With Injuries Plaguing Yankees, Kuroda Leads on the Mound

Hiroki Kuroda’s eight-inning, two-hit performance on Friday lowered his earned run average to 1.99. (Ray Stubblebine)

The New York Yankees have been injury plagued like no other team in baseball. Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira have yet to even play this season. Curtis Granderson only returned this week. That means that the Yankees were without four of their best hitters for the first quarter of the season. As far as the starting rotation is concerned, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova and Andy Pettitte have all been or are currently on the disabled list.

The Yankees have seen a total of 13 players put on the disabled list this early in the season. Not good news for a team picked by many "experts" to finish last or second to last in the American League East. They claimed the Yankees were "too old" with "not enough depth" to make up for the injured regulars. That is interesting because if we take a look at our standings that does not seem to be the case.

The Yankees boast a 26-16 record and have gone 16-8 (.667) in their last 24 games. They currently sit in sole possession of first place in the AL East with the third best record in baseball. How have done it? Tonight's 5-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays featured the offensive prowess of Jayson Nix, David Adams and Austine Romine. They may not be Jeter, A-Rod and Teixeira, but they have been helping the Yankees win ball games all season long.

When you think of the Yankees pitching, the names CC Sabathia, Pettitte and Mariano Rivera are the first to come to mind. Sabathia has been inconsistent as has much of the rotation. Pettitte just went on the disabled list and will miss at least three starts. Mo has been Mo and actually the whole bullpen deserves a lot of credit. But we have yet to name the Yankees' MVP so far this season. That may be because he would be the last to let you know.

Hiroki Kuroda was offered more money this past offseason to pitch other places than the Bronx, but the veteran Japanese pitcher chose to don pinstripes once again because frankly he feels comfortable in them. When Kuroda came over to the Yankees from the Los Angeles Dodgers several years ago, many people thought he would struggle with the high expectations and tougher lineups in the American League. Instead, Kuroda has gotten better and better with every season with the Yankees.

At age 38, Kuroda is so far enjoying the best year of his six-year major league career. In tonight's 5-0 win over the Blue Jays, Kuroda’s eight-inning, two-hit performance lowered his earned run average to 1.99, which ranks fourth in the league. The right-hander has been the model of consistency the Yankees so desperately need. In fact, he has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his nine starts.

For a team that many thought would miss the playoffs, the Yankees seem to be in pretty good shape despite all the injuries. They will eventually get back some the regulars they have been missing and can hopefully stay healthy. There is still a lot of baseball left to be played, but the Yankees are not done with their winning ways. What seems certain is they will continue to rely on the quiet and steady Kuroda to lead the way on the mound.