2012 Hiroki Kuroda performance thread

[OnTheBorder79]

He's looked good all spring. Under the radar.

Absolutely. I've been away from here for a while, so let me say this was my favorite move of the offseason. I absolutely love the Pineda deal too, but this Kiroda deal went under the radar and I think he's going to be really good ...

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

Absolutely. I've been away from here for a while, so let me say this was my favorite move of the offseason. I absolutely love the Pineda deal too, but this Kiroda deal went under the radar and I think he's going to be really good ...

It's really amazing that a guy who signed as an FA and might start the second game of the year is getting so little attention.

[Mr.Muhozi]

Absolutely. I've been away from here for a while, so let me say this was my favorite move of the offseason. I absolutely love the Pineda deal too, but this Kiroda deal went under the radar and I think he's going to be really good ...

I have a gut feeling he will have a better season than another Japanese pitcher.

[grizy]

I have a gut feeling he will have a better season than another Japanese pitcher.

Well, DiceK is coming off a (yet another) injury.

Meanwhile Mike Maddux can't stop grinning every time he talks about Yu Darvish.

The ball is just exploding out of his hands. He's throwing a 95mph pitch some Rangers announcers are calling a slider but it's really more of a cutter with just horizontal action. He also throws a tighter nearly 6-12 slider that clocks in the high 80s to low 90s. And a 60mph near true 6-12 curve that, according to Michael Young, comes out of his hand with the same action as his fastball.

His stuff is just positively drool inducing.

[ThePinStripes]

Does anyone have a side with spring training stats for everyone?

[grizy]

mlb.com ? Or you looking for something better?

[ThePinStripes]

mlb.com ? Or you looking for something better?

Something better, but that will do for now. Thanks.

[Mr.Muhozi]

Well, DiceK is coming off a (yet another) injury.

Meanwhile Mike Maddux can't stop grinning every time he talks about Yu Darvish.

The ball is just exploding out of his hands. He's throwing a 95mph pitch some Rangers announcers are calling a slider but it's really more of a cutter with just horizontal action. He also throws a tighter nearly 6-12 slider that clocks in the high 80s to low 90s. And a 60mph near true 6-12 curve that, according to Michael Young, comes out of his hand with the same action as his fastball.

His stuff is just positively drool inducing.

6-12? You in Australia or something?

[Yankee Tripper]

6-12? You in Australia or something?

No Darvish has an awesome rise ball in his arsanel. Hadn't you heard?

[pleasepassthesoup]

No Darvish has an awesome rise ball in his arsanel. Hadn't you heard?

This is why Texas plans on using him in their wiffleball rotation, rather than with the big league team.

[awy]

it actually goes clockwise from 6 to 12 as it makes its way to the plate.

[Mr.Muhozi]

2 years on. I still don't understand half the things awy says.

[StaleMilk]

God I love this signing. If he's healthy, he's going to be great for us.

[DieHardYankeesFan732]

Kuroda scares me. Last season he gave up a career high 24 HR's in LA. I am hoping that number doesn't increase since he is now pitching in Yankee Stadium. However, Kuroda is coming off of a 3.07 ERA which is a career best. I'm pulling for him and I hope he can be a crucial impact to our rotation.

[secret_face]

I think this was a very good acquisition. I'm not too concerned with his increased HR's from a year ago. Yes, he will likely give up in the neighborhood of 20 HR due to Yankee Staduim and the DH. Overall, he will provide stability and consistency while scratching and clawing his way through about 200 innings.

[b0mber]

Absolutely. I've been away from here for a while, so let me say this was my favorite move of the offseason. I absolutely love the Pineda deal too, but this Kiroda deal went under the radar and I think he's going to be really good ...

The kuroda deal did indeed fly under the radar, however i feel like the pineda trade was just unnecessary. Ok for one second let's just say pineda did stay healthy this spring, It was still a very tight toss up on who was going to fill the last couple spots in the rotation. Obviously that decision was made for us, but if the competition was so close anyway why wouldn't we just give freddy the nod, thus keeping one of our best prospects in montero.

[jcarey]

2 years on. I still don't understand half the things awy says.

Maybe get an analog clock.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

The kuroda deal did indeed fly under the radar, however i feel like the pineda trade was just unnecessary. Ok for one second let's just say pineda did stay healthy this spring, It was still a very tight toss up on who was going to fill the last couple spots in the rotation. Obviously that decision was made for us, but if the competition was so close anyway why wouldn't we just give freddy the nod, thus keeping one of our best prospects in montero.

Because the trade wasn't just about 2012, and Kuroda and Garcia are not going to be on this team for the long term. The Yankees gave up their best prospect, but got someone who may have more value long term

[Jax Teller]

Erik Boland ‏ @eboland11 West Coast scout on Kuroda transition to AL: "Don't worry about him. Guy can f'ing pitch."

[NYCrusader]

Hiroki Kuroda will make his final spring start tonight. Of all Japanese-born pitchers with at least 12 big league starts, Kuroda has the lowest career ERA at 3.45.

Guy seems to me like the pitching version of Hideki Matsui in his time with the Yankees get's the job done at high level as well as being the ultimate pro.

[Gigi Buffon]

I'm not worried about Kuroda. He's learning the league and the umpires. Maintained his velo to the end. He'll be fine.

[flymick24]

0 FB command

[bomber999]

I think he'll be better than he was tonight, but I don't think he's a #2 starter in the AL East.

[2JAY]

I'm not worried about Kuroda. He's learning the league and the umpires. Maintained his velo to the end. He'll be fine.

But his command was not there and when his pitches were up, as they were often, he gave up numerous hard hit balls. Though it was only one start and hopefully he'll be much better as the season moves along.

[sweet_lou_14]

I didn't see the game but was following on my phone (including Twitter of all things) and what I was reading -- and hearing on the radio post-game -- is that hitters go up there first-pitch swinging against Kuroda, and the Rays did that to devastating effect tonight. If Jack Curry and John Sterling can figure it out, it would be nice if Kuroda and the coaching staff could too.