New York Yankees' 2012 Season Outlook: Hiroki Kuroda

As the 2012 MLB season nears, there are the usual high expectations for the New York Yankees. They have one of the most complete teams in baseball and will look to get back to the World Series.

The Yankees brought in two new starting pitchers in order to solidify their rotation. Here is a 2012 outlook for one of the two new Yankees starting pitching acquisitions, Hiroki Kuroda.

History

Before declaring for free agency in the MLB, Kuroda made his professional debut in Japan in 1997. From 97 to 2007, he pitched for the Hiroshima Carps.

Kuroda's stats in Japan:

Total: 103-89, 3.69 ERA, 1257 Ks

Kuroda was going to use the posting system that players like Daisuke Matsuzaka and Yu Darvish, but ended up declaring for free agency. After drawing interest from several teams he signed a three-year, $35.3 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 12, 2007.

Kuroda's stats with the Dodgers:

Total: 41-46, 3.45 ERA, 523 Ks

Average: 10.25-11.5, 3.45 ERA, 130.75 Ks

Health

Despite missing much of the season while battling numerous injuries, Kuroda made 20 starts in 2009 and finished with a 8–7 record and 3.76 ERA. He was named the Game 3 starter in the NLCS against the Phillies even though he had missed the first round of the playoffs with a "bulging disk in his neck."^[8] However, he pitched poorly in the NLCS, failing to get out of the second inning and allowing six runs to score.

Monthly Predictions for 2012

March/April

Totals: 7-5, 3.04 ERA, 70 Ks, 16 starts

Average: 1.75-1.25, 3.04 ERA, 17.5 Ks, four starts

2012 Prediction: 2-1, 3.75 ERA, 23 Ks, five starts

May

Totals: 6-7, 3.75 ERA, 67 Ks, 17 starts

Average: 1.2-1.75, 3.75 ERA, 16.75 Ks, 4.25 starts

2012 Prediction: 2-2, 4.08 ERA, 20 Ks, five starts

June

Totals: 4-12, 3.64 ERA, 100 Ks, 19 starts

Average: 1-3, 3.64 ERA, 25 Ks, 4.75 starts

2012 Prediction: 0-1, 4.42 ERA, 9 Ks, two starts

July

Totals: 5-11, 4.56 ERA, 87 Ks, 21 starts

Average: 1.25-2.75, 4.56 ERA, 21.75 Ks, 5.25 starts

2012 Prediction: 1-2, 4.15 ERA, 19 Ks, four starts

August

Totals: 11-5, 2.65 ERA, 101 Ks, 21 starts

Average: 2.75-1.25, 2.65 ERA, 25.25 Ks, 5.25 starts

2012 Prediction: 3-1, 2.79 ERA, 27 Ks, six starts

September/October

Totals: 8-6, 3.14 ERA, 98 Ks, 20 starts

Average: 2-1.2, 3.14 ERA, 24.5 Ks, five starts

2012 Prediction: 3-1, 3.42 ERA, 23 Ks, five starts

Overall 2012 Prediction:

11-8, 3.65 ERA, 121 Ks, 27 starts

Awards and Achievements

Kuroda has never been up for a major award and according to the projected season, he will not be up for any major awards in 2012.

He will however reach his 50th career MLB start and 150th career win if you combine his stats from Japan with MLB.

If you enjoyed this, I have completed 2012 outlooks on the following Yankees CC Sabathia, Nick Swisher, Mark Teixeira, Ivan Nova, Curtis Granderson, Mariano Rivera, Raul Ibanez, Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano.