Thanks mostly to the fact they have been playing the Rangers and the Mariners only for the past week+ the Yanks have again reached the .500 hundred mark. Ain't that grand? Well 32 games down at a clip of 16-16 lets do a little recap and rankings of the Yankees players throughout the season.
Hitters
1. Alex Rodriguez - Arod has cooled down somewhat since his historic start, but he is still hitting at a .350 clip for the whole of the season thus far and is leading the league in HRs and RBIs. The odd part is that since Arod has cooled down the Yankees pitching has heated up, go figure.
2. Derek Jeter - Typically Jeter over the first month+ of the season, a lot of hits, a high average and decent run and rbi production. He's consistent.
3. Jorge Posada - How do you spell contract year? Well that's simple how about a .354 average for a hitter who's as slow as a sloth.
4. Jason Giambi - He's hit pretty well this season, batting almost .300 but god damn does he clog up the basepaths when he gets on. He just might be the slowest player in the big leagues. He doesn't even run, he waddles.
5. Johnny Damon - A Hobbled Johnny hasn't been terrific this season but he's atleast been serviceable. And he atleast has an excuse.
6. Hideki Matsui - Nothing spectacular from Hideki, he's been decent since coming back from injury.
7. Bobby Abreu - Bobby has struggled mightily this season. His average is down and his plate discipline has been suffering lately. When Bobby is swinging at bad pitches you know something is wrong.
8. Robinson Cano - I have been incredibly disappointed with Robby Cano's plate discipline this season. He has swung at far too many pitches that were not even close to being strikes. And the book was out on him the first month of the season, whenever you got ahead in the count on him throw a fastball eye high and he was swinging, but not hitting. He desperately needs to start getting ahead in the count and not chasing bad pitches.
9. Josh Phelps - Phelps hasn't been half bad being used in the lesser playing time of the platoon roll with Minkowitz. He has hit decently well, had a big home run in a 9th inning comeback, and barreled over Kenji Johjima for absolutely no reason at all last week. Seriously no reason, the ball wasn't even close to the plate, hell he didn't even need to slide, it provided me with some humor.
10. Dougie Minkowitz - To Dougie's credit he's been hitting very well lately, but he started off the season so miserably that his average still does not top .250 despite his recent hot streak.
11. Melky Cabrera - Here's where I have complaints with Torre this season, Melky is not hitting, in fact he's been pretty much horrendous the whole season, yet when he gives Damon a day off he feels the need to bat Melky leadoff. It makes zero logically sense that you would want a hole at the top of your lineup.
12. Kevin Thompson - He was just a call up when Matsui went on the DL, can't really diss him much for not hitting, he's not a major league player.
13. Miguel Cairo - Cairo had a very good year two years ago playing second base everyday for the Yanks but thus far this year in a bench role he's been pretty terrible.
14. Wil Nieves - I don't think it's at all possible to be as bad as Nieves has been at the plate thus far this season. Yesterday, Nieves got his first hit of the season, however he attempted to stretch it to a double and was thrown out at second, thus he didn't reach base. Moron.
Starters
1. Andy Pettite - The only stable starter for the Yanks from the opening bell. Andy has been terrific thus far this season and has been such a team player that he was willing to come out of the pen multiple times in the first month.
2. Chien Ming Wang - Wang is the leader of the hammy patrol, but since he's been back he's gotten better with each start. His sinker is working and he is returning to his 2006 form.
3. Darrell Rasner - Surprise Darrell Rasner has been pretty darn good during his starts thus far this season, even though he really has no stuff at all. I'm convinced people will start hitting him in the upcoming months but I hope to hell I'm wrong.
4. Mike Mussina - The second member of the hammy patrol, Muss has pitched well his last few starts after getting bombed in his opener and landing on the DL for a short period. He also like Wang appears to be rounding into form.
5. Phil Hughes - If only Philip didn't pull his hammy like every other Yankee pitcher, maybe then we could have seen what he was showing in the Ranger game over a long stretch. Instead we must wait.
6. Matt De Salvo - One start = very good, which is simply better than the lower guys who got rocked a lot, or just plain suck.
7. Kei Igawa - 3 good starts and 3 atrocious starts and a move to single A. Igawa does however own the Yankees only win over the Red Sox this season, so he deserves some credit. My sister thinks he looks like a beaver and has become accustomed to calling him as such, she might be onto something. Maybe a woodchuck instead? Let the debate begin.
8. Chase Wright - Back to Back to Back to Back will forever be linked with the name Chase Wright. Atleast he accomplished something for himself this season.
9. Jeff Karstens - A fractured leg and one bad start makes Jeff Karstens not a valuable pitcher thus far.
10. Carl Pavano - You know I was gonna put Karstens in last place cause he wasn't good in his one start, but he got hit with a line drive that fractured his leg and he wanted to continue pitching. Pavano on the other hand is annoyed that the Yanks are seeking more opinions so he doesn't get Tommy John. You suck.
Bullpen
1. Brian Bruney - So who the hell would have thought that Brian Bruney would have the best numbers of any reliever in the Yankees pen one month+ into the season. My guess is Bruney's hand is down.
2. Scott Proctor - For the most part Proctor has been solid this year, with the exception of a few innings here and there which typically come after multiple days of work, because apparently Torre doesn't know he has other pitchers in the bullpen.
3. Sean Henn - This kid has actually been pretty good this year, however they don't typically bring him in in close games.
4. Mike Myers - Mike Myers would probably come close to topping this list if he could ever get out the lefties he is brought in the game to get out, namely David Ortiz.
5. Kyle Farnsworth - Farny does not have Torre's confidence and thus is just erratically brought in in different scenarios. Also, Farny can't throw consecutive days without blowing up which is pretty weak. And Farny has been wearing these goofy glasses all the time, I don't get it.
6. Mariano Rivera - Mo has been an incredible disappointment thus far this season. 3 blown games. I feel as if the biggest problem with Mo has been the opposite of the rest of the bullpen, a lack of work. Hopefully with increased workload the next few weeks, he will return to the old sandman.
7. Luis Vizcaino - Too many appearances for Vizcaino plus a lack of control of his breaking ball has equally not very good news for the Yanks.
8. Chris Britton - 2 Appearances at no runs, does not make a terrific reliever. They threw him in too blow out victories against the Indians, he really doesn't count.
9. Colter Bean - No one sucks quite like Colter Bean. The guy has no idea where his pitches are going when he lets go of them, but the hitters seem to have a keen eye on them.
Hitters
1. Alex Rodriguez - Arod has cooled down somewhat since his historic start, but he is still hitting at a .350 clip for the whole of the season thus far and is leading the league in HRs and RBIs. The odd part is that since Arod has cooled down the Yankees pitching has heated up, go figure.2. Derek Jeter - Typically Jeter over the first month+ of the season, a lot of hits, a high average and decent run and rbi production. He's consistent.
3. Jorge Posada - How do you spell contract year? Well that's simple how about a .354 average for a hitter who's as slow as a sloth.
4. Jason Giambi - He's hit pretty well this season, batting almost .300 but god damn does he clog up the basepaths when he gets on. He just might be the slowest player in the big leagues. He doesn't even run, he waddles.
5. Johnny Damon - A Hobbled Johnny hasn't been terrific this season but he's atleast been serviceable. And he atleast has an excuse.
6. Hideki Matsui - Nothing spectacular from Hideki, he's been decent since coming back from injury.
7. Bobby Abreu - Bobby has struggled mightily this season. His average is down and his plate discipline has been suffering lately. When Bobby is swinging at bad pitches you know something is wrong.
8. Robinson Cano - I have been incredibly disappointed with Robby Cano's plate discipline this season. He has swung at far too many pitches that were not even close to being strikes. And the book was out on him the first month of the season, whenever you got ahead in the count on him throw a fastball eye high and he was swinging, but not hitting. He desperately needs to start getting ahead in the count and not chasing bad pitches.
9. Josh Phelps - Phelps hasn't been half bad being used in the lesser playing time of the platoon roll with Minkowitz. He has hit decently well, had a big home run in a 9th inning comeback, and barreled over Kenji Johjima for absolutely no reason at all last week. Seriously no reason, the ball wasn't even close to the plate, hell he didn't even need to slide, it provided me with some humor.10. Dougie Minkowitz - To Dougie's credit he's been hitting very well lately, but he started off the season so miserably that his average still does not top .250 despite his recent hot streak.
11. Melky Cabrera - Here's where I have complaints with Torre this season, Melky is not hitting, in fact he's been pretty much horrendous the whole season, yet when he gives Damon a day off he feels the need to bat Melky leadoff. It makes zero logically sense that you would want a hole at the top of your lineup.
12. Kevin Thompson - He was just a call up when Matsui went on the DL, can't really diss him much for not hitting, he's not a major league player.
13. Miguel Cairo - Cairo had a very good year two years ago playing second base everyday for the Yanks but thus far this year in a bench role he's been pretty terrible.
14. Wil Nieves - I don't think it's at all possible to be as bad as Nieves has been at the plate thus far this season. Yesterday, Nieves got his first hit of the season, however he attempted to stretch it to a double and was thrown out at second, thus he didn't reach base. Moron.Starters
1. Andy Pettite - The only stable starter for the Yanks from the opening bell. Andy has been terrific thus far this season and has been such a team player that he was willing to come out of the pen multiple times in the first month.
2. Chien Ming Wang - Wang is the leader of the hammy patrol, but since he's been back he's gotten better with each start. His sinker is working and he is returning to his 2006 form.
3. Darrell Rasner - Surprise Darrell Rasner has been pretty darn good during his starts thus far this season, even though he really has no stuff at all. I'm convinced people will start hitting him in the upcoming months but I hope to hell I'm wrong.4. Mike Mussina - The second member of the hammy patrol, Muss has pitched well his last few starts after getting bombed in his opener and landing on the DL for a short period. He also like Wang appears to be rounding into form.
5. Phil Hughes - If only Philip didn't pull his hammy like every other Yankee pitcher, maybe then we could have seen what he was showing in the Ranger game over a long stretch. Instead we must wait.
6. Matt De Salvo - One start = very good, which is simply better than the lower guys who got rocked a lot, or just plain suck.
7. Kei Igawa - 3 good starts and 3 atrocious starts and a move to single A. Igawa does however own the Yankees only win over the Red Sox this season, so he deserves some credit. My sister thinks he looks like a beaver and has become accustomed to calling him as such, she might be onto something. Maybe a woodchuck instead? Let the debate begin.8. Chase Wright - Back to Back to Back to Back will forever be linked with the name Chase Wright. Atleast he accomplished something for himself this season.
9. Jeff Karstens - A fractured leg and one bad start makes Jeff Karstens not a valuable pitcher thus far.
10. Carl Pavano - You know I was gonna put Karstens in last place cause he wasn't good in his one start, but he got hit with a line drive that fractured his leg and he wanted to continue pitching. Pavano on the other hand is annoyed that the Yanks are seeking more opinions so he doesn't get Tommy John. You suck.
Bullpen
1. Brian Bruney - So who the hell would have thought that Brian Bruney would have the best numbers of any reliever in the Yankees pen one month+ into the season. My guess is Bruney's hand is down.2. Scott Proctor - For the most part Proctor has been solid this year, with the exception of a few innings here and there which typically come after multiple days of work, because apparently Torre doesn't know he has other pitchers in the bullpen.
3. Sean Henn - This kid has actually been pretty good this year, however they don't typically bring him in in close games.
4. Mike Myers - Mike Myers would probably come close to topping this list if he could ever get out the lefties he is brought in the game to get out, namely David Ortiz.
5. Kyle Farnsworth - Farny does not have Torre's confidence and thus is just erratically brought in in different scenarios. Also, Farny can't throw consecutive days without blowing up which is pretty weak. And Farny has been wearing these goofy glasses all the time, I don't get it.6. Mariano Rivera - Mo has been an incredible disappointment thus far this season. 3 blown games. I feel as if the biggest problem with Mo has been the opposite of the rest of the bullpen, a lack of work. Hopefully with increased workload the next few weeks, he will return to the old sandman.
7. Luis Vizcaino - Too many appearances for Vizcaino plus a lack of control of his breaking ball has equally not very good news for the Yanks.
8. Chris Britton - 2 Appearances at no runs, does not make a terrific reliever. They threw him in too blow out victories against the Indians, he really doesn't count.
9. Colter Bean - No one sucks quite like Colter Bean. The guy has no idea where his pitches are going when he lets go of them, but the hitters seem to have a keen eye on them.
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