Kuroda was impressive in a simulated game in Arizona on Tuesday, a glorified bullpen session in which he threw 60 total pitches. He rebounded well the next day, then he was as impressive in a bullpen session 2 days later.
Torre saw the simulated game. He trusted pitching coach Rick Honeycutt about the bullpen session.
Both were conducted in West-warm conditions.
The simulated game, against Arizona Fall League talent.
Kuroda looked ready.
Kuroda was not ready.
Last night, in 46-degree weather, against one of baseball's most destructive lineups, Kuroda lasted four outs in the 11-0 loss.
He surrendered six runs off six hits. His fastball ran into the meatiest part of the plate. His split-fingered fastball was anything but deceptive.
In the first inning he gave up four one-out runs on four straight hits – single, single, triple, homer.
In the second, after Carlos Ruiz led off with a double and Cliff Lee sacrificed him to third, Jimmy Rollins doubled and Kuroda was done. When Rollins later scored, it gave Kuroda those six earned runs in those 1 1/3 innings.
"The movement wasn't there," Rollins said. "He was throwing strikes, but they were meaty strikes. I don't know if it was his neck, or whatever, but that's the first thing that happens when you're injured: You lose your control."
Kuroda insisted his neck was fine. The cold did not affect him. He even had a good pregame bullpen session.
And then?
"I don't know. I just didn't have my stuff," he said.
It was his worst start in his 53 major league starts; he is 34, with a star's legacy left behind for Hiroshima in the Japan Central League, and a strong start in his second career.
