New York Yankees: Awful

The Yankees are the worst team in New York, the worst team in the American League East, and if things don't change quickly, they may soon become the worst team in baseball.

An 11-2 loss Sunday to the Mets capped a 1-5 week for the team formerly known as the Bronx Bombers.  Over those six games, the Yanks have mustered just 12 runs while surrendering 33.

The hitters continue to choke with runners on, dropping their league-worst batting average with men in scoring position this weekend to below .250.

Even pitching ace Chien-Ming Wang isn't immune to the Yankees' struggles.  He gave up seven runs in seven and two-thirds innings Sunday—and it could've been more if not for a bad call on what should have been a three-run homer for Carlos Delgado in the fourth inning.

But the future is bright for the Yankees.  After a much-needed day off Monday, New York welcomes back Alex Rodriguez to the lineup on Tuesday.  And in just a few weeks, catcher Jorge Posada should be back as well.

Remember, on this date last year, the Yankees were in even worse shape, ten games back of first with a record of 18-22.  They eventually fell 14.5 behind before closing to within a game of Boston and grabbing the Wild Card. 

It's a long season, but with A-Rod returning on Tuesday, New York better start winning soon.

The grades for Sunday night's 11-2 loss to the Mets.

Joe Girardi, Manager: (C-) You can't really blame Girardi too much for this one.  He was aggressive on the base paths, with Jeter and Cano each swiping a bag.  And he stuck with Wang, allowing him to get out of the jam in the fourth and then pitch all the way into the eighth inning. 

But anytime Girardi puts Jason Giambi at first base, he weakens the defense.  We saw evidence of that in the fourth when Giambi turned what could have been a double play (or at the very least one out) off the bat of Ryan Church into a run-scoring fielder's choice and an error.

Johnny Damon, LF: (D-) The offense starts at the top—and when Damon goes 0-4, the Yankees usually don't score a lot of runs.  But Damon did move Molina over to third with less than two outs with a ground ball to the right side in the fifth.

Bobby Abreu, RF: (F) The bottom of the fifth inning Sunday summarized the Yankees season in a nutshell.  With the Yanks on the comeback trail, down 4-2, Jose Molina led off with a double off of Oliver Perez.  Damon followed with that ground out, moving Molina to third with less than two outs.  Abreu then struck out looking and the Yankees once again failed to score a run with one out.  Abreu went 0-4 and was offline on a couple of throws home from right field.

Derek Jeter, SS: (A) 1-3 with a walk, a run scored, and a stolen base.  The Captain must've been vaccinated for slumps at a very young age.

Hideki Matsui, DH: (A) Godzilla once again provided the only real offense for the Yankees with a two-run shot in the fourth.

Jason Giambi, 1B: (C+) Sure, Giambi made a nice stop on that Church grounder in the fourth, but that's probably a play that most first basemen make.  Most first basemen probably also turn that into at least one out, and maybe even a double play. 

Giambi, on the other hand, threw the ball wide of second, allowing everyone to reach safely.  That helped to open the door for the big four-run inning for the Mets.  Later in the frame, it looked like the Giamzero was just watching as Delgado singled right past him.  At least he's good at getting hit by pitches.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (D+) 0-3 with a HBP and a stolen base.

Melky Cabrera, CF: (F) Cabrera failed to reach base for one of the few times this season, as he went 0-4 and left three men on.

Alberto Gonzalez, 3B: (F) In what may be his last start for a while, Gonzalez went 0-3, getting robbed of an RBI single on a diving catch by Ryan Church.  Gonzalez also got charged with a tough error on a dropped foul pop up.

Jose Molina, C: (A-) 1-3, with a double and two strikeouts.

Chien-Ming Wang, SP: (D-)That's one of the best games you're going to see out of a starter who surrenders seven earned runs.  Wang was perfect through three and if Giambi would have been able to start that double play, Wang would have gotten out of the fourth without giving up a run.  Wang also pitched all the way into the eighth, and reliever Ross Ohlendorf allowed his last earned run to score.  That being said, Wang did walk three batters and got lucky when Delgado's homer was reversed.

Ross Ohlendorf, RP: (F) Pitched horribly, but the game was already over at that point.

Jose Veras, RP: (A) A perfect ninth.

Yankees Overall Grade: (F) Spotty defense, bad pitching, and terrible hitting.  With A-Rod returning on Tuesday, the Yankees need to take the next two series at home from Baltimore and Seattle.