MID-TERM REPORT

TEAM: They have played like a .500 club and I don't expect them to be much better than that the rest of the way. There is no evidence that things will change. Grade C


Mariano Rivera (4-3, 23 SV, 1.06) - He's Mo. 'nuff said.: Grade: A+

Joba Chamberlain (2-3, 2.62, 76 K in 65.1 IP) - I still think he should be in the pen and the successor to Rivera, but he's a gamer and doing great. Grade: A

Mike Mussina (11-6, 3.61) - Moose is an example of why I'm not a GM. I would have never brought him back for this season.: Grade A

Edwar Ramirez (2-1, 2.73, 36 K in 33 IP) -Best is yet to come from Ed. Grade: B+

Jose Veras (2-1, 2.87) - Cashman gets a lot of heat for his pitching pick ups and most of it is deserved. This one deserves a tip of our cap. Grade: B+

Johnny Damon (.319, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 13 SB): As good as JD ha been, I'm tied of hearing about all of his aches and pains every day. Grade: B

Hideki Matsui (.323, 7 HR, 34 RBI) - It's very disappointing to see Mats fall off like he has. Grade: C

Jason Giambi (.253, 19 HR, 55 RBI, .386 OBP) - He really surprized me with the turn around since the mustache, however I did not forget his pre-stache stats. Grade: C

Kyle Farnsworth (1-2, 3.51 ERA) - Had some good games of late, but he still stinks and I want him out of here. You want him coming in for game 7? Grade: D

Andy Pettitte (10-7, 4.03) - Basically what we expected. Dependable pitching with a few clunkers. Grade: B

Jose Molina (.226, 0 HR, 10 RBI) - Another example of why I'm not a GM. I was against picking him up last year and against keeping him this year. Where would the Yanks be without Jose? Grade: B+

Sidney Ponson (1-0, 4.24 ERA) - So far, so good. Grade: TBD

Dan Giese (1-3, 2.70) -Seviceable pitcher, not too shabby. Grade: B-

Chien-Ming Wang (8-2, 4.07 ERA) - Losing Chien was a big blow. Grade: B-

Alex Rodriguez (.312, 19 HR, 53 RBI, 13 SB) - I really thought we'd see a new "A" since he hired a PR firm and came crawling back to the Stein Boys. This Madonna crap, the divorce, not being in the HR derby and slipping out of the AS game early proves he is the same "A"and the distractions are showing at the plate. Grade: C

Chad Moeller (.242, 1 HR, 8 RBI) - Serviceable catcher, good job as the back-up to the back-up. Grade: C

Darrell Rasner (5-7, 4.97) - He was good then had a few clunkers then got no support from the bats. Grade: C

Derek Jeter (.284, 5 HR, 42 RBI) - Having an off year, hope he can turn it around. Grade: C+

Bobby Abreu (.274, 10 HR, 59 RBI, 12 SB) - I like Bobby and he's done what was expected. I hope they bring him back next year. Grade: B

Jorge Posada (.272, 3 HR, 22 RBI) - The whining has to stop. He can't throw and should have had the surgery. Now he'll have to make it thru this season then have the surgery and hope he's ready for the spring Grade: D+

Wilson Betemit (.243, 4 HR, 14 RBI) - Cash's boy! He wanted this guy for a few years. Don't know why? Grade: D

Robinson Cano (.246, 6 HR, 38 RBI) -Will the real Robinson Cano please report to the dugout. Grade: D+

Melky Cabrera (.241, 8 HR, 34 RBI) - Trade bait. Grade: D

Ross Ohlendorf (1-1, 6.53) - I had high expectations for Ohly, but he stinks. Grade: D

Latroy Hawkins (1-1, 5.79) - Another of my predictions gone bad. I predicted he'd be DFA by June, which he should have been. Grade: F

Billy Traber (0-0, 6.00 ERA) - Seen enough of this scrub, send him away. Grade: F

Phil Hughes (0-4, 9.00) - How long was he hurt before he said something? Ribs just don't break. Has he been hanging out with Pavano? Grade: F

Ian Kennedy (0-3, 7.41) - Another prediction gone bad. I was more excited about Ian than Phil. WRONG. Ian has done nothing to impress anyone. Grade: F

Brett Gardner (.167, 6 RBI, 6 SB) - Another over-hyped minor leaguer. Grade: TBD

Justin Christian (.222, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 SB) - Go away. Grade: TBD

David Robertson (0-0, 2.25 ERA) - Seems ok so far. Grade: TBD

Brain Bruney (1-0, 1.59) - Seemed like he was going to ave a good season, then broke his foot. See you in September. Grade: TBD

Joe Girardi - So far I am not impressed with his managing and his excuses. Grade: C

(Thanks to Greg Cohen at Sliding Into Home for the layout that he borrowed from the Daily News' Mark Feinsand.)