Yankees-Mariners: Grading the Bombers

For seven weeks, the Yankee haters were out in full force, just like they were at the beginning of last season before New York rattled off 73 wins in 112 games to make the playoffs for the 13th consecutive year.

"They can't hit," the critics would say.  "They're too old." All this, while ignoring the fact that Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada were injured, and Robinson Cano was slumping.

Well, A-Rod is back, Cano is hitting again, and the Yanks have won three straight, outscoring their opponents 23-3. And Posada's not even back yet.

Where are all the haters now?

On to the grades from Friday night's 13-2 drubbing of Erik Bedard and the Seattle Mariners.

Rob Thomson, Acting Manager: (A) I'm sure suspended manager Joe Girardi had a large role in many of the decisions made in this game, but I'll give credit to the bench coach because Girardi wasn't out in the dugout. 

With the Yanks up 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth, and Derek Jeter on first with no one out, the coaching staff put on the hit and run which once again worked to perfection as Bobby Abreu singled through the vacated hole at short, moving the captain over to third with less than two outs, which lead to a huge eight-run inning. If the runner wasn't in motion, the shortstop wouldn't have been running over to cover second base, and Abreu's ground ball would have been a rally killing double play.

Derek Jeter, SS: (C) Jeter went 0-2, running his hitless streak to nine at bats since getting drilled on the hand Tuesday, but the captain still contributed with a walk, another hit by pitch, and a run scored. Derek also made a very heads up play when he was involved in a run down off of third in the fifth inning. He stalled enough, and then headed towards home to get tagged out, allowing both of the runners to move up behind him.

Bobby Abreu, RF: (A) 2-5 with two RBI and a run scored, but he did strikeout twice.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B: (C+) 1-4 with a run batted in and a run.

Hideki Matsui, LF: (A) All Godzilla does is get base hits. He went 3-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. In the field, Matsui threw out Jose Vidro at home plate, but he also looked lost on a couple other balls hit to him.

Jason Giambi, DH: (A+) Giambi will get good marks from me anytime he goes the opposite way like he did with a double to left. Jason added a single, two walks and three runs scored.

Shelley Duncan, 1B: (A-) A three-run homer in the second gave the Yanks the lead for good, but he didn't get the job done when he flied out to shallow center with runners on second and third in the fourth. Duncan did, however, make a couple of nice picks over at first base.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (B+) 1-4 with a double, a walk, a run, and three more runs batted in for the surging Cano.

Chad Moeller, C: (C) Even Moeller got in on the fun, going 1-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

Melky Cabrera, CF: (C) Cabrera picked up another hit and run scored batting in that nine hole.

Alberto Gonzalez, SS: (INC) Gonzalez replaced Jeter in the field after this game got out of hand. He also went 0-1.

Morgan Ensberg, 3B: (INC) Ensberg did the same for A-Rod at third.

Andy Pettitte, SP: (A) How about nine Ks and no walks? That's more like it from Pettitte, who avoided the big inning, and picked up his first win since April 20.

LaTroy Hawkins, RP: (A) Hawkins gave up just one hit in two innings of work.

Edwar Ramirez, RP: (B+) Two walks and two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.  Looks like the middle relief will do just fine with Joba heading to the rotation.

Yankees Overall Grade: (A+) 13 runs, including nine off a stud like Bedard, and the third-straight quality start for Yankees pitching. Things are looking up.