Kuroda is going back to Japan.

It was unknown what Hiroki Kuroda would do—-re-sign with the Yankees, retire, go to another team or go home to Japan.

He’s going home to finish his career where it started—in Japan.

Kuroda, who’ll turn 40 in February, was the only Yankees pitcher to qualify for the ERA title in 2014 (meaning a pitcher had to pitch at least 162 innings). Had he wanted to come back, he would have easily slotted into the #3 or 4 slot in the Yankees rotation.  At what price, I don’t know. He made $16MM in 2014, and I wouldn’t have wanted to go there. Maybe 1 year at $10-$12MM, but…

Anyway, the youth movement will continue, we would presume. Some older guys can’t be moved and you’ll have to wait until their contracts expire before you can get rid of deteriorating ex-stars with big contracts and advanced age (Teixeira, A-rod, CC, Beltran).

Slowly we’ve seen some age removed from the team. Pettitte, Rivera, Jeter, Kuroda…

Kuroda went 38-33, 3.44, ERA+ 117 in his three years as a Yankee, going 16-11, 3.32 in 2012, 11-13, 3.31 in 2013 and 11-9, 3.71 this past season. His consistency extended to his years as a Dodger (2008-2011) before he was a Yankee. For in those years, his ERA was 3.45 with an ERA+ of 113. He was 41-46 as a Dodger. Check out his stats on baseballreference.com. You’ll be amazed at the consistency.

For his career, he finishes at .500 even. 79-79 with an ERA of 3.45, ERA+ 115. He deserved better than a .500 record. Too often, both with the Dodgers and with the Yankees, Kuroda was the victim of poor run support. You’d think an ERA+ of 115 should have given him a 90-68 career record, not 79-79.

He started five postseason games in his career, and once again the numbers are consistent. 2-2, 3.94. He was 0-1 in two starts in the 2012 postseason for the Yanks, a no-decision in the ALDS against Baltimore despite giving up just 2 runs in 8 1/3 innings, and a loss to the Tigers in the ALCS despite giving up just 3 runs in 7 2/3.

I begrudge no one the right to go home. Kuroda was an effective pitcher for the Yanks for three years and deserved a better record than what he had.

Thanks for three good years, Hiroki, and best of luck.

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Game 159. Hollywood ending for Jeter’s last home game.

For a whole career that seems like a fairy tale, why not a Hollywood ending for the hero’s last home game?

Derek Jeter hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th to win the game against Baltimore, 6-5. It couldn’t have been any different, right?

Hiroki Kuroda, possibly making his final MLB start, started the game off badly, giving up back-to-back HRs to the first two batters he faced. But then after that, he threw a one-hit shutout for eight innings.

Kuroda, 8 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 walks, 9 K. 3.71.

Meanwhile, the Yanks came back. In the bottom of the first, Gardner singled, and Jeter just missed a HR, doubling in Gardner. Jeter went to third on a WP and scored on an error to tie up the game.

In the seventh, Jeter came up with the bases loaded and hit a ground ball. In going for the force, the ball was thrown away and two runs scored. Error and RBI for Derek. Brian McCann then hit a SF to make it 5-2.

So to the 9th it went, and all seemed safe. Then things went crazy.

David Robertson gave up a walk, then got a strikeout.

Then he gave up a 2-run HR. 5-4.

Then a strikeout. With two out, I expected Girardi to pull Jeter to a standing ovation. Instead, he left Jeter in the game. Good thing, too.

For Robertson then coughed up the lead by giving up another HR. And it was to Steve Pearce (see my recent post, “You were saying?”).

Robertson (W, 4-5, 3.13) 1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 walk, 2 K.

So Jeter now had another Yankee Stadium at bat. More if the game went extras. He was third up in the bottom of the ninth.

Rookie Jose Pirela, in his third major league game, singled to start the bottom of the ninth. Antoan Richardson pinch-ran.

Everyone knew what would happen next. Gardner bunted Richardson over to set the stage for Jeter.

It seemed so scripted. But, why not a Hollywood ending for the hero’s last home game in a fairy-tale career?

Jeter singled in the winning run. Career hit #3463.

The win ensured a winning season. The Yanks are 82-77 with three games in Boston to go. It put them one up on Toronto for 2nd place in the AL East.

Jeter probably won’t play today (Friday). I’ll be shocked if he does, simply because of all the emotion of last night. He will never play SS again, saying that is one thing he wants to take out of his home farewell—his last game at SS. In fairness to the Boston fans who want to say goodbye, he will DH in Boston this weekend.

Is an encore (like a HR over the Green Monster in his final MLB at bat) in the cards?

Game 158. Farewells forthcoming as Yanks are eliminated, 9-5

Cue Sinatra. “… and now, the end is near…”

The Yankees were eliminated from playoff contention with a 9-5 loss on Wednesday afternoon. Tonight’s (Thursday) game vs. Baltimore will be the final home game of Derek Jeter’s career. It also will probably be the final game of Hiroki Kuroda’s career, and probably the final game for Ichiro Suzuki as a Yankee in Yankee Stadium. As for David Robertson, who knows?

(Trivia: the Yanks, despite 27 World Series Championships, have never won a WS in a year ending in a 4 or 5).

Jeter, of course, is retiring at the end of the year and tonight will be the Yankees’ last home game of 2014. Ichiro most likely will not be a Yankee in 2015 and with him turning 41, you wonder who’d pick him up. Kuroda, 39, may be retiring.

One big question is when tonight’s game would start, and if it will start or be rained out. You know the Yanks will do everything in their power to play the game, for it is Jeter’s home farewell. Rain is in the forecast all day, and the question is, when will it be over. There is a chance tonight’s game starts after a delay.

As for yesterday, Shane Greene took a 3-0 lead into the third inning, but the O’s knocked him out of the box in the fourth with six runs on their way to defeating the Yanks 9-5.

The Yanks had scored a run in the first on a Teixeira double, another in the second on a Drew HR (overall 7), and one in the third on a Headley HR (overall 13).

Greene (L, 5-4, 3.78) went 3 2/3, 6 R, 7 H, 3 walks and 5 K.

Huff 2 IP, 0 R, 2 h, 0 walks and 1 K. Overall ERA 3.36 (1.85 as NYY).

Whitley 1 1/3, 2 R, 3 H, 0 walks and 0 K. 5.38.

Phelps 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 4.42.

Claiborne 1 IP,  0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 3.05.

The O’s got 3 in the eighth to make it 9-3, and Mark Teixeira hit a 2-run HR (22, 363 career) in the bottom of the 8th to bring the Yanks to 9-5, the final score.

Tonight should be dramatic. The ovation(s) for Jeter should be huge. You wonder if and how Jeter will show his emotions.

It will be less so for Kuroda and Ichiro, but it could be their home Yankee farewells as well.

And what about David Robertson, who is a free agent after the year? Is this is last home game as a Yankee as well?

Derek Jeter went 0 for 4 in the loss, keeping his total hit total at 3461. His average dropped to .253. (.309 career)

The loss dropped the Yanks to 81-77 and into a second-place tie with the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.

Game 154. Banged-up Bronx Bombers beaten, 6-3.

At this stage, you wonder who’ll be left for Game 162 besides Derek Jeter.

Mark Teixeira was removed in the middle of the game due to a sore wrist, Carlos Beltran wasn’t available due to his elbow issues (which will require surgery after the season) and Jacoby Ellsbury wasn’t available due to a strained hammy which may finish him for the season. Of course, Martin Prado is out for the year after his emergency appendectomy.

Chris Capuano pitched well for five innings on Saturday, but the wheels fell off in the sixth and the Yanks lost 6-3.

The loss dropped the Yanks to 79-75 with eight games to go. They have a one-game lead over Toronto for second place in the AL East. As for that last playoff spot, they are 4 1/2 out with 8 to go.

Toronto scored first on a first-inning double by Eduardo Encarnacion. The Yanks tied it in the third on a Jeter single (hit #3456), WP and RBI single by McCann.

The Yanks went up 2-1 an inning later on an RBI single by Cervelli.

Toronto, however, got three in the sixth, one in the seventh and another in the ninth.

A Derek Jeter RBI double in the ninth (hit #3457) made it 6-3. Jeter’s RBI put him #100 on the all-time list. The run scored by Jeter in the third put him temporarily into the top 10 all-time in runs scored (he passed A-Rod, who will most likely return the favor next year).

Today,  Sunday, Masahiro Tanaka returns and tests out that elbow. He has been out the last ten weeks.

Besides Jeter most likely playing his last home game on Thursday, two other players may be in their final week. The next start for Hiroki Kuroda could be his last. It could be Wednesday, or…. if the Yanks stay in rotation after Tanaka today, and go Pineda, McCarthy, Greene, Kuroda’s last game of his career could be Thursday—in Jeter’s final home game.

Not only that, Ichiro most likely won’t be back with the Yanks next year. It would remain to be seen who might pick up the soon-to-be 41-year-old.

The pitching line:
Capuano (L, 2-4, overall ERA 4.67) 5 2/3 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 4 walks and 2 K.
Whitley 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 5.23
Rogers 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 3 K. Overall ERA 5.11.
Huff 1 Ip, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 1 K. Overall ERA 3.47
Phelps 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 0 k. 4.39.

 

 

Game 153. Ellsbury leads Yanks to win, but may be done for the year.

Jacoby Ellsbury homered, doubled, and drove in three runs in the Yankees’ 5-3 win over Toronto Friday night but also strained his right hamstring and, with only nine games remaining in the regular season, may be done for the year.

Toronto took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first on an Edwin Encarnacion HR off of Yankees’ starter and winner Hiroki Kuroda.

The Yanks came back in the bottom of the first on a double by Ellsbury, single by Jeter and RBI single by McCann.

Ellsbury put the Yanks up 3-2 in the third with his 16th (and final? We’ll hear about the MRI results today) HR of the season.

The Yanks made it 5-2 in the fourth when Ellsbury hit an RBI force out with the bases loaded and reached first on a bad throw by Blue Jays’ SS Jose Reyes which enabled a second run to score on the play. In running down the line, however, Ellsbury strained his hamstring.

Derek Jeter got two hits to run his career total to 3455 and lift his batting average to .252.

Kuroda (W, 11-9, 3.77) went 6 2/3, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 walks and 7 K.
Outman (overall ERA 2.86) one batter, and he gave up a double.
Rogers 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk and 0 K. Overall ERA 5.23
Warren (Save #3) 1 2/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 3 K. 3.13.

The win puts the Yanks at 79-74, and two games up on Toronto for second place in the AL East. They are 4 1/2 games out of the final wild card spot with just nine games to go. Cleveland is also 79-74, and the Yanks would have not only better the Indians in the last nine games, but also jump over KC (83-69) and Seattle (83-70) to claim that final playoff spot.

HOF 1B Willie McCovey has been hospitalized. Get Well Soon, Stretch!

 

Game 148. Robertson can’t hold lead, Yanks lose 3-2.

David Robertson threw 35 pitches on Friday in one of the doubleheader games. He threw 11 Saturday in saving that game. He was brought in yesterday to save a 2-1 Yankees lead in the 9th.

You just knew what was going to happen. Robertson had nothing, gave up two runs and the Yanks lost 3-2.

On the ESPN telecast, the announcers basically said that to them, it appeared that the Yanks were basically saying “you are a free agent, we aren’t going to re-sign you, so we’ll just run you into the ground.”

Seriously, there was no one else Girardi could have brought in to get three outs? Robertson for a third straight day?

Martin Prado homered in the second, his 12th overall HR of the year, to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead. Baltimore tied it in the sixth.

Brian McCann put the Yanks up 2-1 in the top of the 9th with his 20th HR of the year.

But then Robertson gave up doubles to Nelson Cruz, Steve Pearce to tie it (and see my recent post “You were saying” about Pearce, a one-time Yankee), and after a fly out, a double to Kelly Johnson (remember him? Yup, that Kelly Johnson from the Yanks earlier this year) to win it.

Kuroda went 7, 1 R, 6 H, 0 walks and 5 K. 3.81. Too bad the Yanks, like usual for this year, didn’t give any run support to a starter who pitched well.

Betances 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 2 K. 1.35. His 2 K tied Mariano Rivera’s record of 130 K in a season by a Yankees’ reliever. It looks more and more like he will be the closer next year and the Yanks will let Robertson leave via free agency and take the money saved to shore up other needs. This year’s first-round draft pick, Jacob Lindgren, may wind up being the set-up man. We’ll see what happens this winter.

Robertson 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 walks and 0 k. He falls to 2-5, 2.93.

The Yanks fall to 76-72. They remain in third place, 12 1/2 behind first-place Baltimore in the AL East with 14 to go. They are one game behind second-place Toronto. The Orioles’ magic # for eliminating the Yanks from the division title is down to two. As far as that final playoff spot is concerned, the Yanks are five out with 14 to go and would have to jump over four teams to get there.

The Yanks finished 85-77 last year. They would need to go 9-5 in their last 14 games just to meet that mark this year. That’s what has been disappointing. They had a lot of injuries last year (Jeter and Teix both missed most of the year), and with the free agent signings of Beltran, McCann, Ellsbury and Tanaka, you thought the record would be better, or at least the same—not worse. Yes, there have been injuries this year, but still, it’s been disappointing.

Derek Jeter went 0 for 4. He is now 0 for his last 24 and down to .250 (actually, .249534, which is rounded up to .250). He did hit a couple of balls well last night, but no luck. His OPS+ is down to 70 and he’s hitting .172 since August 2nd. It makes you wish the season, and his career, were over already.

It’s not like you want Jeter’s career to be over, and yes, you’d like for a miracle to happen and for the Yanks to make the playoffs (isn’t happening) but you just don’t want Jeter to go on to the end like this. Another point fell off the lifetime batting average. He started this year at .312, and it’s down to .309.

There are 14 games to go, and how many Jeter plays in we don’t know. You’d hate to see him below .250 or even .240. You’d hate to see another point drop off that lifetime batting average.

You hope he has one or two multi-hit games left in him.

But does he?

Game 142. Yanks fall, 4-3.

Hiroki Kuroda struck out the side in the first inning, but then the roof fell in as the Yanks lost to Tampa Bay 4-3 Tuesday night.

The loss drops the Yanks into 3rd place in the AL East, 11 behind Baltimore and one behind Toronto. They are 73-69 and 5 1/2 out of the last wild card spot with just 20 games to play.

Kuroda gave up a HR to James Loney in the second, then two runs in the third and another in the fourth. Seven relievers combined to keep the Rays’ tally at four, but the Yanks couldn’t come all the way back for a victory.

Kuroda (L, 10-9, 3.91) went 3 1/3, 4 R, 9 H, 0 walks and 5 K.

After him, there was a parade of relievers.

Huff 1 2/3, 0 R, 2 H, 0 walks,  K. Overall ERA 3.60. (NYY 2.o6)
Whitley 1 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk, 2 K.   5.32.
Hill 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 2.45
Rogers 2/3, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk, 2 K. Overall ERA 4.73 (NYY 2.33)
Outman 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K. Overall ERA 3.16 (NYY 0.00)
Kelley 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 4.21
Robertson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 2 K. 2.77.

The Yanks got a run in the bottom of the fourth on a HR by Ellsbury (15). Chris Young drove in two in the fifth to make it 4-3, then the Yanks got a bad break. Stephen Drew was thrown out at home on Ellsbury’s single, and Derek Jeter’s line drive was caught and turned into a DP.

Jeter isn’t going out the way we hoped. He is down to .258 and is hitting just .197 since August 2nd. (25 for 127, 22 singles, just 3 doubles).