Nightly Links: Kuroda, Cust, Montero

• Hiroki Kuroda was strong yet again in today’s 7.0 innings of work, giving up 6 hits,  2 runs, and 6 strikeouts. Cory Wade struggled again and George Kontos went 2.0 innings, earning 3 strikeouts, but blew the save by giving up 1 hit, a 2 run homerun off the bat of Jason Heyward. Offensively, Eduardo Nunez and Eric Chavez had big days, each picking up a double amongst multi-hit days. Raul Ibanez had a single and was robbed of a homerun by Heyward. He certainly looks better at the plate following his homerun on Saturday. It was an interesting game that saw hitless Cito Culver, Tyler Austin, and Abraham Almonte appearances. (Box Score)

• The Yankees made a few minor league moves today, signing the 33 year oldJack Cust to a minor league deal. The team also claimed catcher Craig Tatum off waivers; the 29 year old has hit .223/.291/.264 in his major league career.

• According to Conor Foley, Manny Banuelos has added a cutter to his pitching repertoire. If he hasn’t already, he’ll surely get some time working on it with Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte. The organization needs a guy to carry on the devistating cutter tradition once Mo and Andy retire.

• Joe Girardi says it’ll only be 3 or 4 more days until he announces the rest of the 5 man rotation, and he added, “somebody’s going to be disappointed.” It’ll be me who’s disappointed if the decision includes starting Freddy Garcia.

• Beyond the Boxscore has their 2012 preview of the New York Yankees. Amongst the issues of age in their lineup, Matt Filippi believes that after settling their rotation issues, “there isn’t really anything holding this team back.” Ass goes for anything from Beyond the Boxscore, it’s a great analysis.

• Williams Tasker at It’s About the Money really took the words out of my mouth following the ridiculous late night/early morning first game of the season today. Jesus Montero went a big 0 for 4, which means the Yankees win the Montero trade. Following the thousands of tweets and comments I’ve seen about the Mariners winning the trade because Michael Pineda is only hitting 94, this logic is probably more coherent.

• And today’s workouts, which includes throwing session by Phil Hughes and Pineda today, with CC Sabathia and Pettitte going tomorrow.

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