Yankee 21
07-05-2003, 01:13 PM
Yankees midseason report card
YES Network Online
July 2, 2003
At just past the mathematical halfway point of the season, the Yankees are rolling along at 52-31, four games of Boston in the AL East, and on pace for another 100-win season and a playoff run in October. Good times in the Bronx? Maybe, says the YES Network broadcasters. Last year at this point they gave the Yankees a B+ overall. In 2003, they dropped it to a B.
YES Network's crack panel evaluated the Yankees to this point, looking at five of the major areas of the team and then dispensing an overall grade. Included also are their picks for midseason MVP, most improved, bigggest disappointment, biggest surprise and game of the year. Editor's note: Some abstained from certain categories.
How do you think the Yankees fared in the first half? Click here to submit your opinion.
TV Announcers
FRED HICKMAN
Starting rotation: A
Bullpen: C
Offense: A-
Defense: B
Managing: A
Midseason MVP: Jason Giambi
Biggest surprise: Ruben Sierra
Biggest disappointment: Middle relief
Game of the Year: Astros no-hitter
MICHAEL KAY
Starting rotation: B+
Bullpen: D+
Offense: B
Defense: C-
Managing: C
Most improved player: Raul Mondesi
Midseason MVP: Hideki Matsui
Biggest surprise: David Wells
Biggest disappointment: The entire bullpen
Game of the Year: Posada walk-off walk vs. the Red Sox
KEN SINGLETON
Starting rotation: A-
Bullpen: B-
Offense: A
Defense: C+
Managing: A
Midseason MVP: Alfonso Soriano
Most improved player: Hideki Matsui
Biggest disappointment: Injuries
SUZYN WALDMAN
Starting rotation: A
Bullpen: C-
Offense: C
Defense: C
Managing: B
Midseason MVP: Hideki Matsui
Biggest disappointment: Jeff Weaver (I love this one)
Game of the Year: Roger Clemens' 300th win
Radio Announcers
CHARLEY STEINER
Starting rotation: A-
Bullpen: C
Offense: B+
Defense: B
Managing: A
Midseason MVP: Hideki Matsui
Biggest surprise: Hideki Matsui
Biggest disappointment: Juan Acevedo
Game of the Year: Roger Clemens' 300th win
JOHN STERLING
Starting rotation: B+
Bullpen: C
Offense: B
Defense: B
Managing: A
Midseason MVP: Alfonso Soriano
Biggest surprise: Hideki Matsui
Biggest disappointment: Juan Acevedo
Game of the Year: Roger Clemens' 300
Grade breakdown
Starting rotation: A-
Bullpen: C
Offense: B
Defense: C+
Managing: B+
Overall Grade: B
Midseason MVP: Hideki Matsui. No, he isn’t the power hitter he was made out to be, but he picks his spots superbly: hitting a grand slam on Opening Day at the Stadium and batting .522 (12-for-23) with three homers and 10 RBI in the six-game Subway Series. But as Joe Torre noted he’s going to have his slumps against pitchers he’s never seen before. However, Matsui’s greatest contributions are his stellar outfield play – in left or center with Bernie Williams out until the All-Star break – and his gracious, easy-going demeanor in the clubhouse.
Most Improved Player: Tie between Matsui and Raul Mondesi. Ever since Mondesi picked up hitting tips from Reggie Jackson and Jorge Posada in spring training he’s become a solid hitter in the middle of the lineup, currently at .265 with 14 homers and 43 RBI after a .354 April. He clearly wants to be a part of this winning organization too after being considered trade bait throughout the offseason.
Biggest disappointment: Juan Acevedo. Perhaps a trifle unfair because of his superb record as a closer in Mariano Rivera’s absence, Acevedo is no longer a Yankee because of one pitch: a belt-high fastball to Eric Karros that turned into a three-run homer, landing on the asphalt of Waveland Avenue in Roger Clemens’ second of four bids for 300 wins at Wrigley Field.
Game of the Year: Roger Clemens gets his 300. The Rocket’s Hall of Fame resume was signed, sealed and delivered on a rainy June night at the Stadium. On his fourth try at the magic number in front of a sellout crowd of 55,214 against the St. Louis Cardinals, Clemens struck out six of his first eight batters -- collecting No. 4,000 in the process -- and allowed six hits and walked two batters before being removed by Torre in the seventh inning. Homers by Matsui, Mondesi and newly acquired Ruben Sierra provided the cushion, and after closer Mariano Rivera made his eighth save of the season, Clemens had his milestones. Both of them: 300 and 4,000.
YES Network Online
July 2, 2003
At just past the mathematical halfway point of the season, the Yankees are rolling along at 52-31, four games of Boston in the AL East, and on pace for another 100-win season and a playoff run in October. Good times in the Bronx? Maybe, says the YES Network broadcasters. Last year at this point they gave the Yankees a B+ overall. In 2003, they dropped it to a B.
YES Network's crack panel evaluated the Yankees to this point, looking at five of the major areas of the team and then dispensing an overall grade. Included also are their picks for midseason MVP, most improved, bigggest disappointment, biggest surprise and game of the year. Editor's note: Some abstained from certain categories.
How do you think the Yankees fared in the first half? Click here to submit your opinion.
TV Announcers
FRED HICKMAN
Starting rotation: A
Bullpen: C
Offense: A-
Defense: B
Managing: A
Midseason MVP: Jason Giambi
Biggest surprise: Ruben Sierra
Biggest disappointment: Middle relief
Game of the Year: Astros no-hitter
MICHAEL KAY
Starting rotation: B+
Bullpen: D+
Offense: B
Defense: C-
Managing: C
Most improved player: Raul Mondesi
Midseason MVP: Hideki Matsui
Biggest surprise: David Wells
Biggest disappointment: The entire bullpen
Game of the Year: Posada walk-off walk vs. the Red Sox
KEN SINGLETON
Starting rotation: A-
Bullpen: B-
Offense: A
Defense: C+
Managing: A
Midseason MVP: Alfonso Soriano
Most improved player: Hideki Matsui
Biggest disappointment: Injuries
SUZYN WALDMAN
Starting rotation: A
Bullpen: C-
Offense: C
Defense: C
Managing: B
Midseason MVP: Hideki Matsui
Biggest disappointment: Jeff Weaver (I love this one)
Game of the Year: Roger Clemens' 300th win
Radio Announcers
CHARLEY STEINER
Starting rotation: A-
Bullpen: C
Offense: B+
Defense: B
Managing: A
Midseason MVP: Hideki Matsui
Biggest surprise: Hideki Matsui
Biggest disappointment: Juan Acevedo
Game of the Year: Roger Clemens' 300th win
JOHN STERLING
Starting rotation: B+
Bullpen: C
Offense: B
Defense: B
Managing: A
Midseason MVP: Alfonso Soriano
Biggest surprise: Hideki Matsui
Biggest disappointment: Juan Acevedo
Game of the Year: Roger Clemens' 300
Grade breakdown
Starting rotation: A-
Bullpen: C
Offense: B
Defense: C+
Managing: B+
Overall Grade: B
Midseason MVP: Hideki Matsui. No, he isn’t the power hitter he was made out to be, but he picks his spots superbly: hitting a grand slam on Opening Day at the Stadium and batting .522 (12-for-23) with three homers and 10 RBI in the six-game Subway Series. But as Joe Torre noted he’s going to have his slumps against pitchers he’s never seen before. However, Matsui’s greatest contributions are his stellar outfield play – in left or center with Bernie Williams out until the All-Star break – and his gracious, easy-going demeanor in the clubhouse.
Most Improved Player: Tie between Matsui and Raul Mondesi. Ever since Mondesi picked up hitting tips from Reggie Jackson and Jorge Posada in spring training he’s become a solid hitter in the middle of the lineup, currently at .265 with 14 homers and 43 RBI after a .354 April. He clearly wants to be a part of this winning organization too after being considered trade bait throughout the offseason.
Biggest disappointment: Juan Acevedo. Perhaps a trifle unfair because of his superb record as a closer in Mariano Rivera’s absence, Acevedo is no longer a Yankee because of one pitch: a belt-high fastball to Eric Karros that turned into a three-run homer, landing on the asphalt of Waveland Avenue in Roger Clemens’ second of four bids for 300 wins at Wrigley Field.
Game of the Year: Roger Clemens gets his 300. The Rocket’s Hall of Fame resume was signed, sealed and delivered on a rainy June night at the Stadium. On his fourth try at the magic number in front of a sellout crowd of 55,214 against the St. Louis Cardinals, Clemens struck out six of his first eight batters -- collecting No. 4,000 in the process -- and allowed six hits and walked two batters before being removed by Torre in the seventh inning. Homers by Matsui, Mondesi and newly acquired Ruben Sierra provided the cushion, and after closer Mariano Rivera made his eighth save of the season, Clemens had his milestones. Both of them: 300 and 4,000.