First Half Report Card (Part 1)

The Yankees enter the All-Star break at 50-45, six games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox in the American League East and 5.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Wild Card race. Under new manager Joe Girardi, the team has faced adversity from the beginning and battled inconsistencies in all phases of the game. The farm system went belly up with Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy failing to win a game before both landed on the disabled list. In June, the team suffered an even more devastating blow to the rotation when ace Chien-Ming Wang suffered a potentially season-ending foot injury. The offense has been plagued by injury and subpar production from its veteran stars, leading to speculation that general manager Brian Cashman may look to boost the sagging unit with a trade prior to the July 31 non-waiver deadline. In spite of all the pitfalls, New York is very much in the thick of the race for its 14th straight postseason appearance. Here is the first annual River & Sunset Yankees Midseason Report Card:

Catcher


Jorge Posada
Stats
At 36 years old, giving Posada a multi-year contract extension this past offseason was certainly a risk, but the veteran's incredibly productive 2007 season made it a move the Yankees almost had to make. Unfortunately for the team, Posada has looked very much like a 36-year-old catcher in the first year of the new deal, missing extended time with a bum shoulder while baring little offensive resemblance to the Silver Slugger Award winner he was a season prior. The Yankees need Posada to pick up his game in a big way in the second half.
Grade: C-


Jose Molina
Stats
Molina provides the Yankees their steadiest backup catcher option since Girardi. He can't hit ... at all, but he works with pitchers well and has a strong and accurate arm behind the plate. He caught six games in a row at one point last week, leading to speculation that either Posada's shoulder was not sound or Girardi preferred Molina at catcher. With a .226 average and no homers in 164 at-bats, Molina is not an everyday player. Girardi would be a fool to shoehorn him into that role.
Grade: B-


Chad Moeller
Stats
Moeller has one of the cushiest jobs in baseball. He almost never plays (three at-bats this month), yet he gets a big league salary and plenty of R&R time. Not bad. When Posada was shelved, he served as a serviceable stop gap.
Grade: B-

First base


Jason Giambi
Stats
The Big G's season started in the tank, but the mustache brought new life to the veteran slugger, who batted above .300 with 12 homers and 33 RBIs in May and June. July has brought with it a return to April-like struggles, but at this point of the game we know what to expect from Giambi. Peaks and valleys. Defensively, he remains a butcher, but to his credit he's played a lot of first base and he has stayed healthy, an achievement for a guy that many considered a fragile designated hitter entering the season. That said, Giambi should be a DH at this stage of his career, and importing a productive offensive and defensive first baseman (Mark Teixiera anyone?) should be near the top of Cashman's wish list. If you're a fan of the Big G, savor the second half ... it's likely the final time you'll see him in pinstripes.
Grade: B


Wilson Betemit
Stats
If Giambi is a butcher at the bag, then Betemit can best be labeled as an ax-wielding psychopath. In truth, it's difficult to see what Betemit brings to this team. He's terrible defensively, he's a switch-hitter who can't hit from the right side, he strikes out constantly and never walks. There has to be a better option here.
Grade: F

Second base


Robinson Cano
Stats
Cano has been a maddening disappointment this season, hasn't he? Touted by many as a potential MVP candidate heading into the season, Cano responded with a dreadful April in which he batted .151. He's been trying to dig his way out ever since, but the bottom line is he's a .246 hitter at the break, inexcusable for a player of his skill set.
Grade: D

Shortstop


Derek Jeter
Stats
Let's take the kid gloves off with Jeter. The Captain is on pace for the worst statistical season of his career, and it's coming at a time when the Yankees need him the most. His batting average, slugging and on-base percentage and run production numbers are all down below his career average. Jeter is the man who makes the Yankees offense go, and he needs to put up a big second half to help save his team. Let's hope a strong start to July is a portend of things to come.
Grade: C-

Third base


Alex Rodriguez
Stats
You knew matching his near-historic production of 2007 was going to be nearly impossible, and a groin injury early in the season set the All-Star back. But a healthy A-Rod remains the greatest force in the game. His numbers with RISP have dropped back into 2006 territory, something that clearly needs to change. But overall, A-Rod is one part of the offense you don't need to worry about. He'll have between 37-40 homers and 100-110 RBIs by the end of the season. Defensively, he's as good as ever while his baserunning instincts are second-to-none. Madonna ridiculousness aside, A-Rod is doing just fine.
Grade: B+

Outfield


Bobby Abreu
Stats
Despite fine production during his career with the Phillies, Abreu was never particularly well-liked by the City of Brotherly Love. And while people in Philly seem to be rather pig-headed about their sports, I'm starting to understand why he's never been embraced. Abreu just kind of chugs along, picking up RBIs here and there, hitting a homer every two weeks or so. He very rarely carries a team, but he also very rarely kills you either. He continues to slip defensively, and his batting average is down, but you're still going to get between 15-20 homers and 100 RBIs. In a sea of inconsistency on offense, I'll take that.
Grade: B


Melky Cabrera
Stats
The Melk Man has not delivered. Not by a long shot. He remains a capable defensive player, but Cabrera has slipped precipitously on offense leading to speculation his job is no longer safe. A strong April gave way to porous production in May and June (12 runs and 20 RBIs in two months). When Matsui and Damon return, Melky's future as a starter will be in doubt if Brett Gardner is able to produce on a steady basis.
Grade: D


Johnny Damon
Stats
When Damon is swinging the bat well, this offense is a different beast. And with that in mind, the team's recent downturn since he hit the disabled list last weekend may not be a coincidence. Damon was a dynamo in June, when he batted .363 and registered a six-hit day against the Royals. He's not much of a defensive player at this stage of the career, but he's still a spark plug at the top of the lineup. The Yankees need to get him back into their attack ASAP.
Grade: B+


Hideki Matsui
Stats
It will be interesting to see what the Yankees get out of Matsui, not just this season, but for the rest of the veteran's deal with the club. His knee problems just don't sound very good, more chronic than temporary. But Godzilla has always been a run-producer for this team, and having him back in action would go a long way in lengthening this lineup. I've always admired the steady way Matsui goes about his business, the Yankees definitely miss him. Held to just 251 at-bats in the first half, Matsui was still productive. Clearly Godzilla can still hit. But can he stay on the field?
Grade: B


Brett Gardner
Stats
Here is the true wild card of the Yanks' offensive attack in the second half. When Gardner has been able to get on base, he's been a nuisance, stealing bags and generally running wild. Problem is, he's looked overmatched at times since being called up on July 1. Six hits and 11 strikeouts in 36 at-bats doesn't inspire much confidence, but if you've watched this kid everyday, you get the feeling he may be close to getting a hang of this big league thing. The veterans need to protect him and allow him to grow as a player. If he sticks around, he remains a potential X-factor at the bottom of the lineup.
Grade: Incomplete

Click here for grades on the pitchers and manager.