Kuroda On Red Sox Radar

Regardless of this rumor, I think the Yankees should do everything they can to make sure Kuroda is back next year.

Yankees Leaning Towards Pettitte in Game 2, Kuroda in Game 3

From Mark Hale:

The Yankees certainly can start Kuroda, who has been their No. 2 starter this season. But now they also have the option of starting Pettitte in Game 2 on seven days’ rest and moving Kuroda to Game 3 on Wednesday. That would allow Kuroda (16-11, 3.32 ERA) to pitch on two extra days’ rest, which seemingly would be beneficial to the right-hander.

Girardi said a Game 3 start for Kuroda is a strong possibility.

“That’s something that we’re going to have to talk about. Absolutely,” he said. “[Kuroda] had an unbelievable season, and that’s something we’ll definitely consider.”

...

“I’m going to respect any decisions that Joe makes,” Kuroda said of potentially being pushed to Game 3.

Another factor that could influence Girardi’s Game 2 decision is because CC Sabathia will pitch in Game 1, do the Yankees want their two lefty starters to pitch on consecutive days? As for home-road splits, Kuroda and Pettitte have been far better in The Bronx this season (Games 3-5 will be at the Stadium). Kuroda has a 2.72 ERA at home versus a 4.23 one on the road, while Pettitte owns a 1.85 ERA at home and a 4.26 one away.

I like the plan. Kuroda has been better at home all season, and he could use the extra couple days rest after throwing a career high number of innings.

Kuroda Expect To Make Next Start

From Marc Carig:

Hiroki Kuroda had just finished a session on the exercise bike and a round of treatment. Sweat beads covered his brow. His left ankle and foot were naked. His gait had only a slight hitch.

The Yankees right-hander hasn’t been given a clean bill of health — manager Joe Girardi said he’ll need to see where he is in a few days — but he had the look of a pitcher who’ll be ready to take the mound for his next turn Wednesday in Atlanta.

X-rays were negative on Kuroda’s left ankle/foot, which got the worst of an encounter with a line drive off Daniel Murphy’s bat in Friday’s 9-1 victory over the Mets. Girardi yesterday described the injury as “some bruising on his heel.”

Good news. With the way the Yanks have been pitching recently the last thing they need is another injury, especially to a starter.

Kuroda Worried About His Stadium Opening Start

From Andrew Marchand:

Hiroki Kuroda has never played in Yankee Stadium. So when he throws the first home pitch for the Yankees a little after 1 p.m. on Friday, he will have more nerves than anything else.

"Rather than being excited, I'm more worried about how I'm going to perform," Kuroda said through his interpreter.

...

"Since I've never pitched at Yankee Stadium, I'm a little bit pre-occupied," Kuroda said. "I just have to do my best."

Kuroda added that he's "honored" to be getting the ball in the home opener.

Is it just me or do you also hate hearing Yankees admit they're worried?

Kuroda Inked to One-Year Deal

And with that, a potential weakness becomes a clear-cut strength:

01. Sabathia
02. Pineda
03. Kuroda
04. Nova
05. Garcia/Burnett/Hughes

I will do my best to touch on both Kuroda and Pineda sometime this weekend. For the time being, suffice it to say that I am a big fan of this signing ... and that I'm decidedly torn on the Montero-Pineda swap. Though, I believe it should be said that five years of a young pitcher with ace-potential seems like a solid return for Montero - particularly when Jose Campos has a ridiculous ceiling, to boot.

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