MLB networks mid-term grades: Yankees

[Rocketbooster]

LOL the Yanks get a B – the comment is that the Big Money pitchers haven’t stepped up.
Um, CC has been good, (not great, but still good) and AJ has been very good. Mitch Williams, who was doing most of the commenting, really gave them a B and says they’ve underachieved and the team knows it…….huh?

John Hart thinks they think the Yankees feel pretty good about where they are and that some things need to happen for them to catch Boston (I’m sure he means SP and that’s fair.

[Brick Tamland]

LOL the Yanks get a B – the comment is that the Big Money pitchers haven’t stepped up.
Um, CC has been good, (not great, but still good) and AJ has been very good. Mitch Williams, who was doing most of the commenting, really gave them a B and says they’ve underachieved and the team knows it…….huh?

John Hart thinks they think the Yankees feel pretty good about where they are and that some things need to happen for them to catch Boston (I’m sure he means SP and that’s fair.

I agree with that grade. Let's be honest, the pitching's been good not great and they can't beat their two chief rivals. I like that they're only 3 games back at the break with one of the best records in baseball but wi the talent on this team I'd say they underachieved in the first half.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

I think they did what they had to in the first half. Remember guys, a lot of guys on this team are second half players. Texiera, Sabathia, Cano typically all go on tears in the second half of the season.

[Stache Fan]

I don't really see anything wrong with those comments. CC has been good, for sure, but not great.

[spyglass]

LOL the Yanks get a B – the comment is that the Big Money pitchers haven’t stepped up.
Um, CC has been good, (not great, but still good) and AJ has been very good. Mitch Williams, who was doing most of the commenting, really gave them a B and says they’ve underachieved and the team knows it…….huh?

John Hart thinks they think the Yankees feel pretty good about where they are and that some things need to happen for them to catch Boston (I’m sure he means SP and that’s fair.

I'm watching, too, and I was a little bit confused. I guess we get a B for underachieving but the Mariners get an A- (granted, they've been much better than expected).

I'm pretty happy with a 51-37 record with the "underachieving" and all in all, it's been a pretty good show. Very fair.

[Rocketbooster]

I agree with that grade. Let's be honest, the pitching's been good not great and they can't beat their two chief rivals. I like that they're only 3 games back at the break with one of the best records in baseball but wi the talent on this team I'd say they underachieved in the first half.

Huh? Williams was talking specifically about CC and AJ. How are they failures (and that's what I took him to mean when he says they haven't stepped up)?

I don't care if they are 0-8 against the Sox - 15 games over is not underachieving.

[BxBomber44]

B is fair, B- is not. I like where we are.

[Rocketbooster]

I don't really see anything wrong with those comments. CC has been good, for sure, but not great.

CC has been good, not great, but good is still good. When I read that someone hasn't stepped up, that means that player has been mediocre to poor..........and to lump CC and AJ together is wrong. Most experts killed the Yankees for signing AJ - and his numbers were borderline All-Star. He's given the team innings, he's stayed healthy and he actually has "stepped up".

[sweet_lou_14]

For the Yankees to get an A from the national sports media, they'd have to be 10 games in first place. There are some for whom even winning a World Series would be an A- because after all, with that payroll they'd better.

B is a fair grade.

[Rocketbooster]

B is fair, B- is not. I like where we are.

Actually, the grade was a B, not a B -. I put a hyphen there. I would have given the Yankees a B +.

[Rocketbooster]

For the Yankees to get an A from the national sports media, they'd have to be 10 games in first place. There are some for whom even winning a World Series would be an A- because after all, with that payroll they'd better.

B is a fair grade.

I don't agree - I don't think a B is that good of a grade and I happen to think this is a very good team. That said, I feel better that it was Williams who made these comments because I think he's a dope.

[DEADSOX]

I dont understand how our offense didn't get a ++, we are the highest scoring team in the MLB. I think they all picked a Yankees/Red Sox ALCS with the Sox going to the WS. Why is everybody sold on this pitching depth from the Red Sox, I don't get it?! Dice-K is falling apart, Smoltz hasn't done crap, and Bucholz is far from proven in the bigs. The Sox starter ERA is only a fraction of a point better than ours.

ESPN is doing a similar show now. They are showing web gems at each position, I'm confused how Joba's catch wasnt in there for pitchers.

[The Q Bomb]

I agree with that grade. Let's be honest, the pitching's been good not great and they can't beat their two chief rivals. I like that they're only 3 games back at the break with one of the best records in baseball but wi the talent on this team I'd say they underachieved in the first half.

Can't disagree; and as far as the "a lot of this team are second half players..." logic, I don't want to hear that excuse. The season is from April through September not mid-July through September. These are grades to this point in the season and it's on the first 3-1/2 months that these grades were issued.

I always say I hate when money or salary is brought up when grading or analyzing teams but, let's face it - for the money the top two guys on this pitching staff are making, they are under achieving. For the talent the first 4 guys on this pitching staff possess, they have under achieved thus far. (I'm exempting Chien Ming Wang because of his injuries and botched rehab.) Jeter and Damon have lived up to the back of their baseball cards, as has Cano, more or less. I think Melky and Gardner have done better than expected and A-Rod has done as well as can be expected in light of the injury and surgery from which he had to return. Teixeira has been decent but somewhat below expectation; Swisher has been as expected - well maybe a little less than expected when you consider his baserunning gaffes; and Posada has been about as expected. The bullpen has been a little (very little) better than expected - so all things considered, I think a grade of B is very fair.

[hellonewman]

B is very fair, not because the big money starting pitchers haven't stepped up, but because the smaller-money starters haven't.

[JeterForPresident]

They gotta keep doing what they have been doing and beat Boston, it is that simple.

[R.V.47]

I think a B is fair but B- is a little on the low side. How can you have the 3rd best record in baseball but be a B-?

[spyglass]

I think a B is fair but B- is a little on the low side. How can you have the 3rd best record in baseball but be a B-?

They actually gave us a B, not a B-. Rocketbooster meant that as a dash, not a minus.

[dabomb2045]

You cant be 2-12 against Boston/LAA and get an A grade. No way.

[DiMaggio5CF]

You cant be 2-12 against Boston/LAA and get an A grade. No way.

I agree, especially with the 0-8 against Boston. Factor the 1-2 against the Phillies in there, too. And the 1-2 against the lowly Nationals is a black mark on the record as well.

You can't fail miserably in some of the biggest tests of an elite team and get an A.

If this team had this record and a .500 record against those rivals, they'd be an A-. That and Wang not being a huge disaster and/or Joba not looking lost, and this team would be an easy A.

But right now, a B is fair.

[Swishilisious]

C. You can't go 0-8 against boston and get a B. They have underachieved this season so far.

[AnA-bombforA-rod]

I can't take Mitch Williams seriously ever, when he gives the Dodgers a ++ for offense, but not the Yankees.

[sweet_lou_14]

I don't agree - I don't think a B is that good of a grade and I happen to think this is a very good team. That said, I feel better that it was Williams who made these comments because I think he's a dope.

I agree, they are a very good team in terms of what they're capable of.

But if they were playing well enough to deserve an A, with this much talent on the field, they would be in first place and they would not be 0-8 against Boston.

[Brick Tamland]

Huh? Williams was talking specifically about CC and AJ. How are they failures (and that's what I took him to mean when he says they haven't stepped up)?

I don't care if they are 0-8 against the Sox - 15 games over is not underachieving.

Dude if you are really OK with this team second to ANYONE more power to you. I expect better.

[BroadwayBomber55]

I saw the MLB Network and their mid-term grades and I say the Yankees getting a B is fair.

I think the reason why Mitch Williams gives the Yankees only a + is because of things like RISP and such, but as of late, the Yankees have been scoring runs other than the longball that helps with our RISP numbers.

And Mitch saying that the team will be better with Phil Hughes in the starting rotation and Joba Chamberlain in the pen? Well, I don't care if Hughes and Joba switch places back and forth. If anyone on the Yankees pitching staff doesn't throw strikes especially first pitch and quality strikes and be economical with their pitch counts (i.e. getting outs in three pitches or less), the pitching staff especially the bullpen will get burnt out.

Also, the numbers are pretty much skewed if you take away Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras in the pen.

And despite being 2-12 against the Red Sox/Angels and 5-14 against division leaders overall after the first half, the Yankees have been close in some of those games. The biggest question I have and I'm still waiting for that answer is do the Yankees have that little extra group to edge them out in their remaining games? We'll find out in the second half of the season and if the Yankees want World Championship #27 in 2009, then it better be an empathic yes from the entire squad.

In all, a fair assessment with some things I disagree from MLB Network. The Yankees are banged up and such, but we survived and thrived in the first half getting the WC lead.

But the first half is over. I'm focused for the second half and the Yankees need to keep winning to get in the playoffs.

[BroadwayBomber55]

I agree with that grade. Let's be honest, the pitching's been good not great and they can't beat their two chief rivals. I like that they're only 3 games back at the break with one of the best records in baseball but wi the talent on this team I'd say they underachieved in the first half.

I also like that the Yankees record despite being 0-8 against the Red Sox, 2-12 combined against the Angels and Red Sox, and 5-14 overall against division leaders, but they underachieved with all the talent they have.

In order for the Yankees to say, "ok, we're back as a World Championship contender along with the Red Sox, Tigers, and Angels," gain momentum against those teams with Wins that count in the Win Column. You may not win the season series against two or all three current division leaders, but win some games in the second half so that the Yankees can say, "You beat us in the first half, but the second half is a different story and we beat you there."

That's the attitude and aggression I need to see from this team, "................ the past, we caught up to them in the second half. If and when we face them in the playoffs, go for the series win in the present and never come back to the past."

[Yankees Empire]

Isn't that what a "B" grade is- good, but not great?

[BronxYanks45]

I think B+ is more fair

having a good season so far besides having tough times with the Red Sox and Angels

[TheInfallibleOne]

You cant be 2-12 against Boston/LAA and get an A grade. No way.

You can if neither make the playoffs.

The Sox arent an automatic for October either. It could very well be a NYY/TB deal in October.

Same goes for the Angels. The Rangers and Mariners aren't all that far out. If Texas wins their division, and we split the division and wild card with TB (I really dont care who gets what) then I like my chances for the World Series.

[b_joseph]

I would have given us a C. Did any of us really expect to be more than 3 games out at the break?
Lots of us where hoping to be leading the division, so C is about average and C is probably about right.

[pinstripesphanatic]

I would have given us a C. Did any of us really expect to be more than 3 games out at the break?
Lots of us where hoping to be leading the division, so C is about average and C is probably about right.

i agree with this.

like someone else pointed out, 2-12 against boston and LAA, series loss to the phillies at home, nationals at home, marlins......

[Rocketbooster]

I agree, they are a very good team in terms of what they're capable of.

But if they were playing well enough to deserve an A, with this much talent on the field, they would be in first place and they would not be 0-8 against Boston.

I didn't say they deserved an A -only first place teams and teams that have way overachieved deserve an A. B + is fair, IMO, because they have done a very good job; I have no complaints

[Rocketbooster]

Dude if you are really OK with this team second to ANYONE more power to you. I expect better.

Dudette.........and if you want to be unhappy because the team is in 2nd place, more power to you.

[Rocketbooster]

I would have given us a C. Did any of us really expect to be more than 3 games out at the break?
Lots of us where hoping to be leading the division, so C is about average and C is probably about right.

Tough grader - 15 games over and you think the Yankees have been nothing more than average? I disagree.........and I think a C grade sucks. If I got that in school, I'd be pissed off.

I'm sort of sorry I started this thread because it really doesn't matter what grade some shmo gives us. I venture to guess if the Yankees had not gotten swept in Anaheim, people would feel a lot differently. LOL how odd that I'm the one being positive - quite a turn for a confirmed pessimist

[DaSh 1s]

I got a lot of B's through college, I felt pretty confident

[Melan-cynic]

I think they did what they had to in the first half. Remember guys, a lot of guys on this team are second half players. Texiera, Sabathia, Cano typically all go on tears in the second half of the season.

This.

For years the franchise, period, has been a 2nd half team.

[b_joseph]

Tough grader - 15 games over and you think the Yankees have been nothing more than average? I disagree.........and I think a C grade sucks. If I got that in school, I'd be pissed off.

I'm sort of sorry I started this thread because it really doesn't matter what grade some shmo gives us. I venture to guess if the Yankees had not gotten swept in Anaheim, people would feel a lot differently. LOL how odd that I'm the one being positive - quite a turn for a confirmed pessimist

Before the season started, you would have expected them to be around 50 wins by ASB.

IMO, A should be reserved for near perfection....Dodgers
B is for playing above your level....Angels and Giants
C is playing around what is expected of you....Yankees, Rays, Texas, Tigers.

[sweet_lou_14]

I venture to guess if the Yankees had not gotten swept in Anaheim, people would feel a lot differently.

Fair point. I'll be the first to admit, I expect the Yankees to lose at least 2 of 3 to Detroit, unless they show me something they haven't been able to versus Boston and LA.

Taking 2 of 3 this weekend would earn them a B+.

[Yankees13]

I would have given us a C. Did any of us really expect to be more than 3 games out at the break?
Lots of us where hoping to be leading the division, so C is about average and C is probably about right.

I would agree with a C. Looks like we have some grade inflation here...

[Rocketbooster]

Before the season started, you would have expected them to be around 50 wins by ASB.

IMO, A should be reserved for near perfection....Dodgers
B is for playing above your level....Angels and Giants
C is playing around what is expected of you....Yankees, Rays, Texas, Tigers.

I wouldn't grade like that - IMO, anything in the A range is very good; anything in the B range is good to very good (B+ being very good) and C is average. I think that is way too subjective.........

[Rocketbooster]

Fair point. I'll be the first to admit, I expect the Yankees to lose at least 2 of 3 to Detroit, unless they show me something they haven't been able to versus Boston and LA.

Taking 2 of 3 this weekend would earn them a B+.

I don't even think I want to know why you are assuming a series loss to the Tigers, lol. I don't think the Yankees warrant that type of negativity, but different strokes for different strokes

[Brick Tamland]

Dudette.........and if you want to be unhappy because the team is in 2nd place, more power to you.

Never said I was "unhappy", just that I expect more from a team with this much talent. I believe you were the one who was unhappy with the MLB network. I feel they were spot on. Agree to disagree.

[cyhughes22]

I can understand the criticism of CC and AJ. They've been pretty decent sure, but they certainly haven't pitched like 40 million dollars per year worth of pitchers. In fact I seem to remember that people were bitching that Wang wasn't a true ace with his 3.8ish ERA yet somehow CC's is just dandy. I don't get that but whatever. And for the record I am not a fan of Wang so in no way is this to defend him but fair is fair and Sabathia hasn't performed as well as his contract and talent merit. As far as AJ goes he's pretty much been as advertised, does well when he doesn't walk the park and sucks when he does.

[Rocketbooster]

I can understand the criticism of CC and AJ. They've been pretty decent sure, but they certainly haven't pitched like 40 million dollars per year worth of pitchers. In fact I seem to remember that people were bitching that Wang wasn't a true ace with his 3.8ish ERA yet somehow CC's is just dandy. I don't get that but whatever. And for the record I am not a fan of Wang so in no way is this to defend him but fair is fair and Sabathia hasn't performed as well as his contract and talent merit. As far as AJ goes he's pretty much been as advertised, does well when he doesn't walk the park and sucks when he does.

I disagree about AJ..........he's been far from sucking in all but a few starts this year no matter how many he walks. The guy went into the All-Star break with an 8-4 record and a 3.77 ERA - that's very solid and he'd been pitching brilliantly. IMO, he's showing a lot more than people thought he would. That is to say that almost everyone had doubts about whether AJ could pitch without his best stuff and he's proven to me this year that he can. As advertised? Not really, since most experts had that question I just raised and most experts/fans hated the signing. I know we disagree completely on AJ based on your posts - but at least we agree about Phil, lol.

[Rocketbooster]

Never said I was "unhappy", just that I expect more from a team with this much talent. I believe you were the one who was unhappy with the MLB network. I feel they were spot on. Agree to disagree.

No problem - it's not a big deal.

[cyhughes22]

I disagree about AJ..........he's been far from sucking in all but a few starts this year no matter how many he walks. The guy went into the All-Star break with an 8-4 record and a 3.77 ERA - that's very solid and he'd been pitching brilliantly. IMO, he's showing a lot more than people thought he would. That is to say that almost everyone had doubts about whether AJ could pitch without his best stuff and he's proven to me this year that he can. As advertised? Not really, since most experts had that question I just raised and most experts/fans hated the signing. I know we disagree completely on AJ based on your posts - but at least we agree about Phil, lol.

Haha yeah Phil is always the common ground between us Rocket. I have to give AJ credit, he's been pretty good this season, especially in relation to his career numbers but he walks an obscene number of guys. It's really really bad that every game you look up and it seems like he's issued 5 free passes. I really think that he's actually pitching well and if he could just command his fastball more consistently he'd have some truly filthy numbers. I think the reason I get frustrated with AJ is that the guy is oozing blatant number 1 talent and something as simple as walks is what kills him. He's certainly not pitching poorly though, I didn't mean to imply that. It's just the walks lol.

[Rocketbooster]

Haha yeah Phil is always the common ground between us Rocket. I have to give AJ credit, he's been pretty good this season, especially in relation to his career numbers but he walks an obscene number of guys. It's really really bad that every game you look up and it seems like he's issued 5 free passes. I really think that he's actually pitching well and if he could just command his fastball more consistently he'd have some truly filthy numbers. I think the reason I get frustrated with AJ is that the guy is oozing blatant number 1 talent and something as simple as walks is what kills him. He's certainly not pitching poorly though, I didn't mean to imply that. It's just the walks lol.

LOL he does walk a lot. In his recent stretch of great pitching, he'd cut down on his walks., Then, he had sort of a blip in Minny where he didn't have much of anything and had to fight all game.. Yesterday, I chalk up to being off for a long time, being rusty and being overly strong.

The thing I wasn't aware of until this year is that AJ's pitches have crazy movement on them......holy cow, it's hard to catch him.

AJ may never quite get rid of his quirks on the mound, but I am very happy with what he's given us and I love the guy in the clubhouse.

Did you hear his post-game comments yesterday? He said Phil was ridiculous,. lol

[sweet_lou_14]

I don't even think I want to know why you are assuming a series loss to the Tigers, lol. I don't think the Yankees warrant that type of negativity, but different strokes for different strokes

I think I was pretty clear. I expected a series loss unless they show me something they haven't been able to versus Boston and LA.

Well, guess what, I was right. They would have lost this series, maybe even gotten swept, if not for some great (more gutsy than dominant) starting pitching, lights-out bullpen work from Hughes and Mo, and just enough clutch hitting to win.

The offense and the closer have been doing the job pretty consistently all year, but the starters and the rest of the bullpen have been more hit-and-miss. In particular, Boston and Anaheim have made our pitching look decidedly second-rate at times. That's why a B at the All-Star Break was more than fair.

This weekend, the Yankees played much better baseball than they did in Anaheim last weekend, and the results bore that out. Definitely in B+ territory now.