Kuroda Solid as Yankees Beat White Sox Again

Hiroki Kuroda tossed 6 innings of two-run ball and Martin Prado collected three hits and a two-run double today as the Yankees beat the White Sox again, 5-3, in the middle game of this three game set. 

Early in this one, as usual, Kuroda struggled to get men out, surrendering three doubles and a run to the first seven guys he faced.

Nonetheless, after a Chase Headley double play tied it in the second and Prado connected on the aforementioned double in the fourth Kuroda looked dominant, with a top of the fifth single by the always-dangerous Jose Abreu acting as the only other concern on his six-strikeout line.

Indeed, the 39-year-old put together another quality outing this afternoon, but still, when he left the Yanks were only up by one, meaning that things weren't quite over yet. 

Thankfully, though, they would be in the bottom of the sixth, as Carlos Beltran homered and Stephen Drew contributed a sac fly in that at-bat, knocking Chicago's Scott Carroll (6 IP, 4 ER) out and eventually setting David Robertson up for his 34th save of the season.

Yes, in their half of the seventh the Sox rallied for a nerve-wracking run off Shawn Kelley, but since Dellin Betances was still able to pick up the slack against Adam Dunn that rebellion was quickly crushed, a fortunate happening that seemed to kill the vistors' remaining momentum. 

Quick Hit: David Robertson & His Closer Memory

What a weekend we have seen in Chicago so far. It all started Friday night when the Yankees got an early lead only to give up that early lead so they could come back and regain the lead. David Robertson gave up a walk off home run to Chicago's Adam Dunn for his first blown save in ten chances. A great sign for the Yankees is that Robertson did not have to wait long for his 11th chance as he got another save opportunity yesterday afternoon. The Yankees had another amazing comeback and this time Robertson sealed the deal and got the save for New York.

This is a great sign for the Yankees and their fans as they were worried all offseason long about replacing the great Mariano Rivera. If Robertson blows a save or two, and he will just for the record, as long as he comes right back then I think we're gonna be alright.

Robertson "tried to put a fastball down and away" on last pitch Friday

Obviously that didn't work.

After giving up a walk-off two-run home run to Adam Dunn in yesterday's ninth inning, Yankees Closer David Robertson was clearly upset. 

Robertson, who grabbed his head in frustration the second the ball came off the bat, had been ahead of Dunn 0-2, already the second time that happened in the frame.

Usually in those situations, Robertson would emerge victorious, but there, according to him, he just missed his spot.

The first time that's happened this season. 

“I was trying to put a fastball down and away,” the first-year closer told Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News after blowing his first save of 2014. “I left it up in the zone, it cut right to his barrel and he put it 40 rows deep.”

While that moment was obviously frustrating, Robertson is still 9-for-10 in save opportunities this season, so, while he did make a mistake, he still appears to be doing a pretty good job succeeding Mariano.

Remember, around this time last year Rivera had a game just like this at Citi Field, proving that yes, this happens to everybody. No need to panic over it, even though it was pretty rough to watch. 

Kuroda doesn't get threw 5, Robertson surrenders walk-off homer as Yankees lose to White Sox Again

What a way to blow a game.

Despite getting a first inning three-run home run from Brian McCann and a two-run top of the seventh to retake the lead, the Yankees fell to the White Sox tonight in frustrating fashion, 6-5.

For most of this contest, the Bombers led by small margins, largely due to that line drive homer from McCann.

Still, they did eventually surrender those advantages, mainly because of a duo of errors by Kelly Johnson and Brian Roberts that allowed the White Sox to pull within one.

In the bottom of the fifth, Chicago finally got to New York Starter Hiroki Kuroda, taking the lead on a two-run shot from Alexei Ramirez. Shortly afterwards, the struggling veteran was taken out after throwing his 100th pitch, failing to get the fifteenth out despite being charged with just two earned runs.

In their half of the seventh, the Yanks did find a way to take a 5-4 lead thanks to a wild pitch and an RBI Sac Fly from Jacoby Ellsbury, although, as you can see by the final score, it didn't last long, as Closer David Robertson went on to surrender a two-run walk-off homer to Adam Dunn that ended the game. 

The blown save, impressively, was Robertson's first of the year in ten tries, knocking the Yankees down to third place in the AL East.

Should The Yankees Bring In Paul Konerko?

The Chicago White Sox may have sealed the fate of Paul Konerko and his windy city career after signing first baseman Jose Dariel Abreu to a mega six year contract. That gives the Chi Sox a right handed option at first in Abreu and a left handed option in Adam Dunn, could that be the best news we have heard to date this offseason?

It is no secret that the Yankees want a right handed power option to spell Mark Teixeira a day or two a week next season, especially after missing most of 2013 with a wrist injury, and Konerko fits the mold. He is a veteran, which the Yankees love, he can hit for power, which we lacked in 2013, would likely sign a one year deal, which is ideal, wouldn't command much in salary by my speculation, see the $189 million luxury tax threshold, and is willing to accept a part time position to play at least one more year, sold!

Honestly I think Konerko is a White Sox player or he retires and we have absolutely no shot at him but it's worth kicking the tires on anyway. Konerko is coming off career lows as a regular with a .244/.313/.355 triple slash line after missing a month of the season due to a nagging back injury. Konerko does not help us get younger, he is currently 37 years old, and only hit 12 home runs last season but maybe a change of scenery can invigorate him and we can have a Raul Ibanez part two comeback.

Just to recap I am not advocating for Konerko. I think David Adams adds versatility with his ability to play first, second, and third base and is also a much cheaper option. Adams gets us younger, more flexible, and may shows some signs of hope for change around here. At the same time though, like I said, we should definitely kick the tires on this, doesn't hurt to right?

Are We A Trade Match With The Chicago White Sox?

The Chicago White Sox, much like the New York Yankees, are apparently open for business when it comes to trades this trading deadline. The White Sox are not competing once again in the AL Central and they have lots of high priced veterans that the Sox will look to move in order to rebuild and retool for the future that the Yankees will surely be interested in.

First let's get the pipe dreams out of the way by saying that the White Sox are not going to trade Chris Sale and they are not going to trade Paul Konerko, as much as I would like both of them. Tyler Flowers is probably not going to get moved either  unfortunately because the White Sox liked him enough to let AJ Pierzynski walk this past off season. Adam Dunn is going to be a tough move with him hitting below the Mendoza line once again batting .194 and is scheduled to make $15,000,000 in 2014.

John Danks just signed an extension worth $65,000,000 over the next five seasons making him highly unlikely to be moved and more likely to be built around in that rotation. Jeff Keppinger was another guy the Yankees targeted this off season before he signed a three year deal before the season making him also unlikely to be traded. It is conceivable that the White Sox could trade one of the two, more than likely that being Keppinger over Danks,  and use the "total years of team control with a team friendly contract" line in negotiating but I personally do not see it.

The White Sox have more than a few guys that the Yankees would be interested in and should look in to so I am excited to see the latest fire sale in Chicago happen sooner rather than later.