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Yankees Mid-season Report Card

The Yankees were in a steady state of mediocrity for the majority of the first half, with a few flashes of greatness that made fans believe this team could be dangerous in October. The offense has been the biggest disappointment thus far, but the pitching staff has been a pleasant surprise considering all the injuries they have dealt with.

But here we sit at the All Star break and the Yankees are .500, and 5 games behind Baltimore in the division. After 94 games we know the AL East is extremely winnable, and despite the Yankees’ struggles they have a realistic shot at making the post season. However recent injuries to the pitching staff (*cough* Tanaka) may suggest otherwise. Regardless, it’s time for some first half grades:

Masahiro Tanaka's absence in the second half may cost the Yankees a post season spot. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Masahiro Tanaka’s absence in the second half may cost the Yankees a post season spot.
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Lineup: F

The Yanks’ offense has sucked this year, no two ways about it. They rank 13th out of 15 teams in runs scored, and are below league-average in batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. The team is only hitting .251 with runners in scoring position and struggles to tack-on to leads, often allowing teams to climb back into games in which they led early. Simply put, unless this lineup improves drastically they are not going to finish above .500 – never mind make the playoffs. Now, to the individuals who collectively have let down millions of Yankees fans, and more importantly, Derek Jeter:

Brett Gardner: A-

Gardner is not only the Yankees’ most underrated player, he has been their best all-around player this season. He’s a tremendous leadoff hitter, which again brings into question the Ellsbury signing. His .353 OBP leads the team, and his 9 home runs actually rank third. A guy with his speed should be better at stealing bases though, right?

Jacoby Ellsbury: B+

I was not a huge fan of this signing and I still think 7/153 is WAY too much for him, but he’s been very solid and batted out of his ‘natural’ position in the order. I thought he’d hit more home runs in Yankee Stadium, though.

The Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury to a 7 year, $153 M contract this offseason.
The Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury to a 7 year, $153 M contract this offseason.

Ichiro Suzuki: B+

Ichiro wasn’t supposed to play this much, but Beltran’s injuries and Soriano’s lack of productivity forced him in the starting lineup. He has already appeared in 81 games, and is now the teams’ starting right fielder. Imagine if the Yankees traded him in spring training like we all wanted them to?

Derek Jeter: B+

My worst fear for Jeter’s last season was that he would limp to the finish line, literally and figuratively. But the Yankees have gotten much more out of Jeter this season than I expected, and probably more than the Yankees expected as well. If he remains healthy he’ll finish the year with about 160 hits and a .270-ish batting average; very respectable for a 40 year old shortstop in his final season.

Yangervis Solarte: B-

Solarte was a great story in April and May but came crashing back to earth in June and July, eventually leading to him being sent down to Triple-A. But Solarte is back, baby! If he could split the difference for the rest of the season I think the Yankees would be happy.

Mark Teixeira: C+

He leads the team in home runs (17) and RBIs (48), but using the eye test I can see Teixeira is 75% of his old self. Fair or unfair (probably unfair) I am judging him against his 2009-10 numbers, and that player is long gone.

Brian Roberts: C+

His slash lines are pedestrian (.241/.306/.376) but he has stayed healthy which is more than I can say about most of the team…. Cano who?

Brian McCann: D

McCann has been the biggest disappointment of the first half. His on base percentage is .294. To put that in perspective, Kelly Johnson’s is .299. The only silver lining is that he has worked well with the pitching staff, so we’re told.

Carlos Beltran: F

I know he’s not healthy, but he’s been horrible. At least Cashman locked him up for three years.

Kelly Johnson: F

The only good thing I can think of to say about Kelly Johnson is that he played a mean left field on Sunday night.

Alfonso Soriano: F

Other than Rivera, my favorite storyline of the 2013 season was Soriano’s triumphant return to New York. I hate that it ended with a DFA for Soriano this season.

Backup catchers: B

Franciso Cervelli and JR John Ryan Murphy have been fine as backup catchers. Also, when are the Yankees going to trade some of the catching depth in their system? The only position the Yankees have depth at is catcher. They just locked up McCann for 5 years and Murphy, Romine, and Sanchez are all sitting in the minors. Entering the season Gary Sanchez was Baseball America’s 35th-ranked prospect. One of those guys will probably be traded if they make a deal at the deadline.

 

Pitching Staff: B+

Considering 4/5ths of the opening day starting rotation is on the disabled list, a 3.95 team ERA and .500 record isn’t half-bad. The saving grace to this team has been the bullpen, specifically Robertson, Betances, and Warren – who have combined for a 2.24 ERA in 136.1 IP, while striking out 189 batters.

Masihero Tanaka: A+

If Tanaka needs surgery, just do it now so he can rehab and be ready by mid-2015 season. He’s 25 years old, no reason to mess with him. Also I think most people are in agreement that without Tanaka the Yankees are not a playoff team, and should not trade what little value they have in the minors for someone like Cliff Lee or Cole Hamels.

Dellin Betances: A+ (times infinity)

All his numbers are filthy: ERA (1.46), WHIP (0.705), K/9 ratio (13.7), and H/9 ratio (3.7). It’s clear that Betances is the future of the Yankees’ bullpen.

Dellin Betances has baffled hitters with his curveball this season.
Dellin Betances has baffled hitters with his curveball this season.

 

David Robertson: A

23 saves in 25 opportunities is definitely getting the job done. Oh, and following a guy named Mariano Rivera might be the most difficult thing imaginable and DRob has done so with flying colors. The only question is whether the Yankees will resign Robertson at the end of the year.

Adam Warren: A-

You can’t ask for much more out of a late-inning guy than Warren has given the Yankees. He has held opponents to a .217 average with runners in scoring position, and emerged as the number three guy in the pen for Girardi. He’s also one of the few desirable guys in the trade market on this major league roster.

David Phelps: A-

Raise your hand if you expected a 3.94 ERA over 89 innings and 13 starts from David Phelps. Bueller…? Bueller…?

Hiroki Kuroda: C+

Kuroda has been very solid since the end of May. If Tanaka is done for the season I think Cashman should look to trade Kuroda.

Chase Whitley: C

Whitley has looked strong at points; he had back-to-back wins while pitching 7 or more innings in June against the Royals and Mariners, but plummeted back to reality since.

Brandon McCarthy/Vidal Nuno: D+

I suppose this was a trade that Cashman needed to make. The Yankees couldn’t keep Nuno out there and they are hoping McCarthy can get a bit of that Oakland magic back. Seriously, what do they put in the water out there?

Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games after being caught using pine tar against the Red Sox in April…twice!
Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games after being caught using pine tar against the Red Sox in April…twice!

 

The Injured Guys:

CC Sabathia (F) was on pace for the worst season of his career, so the knee injury was very convenient for him.

I liked what I saw from Michael Pineda (C) in the few starts he had, but I have no choice but to question his intelligence after the pine-tar incident(s).

Ivan Nova (Incomplete) and Tanaka can rehab together, if Tanaka has the surgery.

 

Management

Joe Girardi: B

I think Girardi has squeezed every drop of water from this stone that he possibly could. The bottom line is the players he has just aren’t producing, and you can only shake things up so much. For the most part I’ve agreed with his managerial decisions this year, which I can honestly say is a first. My only question is whose responsibility is it to fire Kevin Long?

MLB: ALCS-New York Yankees at Detroit TigersBrian Cashman: D-

I will argue this to my death: If you are going to give Ellsbury and McCann giant contracts, then why not give Robinson Cano (a top 5 player in baseball) one too? The farm system is barren and the roster is old, and Cashman is mostly to blame for that.

 

That may not leave much optimism for the second half, but look on the bright side, there’s a lot of room for improvement!