too late.
• Nice work by my friend Jon Paul Morosi who took a look back at the day Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera were optioned to Triple-A on the same day. It’s a nice read on the pair of iconic teammates.
• Also, head over to Yankees Fans Unite to read a Q&A with shortstop prospect Cito Culver.
Associated Press photo
• One guy who stood out was Dellin Betances. The big right-hander threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and one harmless single. “Good curveball. Good changeup. Good fastball,” Girardi said. “Throwing a lot of strikes.”
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Jap,
Jesus!!….you were on point with your comment.
Damn, knew he was throwing that changeup. And could tell the curve was filthy. No television. Grrr!
That’s the Dellin we know!
Sounds like Kuroda grinded it out. No worries about you, Kuroda-san.
Chad, thanks for stuff on Dellin.
Jap,
Jesus!!….you were on point with your comment.
///
^^^
Hey luis, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to there… I wasn’t born yesterday, you know.
Chad, thank you for that feedback on Betances.
Kuroda seems a lot like Hughes, will be his own harshest critic.
luis March 12th, 2012 at 11:15 pm
YF,
About Warren:
I still think that Phelps has looked the best of the three ( Phelps, Warren and Mitchell )…But i thought he has a very good array of FB’s, especially the one with sinking action. I agree he has a good change up, but i would like it to drop more near the plate. Yes , those CB really need some work. The slider on the other hand, he threw much better, in fact i think he got squeezed a little bit on some pitches that were strikes and weren’t called, needs more lateral move IMO, it has plenty of vertical drop but not enough lateral movement, so the hitter isn’t fooled. IMO the slider has to look like a Fb and that is staying over the plate to fool the hitter and force him to commit, if it has enough lateral and drop movement he will only hit the air.
JAP,
NO!!!….Please i was just commenting about what you said in the previous thread about hoping Rothchild to opine about Dellin and not Girardi….We didn’t much out of him tonight.
*We didn’t get much of him tonight*
luis, I know. It was a joke
.
luis, good analysis. Still early for these guys, I think he’ll get more run as he settles into more of a rhythm. (Warren).
It’s too bad the young kids are so far off from NYC. If SWB had been allowed (by the stinkin’ Mets) to play their games in Newark, and were in a home stretch, we could have maybe caught Dellin, Manny or one of Phelps/Warren/DJ pitching while you were visiting out here.
You got me there
Well, he did have a two out 2 RBI double today.
Shoulda put a winkie, but wanted the deadpan effect
.
luis, Phelps is definitely the best “pitcher” of the 3 right now and has a better breaking ball than Warren. Although I haven’t really watched Phelps pitch as much as the other two. Warren was mostly FB but always with great command before he improved his breaking ball, and I agree his slider can be a good pitch when he locates it. He threw some good ones and did get squeezed a little like that one to Willingham that should have K’ed him before the HBP. But some of those sliders were fringy. I think his changeup is pretty decent. Doesn’t get the depth of Dellin’s though.
DJ is rawer than Phelps, but I love his sinker/CB/changeup combo and think he will be a solid mid rotation mlb pitcher, if he is left alone to start.
WOndering if that pitch that they took the deep center that Melky put away was a curve that he didn’t finish (off 3-2 count) but I don’t want to push my luck that Chad will provide that info
.
Did they trade Betances yet?
Was Kuroda ever sent to a Japanese fat farm?
Rich, not yet. But the Girardi quotes were to up his trade value.
Nick in SF March 12th, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Was Kuroda ever sent to a Japanese fat farm?
____
Yes, they took away all his mochi.
Rich in NJ March 12th, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Did they trade Betances yet?
///
yankeefeminista March 12th, 2012 at 11:45 pm
Rich, not yet. But the Girardi quotes were to up his trade value.
///
No, they’re gearing him up to replace Joba in the bullpen. Girardi was overheard saying “Son, you’ve just thrown your last changeup.”
If the Yanks were to have an opening this season, who gets the call ???? Phelps ??? Is he the most prepared and Big League ready ???
If the Yanks were to have an opening this season, who gets the call ???? Phelps ??? Is he the most prepared and Big League ready ???
–
I think Phelps is first on the line, because he is on the 40 man.
YF,
Good post, I am opining only of what i’ve seen this ST….I can’t really say anything from before because this is the first time that i get the chance to see them…i am very impressed though…Stuff wise i’ll say that if Warren manages to improve his off speed pitches the way Phelps has them now, he could be the best of them.. Mitchell’s sinker has sick movement, but i wonder if he can locate it on a consistent basis.
Yes, definitely Phelps.
Of course he has to be pitching well at the time, and a guy like DJ mitchell could get the call as well (also on the 40 man) if he is doing really good. If this supposedly plus offspeed stuff translates into better results this season.
I’d keep my eye on those 2 as the season progresses.
Pat M. March 12th, 2012 at 11:47 pm
If the Yanks were to have an opening this season, who gets the call ???? Phelps ??? Is he the most prepared and Big League ready ???
==================
IMO, i think he is ready to go north with the team.
Better than being from South India and having your malai kulfi denied you.
Thanks, luis. Very interested in your perspective. Based on his stuff-FB and command of it, ability to move it around, Warren I think the Yanks believe has the highest upside of the three. JMO based on stuff. And yes, DJ’s sinker has such movement that sometimes it becomes problematic. But when he is in a groove that sinker with the plus change and curveball is sick. However, I am fearful he will be relegated to the bullpen on this team, IF they don’t trade him first. Phelps is the surest thing of the three, IMO.
Who’s our long man? DJ?
I thought Garcia is the long man?
J. Alfred Prufrock March 12th, 2012 at 11:53 pm
Who’s our long man? DJ?
======================
I think the long man job is for the chief…..I rather leave Mitchell starting in the minors.
If this supposedly plus offspeed stuff translates into better results this season.
_______
His CB/change are both plus, dude. He can throw them in his sleep. And he killed it down the stretch and cut his walk rates. It is more about his FB command.
luis, probably right. Which puts Hughes into the rotation rather than short relief, which would um, suck.
J. Alfred Prufrock March 13th, 2012 at 12:00 am
luis, probably right. Which puts Hughes into the rotation rather than short relief, which would um, suck.
======================
I’m not falling for that one twice in the night…
If you are serious, i think you have to see what Hughes has as a SP first.
Is there some update on Joba’s landing date? He’s way ahead of schedule, apparently.
luis, no-no-no, I said that awkwardly, I mean it would suck if he was relegated to short relief.
But I can see how confusing that sentence is.
JAP,
Mid may??…Right about when i show up there?
Hughes has to be given every chance to start.
luis,
That’s great, but I hope he’s not pushing himself too fast.
yfem, yes ma’am. I think Joba also should be given….NM.
At one point Joba said he was shooting for mid-April as a realistic goal. Beginning of May?
J. Alfred Prufrock March 13th, 2012 at 12:08 am
yfem, yes ma’am. I think Joba also should be given….NM.
_____
Odds can finish the sentence for you.
yankeefeminista March 13th, 2012 at 12:09 am
J. Alfred Prufrock March 13th, 2012 at 12:08 am
yfem, yes ma’am. I think Joba also should be given….NM.
_____
Odds can finish the sentence for you.
///
He’ll be along any minute
. Wanna see me whistle for him?
JOBA CHAMBERLAIN IS A STAHTIN’ PITCHAH!
………
………
………
?????
Guys,
i would rather see him stretch as a SP, which would put him in line to be ready for the end of June, but since that’s not happening the timetable for his return should be a lot shorter.
I don’t think we’ll see Joba until late July, early August.
Happy Birthday, Manny B. Our precocious 21 year old.
sooner not shorter…
In mid feb, Cash said around June at the earliest, but sounds like Joba is progressing rather quickly.
Wow! just 21 years old!, he looked a lot older on that mound on Saturday
This is from mid Feb, but I think Joba has progressed more quickly than they expected.
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-yo.....-tame-joba
luis March 13th, 2012 at 12:11 am
Guys,
i would rather see him stretch as a SP, which would put him in line to be ready for the end of June, but since that’s not happening the timetable for his return should be a lot shorter.
///
This has been the most frustrating Yankee career to witness in a long time, because of the wasted potential (right up there with He That Shall Not Be Named).
I will continue to hold out hope that they’ll reconsider, although I’m not sure where they’d put him at this point, especially with the Bs ascending.
“If you want to have a scale from 1-to-10 with 10 being the best with someone fully committed to doing the rehab and not cutting any corners and doing everything done that he needs to do, he checked off at the highest level of that scale,” Cashman said. “That still doesn’t erase the typical time-frame of this surgery.” //
////
Yankeefem, doesn’t sound like the wanton jakin’ slob you read about in the pages of Lohud…
I will continue to hold out hope that they’ll reconsider, although I’m not sure where they’d put him at this point, especially with the Bs ascending.
JAP,
This is the problem in my view, they have nowhere to put him….His only chance for that to happen is that Hughes fails miserably. i’m not rooting for that to happen even though i think Joba is the better player.
Rich in NJ March 13th, 2012 at 12:12 am
I don’t think we’ll see Joba until late July, early August.
///
That’s fine, though, isn’t it? He doesn’t have a job currently that someone else can’t cover.
JAP,
This is the problem in my view, they have nowhere to put him….His only chance for that to happen is that Hughes fails miserably. i’m not rooting for that to happen even though i think Joba is the better player.
///
Well, Cashman had his Pineda/jettisoned Jesus dream, and I had my Joba-Phil dream. I wanted them both in the rotation, but it doesn’t seem likely now. One will be here and the other will be gone, ultimately. I wish for Joba that he escapes to a place where he can start again (pun intended).
“I will continue to hold out hope that they’ll reconsider, although I’m not sure where they’d put him at this point, especially with the Bs ascending.”
Via Chad last year:
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/201.....-any-kind/
They called it tendinitis, right? Something doesn’t add up.
I didn’t see Hughes pitch last night, how did his off speed pitches looked?
Rich in NJ,
Didn’t Chamberlain also say something like: “There’s nothing wrong with my shoulder” ?
Rich,
Honestly i don’t know….If that was the case why start him in 2009 and then have him compete for the job in 2010 in a rigged contest?…As you say something doesn’t add up.
Well guys, have to turn myself in, got an early start tomorrow….Have a good night guys.
JAP
I’m not sure.
luis
I guess we’ll never know until and unless Joba leaves and starts for another team. I think he’s a great kid, so I hope that doesn’t happen, but…
luis,
he can use some more spring to get his curve and change in better shape, but i was mainly encouraged by the fastball life and the way he was on top of that pitch. curves were loopy but drew some awkward swings.
Joba might be exceeding the recovery time from TJ surgery, however it generally takes quite some time before fine tune control returns and that could easily be August…..
J. Alfred Prufrock March 13th, 2012 at 12:41 am
luis,
he can use some more spring to get his curve and change in better shape, but i was mainly encouraged by the fastball life and the way he was on top of that pitch. curves were loopy but drew some awkward swings.
==============================
I hope so, i don’t think he can live with the FB alone.
Rich,
Probably by this time next season one of them is going to be traded….Sad, but i don’t think you should waste a talent like either Hughes or Joba as your “6th inning guy tm”, i don’t think is fair to either one of them, and if they have a great season we might get a young bat in return that we may need in the not so distant future
I hope so….He can’t live on the FB alone.
luis, have a good one, amigo.
That is of course if Soriano doesn’t opts out
Once again Montero provides the impactful bat that is sorely missing from the lineup. A two run double to beat the Rangers. Now some that are blind and drinking the koolaid will say I’m “trolling” but they are lost. Jesus’ impact for the Mariners will dwarf Pineda’s. Cashman is finished imo. Pineda will not be able to handle NY. Prediction:
Montero: 32 hrs, 312 avg 108 rbi 390 obp, 1000 ops.
Pineda: 9-12 era 4.84 ip 173
Good night this time for real….Take care my friend
Sure am glad this SOB is gon
TAMPA, Fla. — The Joba Chamberlain debate may continue to rage outside of the clubhouse, though to Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland, the eternal back-and-forth about the Yankees’ prized arm is over.
“We will not bring him out of the bullpen to start this year,” Eiland told the Star-Ledger on Sunday morning. “There’s people above me that can override my decision, but as far as I’m concerned that’s (the bullpen) where he’s going to be.”
Though he said things can change — “I never say anything’s forever” — Eiland said there’s no plan for Chamberlain to be reevaluated at the end of the season for a starting job.
“We get more out of his ability as a reliever,” Eiland said. “We feel like he can be a good starter. We feel like he can be a great reliever.”
Said Eiland: “He’s in the bullpen, and he’s there to stay, period.”
I think Hughes’ curveball will have some oomph on it once he gets his arm to full strength. He was throwing the loopy curve but at least he got swinging strikes on 3 of them, if I remember correctly.
Melkmanisinhotlanta March 13th, 2012 at 12:50 am
With all due respect, i am one of the most critical of this trade but i would say that your predictions are a bit off:
Montero 285, 25hr, 90rbi, 360obp, 900 ops. If he achieves this he is the rookie of the year.
Pineda will win at least 15 games
yankeefem, I liked the way he took the inside of the plate away from RHB. He had a couple of ups and ins that were a joy to behold. I’m stoked about Hughes, and I really long for him to stick it to some Yankee fans (not just here, but on other boards who have given him up for dead).
Anyway, I’m typing cross-eyed, so I’ll say good night, to one and all.
JF,
I don’t like zombie movies at all. Would I enjoy The Walking Dead anyway?
J. Alfred Prufrock March 13th, 2012 at 12:52 am
Sure am glad this SOB is gon
TAMPA, Fla. — The Joba Chamberlain debate may continue to rage outside of the clubhouse, though to Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland, the eternal back-and-forth about the Yankees’ prized arm is over.
“We will not bring him out of the bullpen to start this year,” Eiland told the Star-Ledger on Sunday morning. “There’s people above me that can override my decision, but as far as I’m concerned that’s (the bullpen) where he’s going to be.”
Though he said things can change — “I never say anything’s forever” — Eiland said there’s no plan for Chamberlain to be reevaluated at the end of the season for a starting job.
“We get more out of his ability as a reliever,” Eiland said. “We feel like he can be a good starter. We feel like he can be a great reliever.”
Said Eiland: “He’s in the bullpen, and he’s there to stay, period.”
=================================
Thank God he is out……A good starter is way better than a great reliever you dumb ………. i let you complete the phrase
ECS ~
Sorry I’ve missed you here and there lately (and now you’re probably asleep – the time difference is really a pain sometimes). Thanks for plugging my blog the other day
I’m actually working on a new project (to be unveiled prior to opening day) I’ll keep you posted.
Obviously, losing Montero has been rough on Yankee fans – just as losing Pineda was quite a shock to the Mariner faithful. I’m on record as being hopeful that the trade truly turns out to be a win-win (and believe-you-me, rooting for a Yankee is not something I take lightly or do easily
)
Anyway, I posted my thoughts on the trade shortly after it transpired. I thought I’d post it again, just to remind you and your fellow Yank fans, it hurt over here on the left coast too…
http://tinyurl.com/7b26y9x
But, as you always say… onward and upward
I don’t like zombie movies at all. Would I enjoy The Walking Dead anyway?
–
Why don’t you like zombie movies, that would help me to better inform you on TWD. Gore? If so definitely pass.
Jesus was on the Cactus League Report tonight…
(starts at 41:30)
http://tinyurl.com/6s7en7t
I don’t mind blood and I can handle gore. But zombie movies are dumb. Unrealistic, unless you you believe in zombies.
Well if you have trouble suspending disbelief, then you may want to steer clear of TWD. You’d have to come to grips with not only an illogical zombie outbreak, but also a bunch of illogical protagonists
Sounds like there some interesting characters and faulty plot lines.
I did see one zombie movie that was okay. Of course. Set in England? I think it plays on the comedy channel every once in a while.
Of course, it was a comedy…
Thanks for the link, Rosy. Good night, all.
Its unfair to compare any zombie thing to Shaun of the Dead.
“Its unfair to compare any zombie thing to Shaun of the Dead.”
Meaning “Shaun of the Dead” is that good or that bad?
GreenBeret7 March 12th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
Claiborne is a lot like Whelan with control. Romanski isn’t a soft tosser, but, doesn’t throw 95, either. Good control, throws 2 fast balls, change-up, curve, slider. yankees got him from Milwaukee (4th round pick as an outfielder pitcher and then had TJ surgery.
______Just realized I never comment on this (got sidetracked by the “Minista” post). Thanks for the scouting reports. GN
Meaning “Shaun of the Dead” is that good or that bad?
–
That good. Its a deftly crafted zombie genre AND comedy movie.
the yankees are kind of playing like zombies now.
kind of flat
only 5-6 home runs so far
not that spring training stats mean too much with a veteran team
being healthy is the most important thing obviously.
so while unimpressive , no real injury problems so all’s well.
however, it’d getting time to start cranking things up a bit
randy l. March 13th, 2012 at 6:18 am
the yankees are kind of playing like zombies now.
kind of flat
only 5-6 home runs so far
not that spring training stats mean too much with a veteran team
being healthy is the most important thing obviously.
so while unimpressive , no real injury problems so all’s well.
however, it’d getting time to start cranking things up a bit
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There are still more than 3 weeks before the season opens from what I recall, and most Big League players haven’t had that many at bats at this point. To me, you need to totally ignore the first 10 or probably even 15 games of spring training and then make judgements based on the last set of games. By my count, they are scheduled to play 36 spring games. Look at the last 20 and make judgements from there, but to say anything about the team at this stage makes no sense.
“Look at the last 20 and make judgements from there, but to say anything about the team at this stage makes no sense.”
anything?
anything at all?
i see.
i guess chad should just stop writing about the team then
They really haven’t played their regular lineup yet. So, I’m not overly concerned. And as you say, Randy, with a veteran team, the overall concern is staying healthy, work on things. No one really has to win a job here this season.
However, if I’m a utility guy, I’d look at Nunez’ hand injury and see an opportunity there.
Frankly, I cannot wait for the regular season to get here. I used to love spring training, but I think what I really loved about it was that it meant the end of the winter. The process, not so much. The one year ST was fun was when all the regulars were off playing in the international games whatever they were called, and we got to see a lot of the prospects get prime playing time. that was fun.
This is like watching the chef prep the meal. The end product will be good, but the getting there is really tedious.
Big Dellin B starting to find his groove!
Good to see Betances had a positive outing….annoying that Kuroda hasn’t been on TV either time..
“Big Dellin B starting to find his groove!”
I wonder what a team like Seattle would do with a guy like betances.
The rays would likely keep him down as long as possible. Seattle might just bring him up mid season and let him learn at the MLB level.
The Yankees have a tough balance on when to bring a pitcher up because they almost always need to win first develop later
“The Yankees have a tough balance on when to bring a pitcher up because they almost always need to win first develop later”
Yes….but I think what they are doing now is making sure they have enough veteran depth at the big league level so they don’t have to rush them……as I’ve said before…..I think a few years ago Banuelos would have been thrown in the rotation out of spring training in 2011….instead they signed Garcia and Colon and this year Garcia and Kuroda.
Basically I think the Yanks have finally figured out that brining up pitchers before they are ready accomplishes neither of their goals……it doesn’t help you win and it doesn’t help you develop the player.
I think Manny and Dellin are at around 350 and 425 IP respectively.
It would be nice if come Sept the Yanks are in a position to give them a start or 2.
i think betances mlb experience last season is going to help him. he made it all the way up to the bigs, but he didn’t show what he can do. a little taste to remind him of where he’s going mixed with the bitter taste of not having it quite together yet could be just the right mixture to send him back to aaa with. hopefully he puts it together to the point that next time he comes up, he’s up to stay.
the ‘road warrior’ aspect of the ‘empire state yankees’ situation should motivate everyone in aaa to give their best shot at making the majors this year.
blake March 13th, 2012 at 8:17 am
Basically I think the Yanks have finally figured out that brining up pitchers before they are ready accomplishes neither of their goals……it doesn’t help you win and it doesn’t help you develop the player.
—————————–
Wish they figured that out earlier