Just having the nonsense with Alex Rodriguez would be enough to tarnish a season for the New York Yankees, even one in which they made the playoffs and fought for the American League flag.  But on top of that you have so many other things that have gone wrong.  

Derek Jeter not being able to get on the field as well as Mark Teixeira's season-ending injury and Curtis Granderson missing tons of time.

Horrible signings.  Vernon Wells, Kevin Youkilis, Travis Hafner.  Really, Brian Cashman?

A very likely non-playoff year.

A very likely non-playoff year for Mr. Postseason Mariano Rivera in his final season.

The awful production of Phil Hughes and regression of CC Sabathia and the continued spiral of Andy Pettitte.

The lineup that looks Little League-ish on some nights.

Yea the team has had some issues in 2013.  And then there is Hiroki Kuroda.

Kuroda has been the team's MVP.  Not even close.  For all of the problems on the pitching staff, and yes the pitching overall as well as the bullpen have been good enough to win more games than New York has, Kuroda has been the #1 guy, the stabilizer, the guy who has somehow gone pitch for pitch with guys named Felix Hernandez, Clayton Kershaw and Matt Harvey.  Kuroda has given the Yanks a chance to win in every start but one this season.  And he hasn't gotten any offense. Yet he has double digit wins and his ERA is lower than most.  He should have 15 wins.

So for all of the dark and doom and gloom this season for the pinstripes, if there has been one bright spot, look no further than Hiroki Kuroda.

He's been called crafty and unflappable and a stabilizer.

Add 2013 New York Yankees MVP to that list of names.

By:  Mike Lindsley, "Mid-Day with Mike," M-F 1-4, Yankees pre/post game host on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.  Follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/MikeLSports.  

 

 

More From 104.5 THE TEAM