Grading the Yankees: Bombers Sweep Mariners

Go figure.

Last week, the Yankees' bats were silenced by a trio of Detroit pitchers who entered their starts with a combined record of 1-8.  The Bombers then turn around and win three straight games against Seattle gunslingers Erik Bedard, Felix Hernandez and Carlos Silva, who entered their starts with a combined tally of 7-1.

Of course New York's pitching also had something to do with the weekend three-game sweep of the Mariners.  Chien-Ming Wang started it off with yet another gem on Friday night, Mike Mussina continued his resurgence on Saturday afternoon, and then recent call-up Darrell Rasner impressed on Sunday.

Rasner appears to be the Yanks' new number four guy, now that Phil Hughes has been placed on the DL and Ian Kennedy has been demoted to the minor leagues following an awful start to the season.  I have no problem with Rasner filling one of those two open spots in the rotation.  He was dominating in Scranton to the tune of a sub-1.00 ERA.  What I do take issue with is who the Pinstripes are talking about filling the number five spot.

Kei Igawa, who New York spent $46 million on to bring from Japan last year, is a mediocre 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA in seven starts at Triple-A in 2008.  The left-hander was terrible on the Major League level last season, finishing 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA in 14 games, including 12 starts.  It's yet another guy being put in the rotation ahead of Joba Chamberlain, who is definitely among the top five starters in the organization.

And now the Yankees' grades for their last five games.

Joe Girardi, Manager: (B-)During a season in which the bullpen has been overworked because of bad starts by Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, shouldn't you give the relievers rest when you can?  Girardi pulled Wang after just 90 pitches Friday, Mussina was allowed to throw just 84 on Saturday, and Rasner issued only 76 pitches on Sunday.  All three starters were cruising when they were lifted, but luckily for the manager, the bullpen pitched well every time.

Johnny Damon, LF: (A) The lead-off man continued his hot hitting this week, going 7 for 17, including a home run on Saturday.  He also made an outstanding diving catch in Sunday's win.

Derek Jeter, SS: (A) The Captain's been on fire as well, going 7-10 over the weekend. 

Bobby Abreu, RF: (A)  Four straight multi-hit games for Abreu.  The 0-3 on Wednesday keeps him from receiving an A+.

Hideki Matsui, DH: (A-)This is who should be batting cleanup during A-Rod's absence.  Not Shelly Duncan (.182 avg) and certainly not Jason Giambi (.150 avg).  Generally, you want a good hitter batting fourth.  Girardi finally seems to be catching on.

Jason Giambi, 1B: (D-) No hits in his last 10 at bats, hitting .150 in May, team is 12-14 with him and 5-2 without, team was 42-41 with him last year and 52-27 without.  Still batting fifth.

Melky Cabrera, CF: (A-)Here's the guy who should be hitting fifth.  He's six for his last 20, including a big two-run homer on Sunday, bringing his average up to .291.  That's 141 points higher than the Giamzero.  Cabrera also has more home runs and RBIs than the worthless guy batting ahead of him.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (D) Cano went 2-14 over the last five games, but hopefully his homer Sunday is a sign of things to come.

Morgan Ensberg, 3B: (C-) Ensberg has played the last four games at the hot corner, picking up four hits in 16 at bats and committing an error on Saturday.  Ensberg is hitting just .220 now and I'd really like to see Alberto Gonzalez split more time with Morgan during A-Rod's absence.

Alberto Gonzalez, 3B: (D)Gonzalez got just one start at third base over the past five days, but Girardi also put the kid at second base on Friday, replacing the struggling Cano.  Gonzalez went 1-7 in the two starts, but is still hitting .269.

Chad Moeller, C: (D-)It's good to see Moeller back with the Yankees after being designated for assignment.  Chad got two starts in the past five games, going 1-8 but he's still hitting .286.  The M's also only stole one base off of him.

Jose Molina, C: (F)That's more than can be said of Molina, who allowed six stolen bases in the three games he started last week.  He failed to throw out a single base stealer and went just 1-9 at the plate, dropping his average to a woeful .224.  I'd say Moeller is the better catcher at this point.

Shelly Duncan, 1B: (C-)Duncan got two starts batting cleanup against the Tigers (both losses) and he went just 2-8.  He also struck out looking for Matsui in the eighth inning of Sunday's win.  If Girardi wants to put Duncan in the lineup, it should be towards the bottom and it should only be to replace Giambi.

Andy Pettitte, SP: (D-) Pettitte was cruising along until he gave up two runs in the fifth and sixth on Wednesday.  Andy is now 3-3 and needs to be more consistent at the number two spot for the Yankees if they are to continue winning.

Ian Kennedy, SP: (F)Kennedy once again couldn't get out of the fifth inning on Thursday and was sent back to the minors after his latest poor effort which actually DECREASED his ERA to 8.37.  Scary when four earned in 4.2 ip can do that.

Chien-Ming Wang, SP: (A+) The 2008 AL Cy Young continued his brilliance on Friday, surrendering just one run in six innings.  He's now tied for the Major League lead with a record of 6-0.

Mike Mussina, SP: (A)Well, I had three guys to choose from in my pre-season plea to get Joba into the rotation and I apparently picked the wrong one.  The Moose turned in his third straight good performance on Saturday, giving up just seven hits and one run in six frames.  But the most important thing was that he didn't walk anyone.

Darrell Rasner, SP: (A-)Rasner's first Big League appearance this season didn't start well as he served up a two-run homer to Adrian Beltre in the first inning.  But it was smooth sailing from there, as Rasner went on to pitch five straight scoreless innings until departing after the sixth.  He also didn't issue a single base on balls.

LaTroy Hawkins, RP: (B+) Two appearances and two scoreless innings.

Edwar Ramirez, RP: (B+) Ditto for Ramirez.

Kyle Farnsworth, RP: (B) Bad on Wednesday, but good on Friday and Sunday.

Jonathan Albaladejo, RP: (F)Terrible outing for Albaladejo on Thursday when he got bombed for four earned runs in just an inning and two thirds.  He also picked up the loss.

Chris Britton, RP: (B+)Britton's first appearance of the season was a good one as he didn't allow a run over 2.2 innings pitched.  He was wild, though, throwing 20 balls in 40 pitches, including two walks. 

Jose Veras, RP: (A)Another member of the bullpen merry-go-round.  Veras threw a perfect frame on Saturday.

Ross Ohlendorf, RP: (B+) One hit and one K in one inning on Sunday.

Joba Chamberlain, RP: (B+)The Yankees played 35 innings over the past five days.  Joba participated in one of them.  Really great way to use one of your best pitchers.

Mariano Rivera, RP: (A) Two more perfect innings.

Yankees Overall Grade: (B) The Yanks are doing things in threes this year.  Since April 14, they have won three, lost three, won three, lost three, won two, lost three and won three.  Hopefully that streak will come to an end when the Yankees host Cleveland on Tuesday.