Grading the Yankees: Midseason Report Card

Joe Girardi, Manager: (2.25) Girardi did a better job of leading the team in the second quarter of the year than he did over the first 40 games. He’s playing more small ball (the Yankees are fifth in the league in steals and sacrifices), and he did a good job handling Joba’s transition to the rotation and its subsequent non-effect on the bullpen.

The only problem I’ve had with Girardi is that he seems to change the lineup everyday, which I think makes it more difficult for hitters to get in a groove. It’s okay to give a guy a day off once in a while, but not all at the same time, and especially not when two big starters (Damon and Matsui) are already out with injuries.

Joba Chamberlain, SP: (2.24) Remember when people wanted this guy to remain a set-up man? He now may start Game One of the ALDS, if the Yanks get there.

Jason Giambi, 1B: (2.23) Giambi’s monstrous moustache not only doubled his GPA, but it also influenced my roommate Matt to try to grow one of his own. That attempt was sadly thwarted, though, when Matt realized he has the facial hair of a freshman on the varsity bowling team.

Nevertheless, Giambi’s recent success is due to the fact that he finally decided to hit balls up the middle and the opposite way. It’s a lot easier when you have only one infielder to contend with, as opposed to three.

Mariano Rivera, RP: (1.58) I have to laugh when I see writers like Jayson Stark award Rivera the midseason AL Cy Young over guys like Justin Duchscherer, Cliff Lee, Joe Saunders, and Ervin Santana. 

Rivera’s not even the best pitcher on his own team. Once Mo starts retiring batters three or four times in one game, we can start talking about giving him the Cy Young.

Sure, he’s been very important to the Yanks' success this year, but he doesn’t even get in the game unless the starters and hitters do a good enough job over eight innings so that the team has a lead going into the ninth.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (1.57) Cano’s .246 average is one of the main reasons why the Yanks’ offense has been so disappointing this year, but the second baseman is hitting .289 since his dreadful .151 in April, so things are looking up.

Melky Cabrera, CF: (1.56) Cabrera has started to hit a little better since Brett Gardner arrived on the scene to challenge for the center fielder position once Matsui and Damon return, but Melky is still batting just .242 on the season and has really cooled off since his .299 April.

Darrell Rasner, SP: (1.54) Rasner was the team’s savior in May when he went 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA in place of Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes. But Rasner has gone downhill since then, going 1-6 with an earned run average around 7.00.

Jorge Posada, ex-C: (1.29)

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