All-Star Break Report Cards: Position Players

Heading in to Spring Training, the conception among baseball's top analysts was that the New York Yankees were finally going to slip through the cracks, and stare up to their rivals while sitting in the basement of the American League East. To those analysts, the flaws of the Yankees were more distinct than their strengths, and despite the incessant amount of cash in the wallet, New York's odds of contendership appeared bleak. The expectations were fair due to the Yankees' late departures this past winter, but only a handful predicted New York to recuperate at a record pace. As the calendar turned to March, the world's eyes were set on Alex Rodriguez, while wondering how a near 40 year-old would be able to regularly contribute to a pedestrian lineup after serving a year-long suspension for steroid use. As Derek Jeter hanged up his cleats last October, New York welcomed in youngster Didi Gregorious as the successor at shortstop. Questions concerning the Yankees'  overall talent and health emerged, but inside the clubhouse, New York had other plans, and turned their backs to the critics' speculations. With 88 games already in the books, the Yankees find themselves among the American League's best, with an overall record of 48-40. After two decades of dominant competition in the American League East division, mediocrity finally synced in this season, and the road to the postseason has become easier with the ample amount of holes in the five division rosters. Because of the lackluster performances in the East, the Yankees hold a comfortable position thus far, and if New York is capable of holding ground, a ticket to the postseason is by no means a shot in the dark.

Here is the first half report card of the Yankees' starting lineup.

INFIELDERS

C  Brian McCann: (.259 BA, 14 HR, 55 RBI)
It appears that McCann has finally grown comfortable in the New York environment, as his offensive numbers this season have increased drastically compared to last year's. There is always a great amount of weight on a catcher's shoulders, but after taking the time to learn a new pitching rotation and bullpen, McCann has molded into one of the veteran leaders on the field, and presumably, one of the vocal leaders in the clubhouse. Although McCann has shown progress, his offensive splits are slightly disconcerting. In his 31 games at home, McCann has collectively hit .313 with 10 home runs and 31 RBI. Over half of his production takes place in the Bronx, while his road stats are anemic, posting a .217 batting average with only four homers. The good news is that McCann is a .360 hitter with runners in scoring position, but the bad news is that he's hitting .223 against the division.  
B

1B  Mark Teixeira: (.240 BA, 22 HR, 62 RBI)
Teixeira has had a renaissance season, as he leads the team with 62 RBI, tied for the total amount he tallied all of last season. Fortunately, there have been no setbacks to his surgically repaired wrist, and with his gluten-free diet in full affect, Teixeira's production as a power switch hitter has returned, as he has 17 home runs from the left side of the plate, while also boosting his on-base percentage to .335 with 16 extra-base hits. His numbers on the defensive side have also been exceptional, and alongside McCann, Tex plays an integral part in the infield leadership. He's found himself in 82 of the 88 games this season, and his overall health has surprised most critics, making Teixeira a candidate for Silver Slugger at first base. 
B+

2B  Stephen Drew: (.182 BA, 12 HR, 25 RBI) 
It's no shock that Stephen Drew deserves the lowest passing grade, considering that his batting average is the second-lowest in all of baseball with a minimum of 200 at-bats (.182). Drew's offensive numbers are simple yet surprising, as he has posted 12 home runs so far, but has struck out 45 times. He has transformed into a 'hit or miss' player, and the only perk to his game is his effort in the infield. With only six errors in two seasons, it is difficult to release a defender with that success rate, but as if it's not evident already, his bat simply stinks, and his production is stagnant. As if General Manager Brian Cashman heeded the fans' requests, Cashman and the coaching staff decided to promote highly touted prospect Rob Refsnyder, in hopes that his production at the plate and in the field will outmatch Drew's, and that Cashman can avoid making a trade at the deadline for second base production. Refsnyder already made a surge in his Major League debut at Fenway Park this past weekend, so assume that Drew is on thin ice for the remainder of the season. He is still worth keeping on the bench, considering that he is under a one-year contract, but unless a potential suitor is in need of an infielder, Drew's playing time will definitely be reduced to a minimum.  
C-

SS  Didi Gregorious: (.238 BA, 4 HR, 19 RBI)
In all fairness, Gregorious has taken on the hardest position in baseball: filling the shoes of Derek Jeter in New York. The shortstop position is arguably the most important slot on the field, and for the last 20 seasons, the Yankees were blessed with the homegrown talent of Jeter. Of course, Jeter's retirement was inevitable, and this meant that the front office was in dire need of a replacement candidate who could fill the void. Ex-Diamondback Gregorious became that successor, and in the first two years of his young career, he has shown more promise with the glove than with the bat. In early April, it was evident that nerves kicked in to Gregorious' system, but gradually, he has grown more comfortable with the role. There are no concerns with his maturity level or work ethic, and with little talent available in the free agent market this winter, expect Gregorious to last in New York for a few more seasons.  C+

3B  Chase Headley: (.255 BA, 8 HR, 30 RBI) 
After impressing the front office last season in a brief two months with the club, Headley forced the Yankees' hand last winter with a hefty four-year contract worth $52 million. At the time of the trade and signing last year, New York was without an every day third baseman, which proved that sometimes overspending for a necessity is the only viable option. So far, Headley's production has been disappointing, as he is currently hitting .255 with 8 homers and 30 RBI. Aside from his pedestrian offense, Headley was purposely signed for his Gold Glove defense, an upgrade in the minds of the Yanks' front office. Unfortunately, Headley has recorded the worst defensive season in his nine year career, committing 16 errors in 83 games. The numbers are in black and white: the Yankees overspent on an average ballplayer.  
C

OUTFIELDERS

LF  Brett Gardner: (.302, 10 HR, 42 RBI)
Without question, Gardner has been the Yankees' most valuable player this season. After showing a late power surge with his bat last year, Gardner is on pace to eclipse his home run total from 2014 (17), as he already owns 10 homers thus far, along with 42 RBI as the leadoff man. Once teammate Jacoby Ellsbury went down with a knee injury back in May, Gardner took on the centerfield duties, while also flourishing in the leadoff slot, a position that Gardner had not previously been fond of. Both Gardner and Headley were signed to equivalent contracts, and so far this year, it looks as if the Yankees made a wise decision on bringing Gardner back. Power, speed, and defense has made Gardner one of baseball's top 5-tool players, demonstrating why he has rightfully found himself in his first All-Star Game this season. 
A

CF  Jacoby Ellsbury: (.318 BA, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
Due to Ellsbury's knee injury that lasted nearly two months, it's a challenge to truly evaluate his overall performance in the first half of the season. However, from what he has accomplished when healthy, both Ellsbury and Gardner play part to baseball's most dangerous leadoff combo. Prior to his injury, Ellsbury was hitting .324 with 20 walks that also added to his .412 on-base percentage. Ellsbury is New York's most valuable asset, and if he stays healthy for the remainder of the season, his stellar combination of power and speed will play a large factor in the postseason fate of the ballclub. Despite his natural talent, Ellsbury historically struggles to stay healthy, and only time will tell if his production will remain a constant. 
A-

RF  Carlos Beltran: (.260 BA, 7 HR, 30 RBI)
For a man that couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag in April, Beltran has shown steady progress in the latter months. Prior to his most recent oblique injury, Beltran was finding success at the plate, posting a .269 average against right-handed arms. Obviously, the Beltran signing was a luxury, not a necessity in 2013, but with the final year of the contract coming up in 2016, this three year deal feels like an eternity to the front office, as they have yet to see the production that Beltran gave St. Louis in 2013 as a National League All-Star (.296, 24, 84). His defense of late has been lethargic, and the only sensible solution is to place him as the designated hitter (but someone else on the roster has proven worthy of that role). Beltran is due $15 million next season, which is almost too much money to eat, even for the Yankees.
C-

DH  Alex Rodriguez: (.278 BA, 18 HR. 51 RBI)
Let's stop beating a dead horse. A-Rod has been killing it, beyond everyone's wildest imagination. Rodriguez has thrived off of the media's attention, and has proven to baseball's head officials that he has not only changed his professional persona, but also his role to the chemistry of the Yankees' clubhouse. A-Rod's comradery and mentoring have been positive experiences for the younger players, and along with Brett Gardner, Rodriguez shares the unspoken role of captain in the locker room. Now, back to his numbers- they're off the charts impressive. With a batting average that was as high as .292 this year, along with almost 20 long balls, Rodriguez is currently the undisputed Comeback Player of the Year in 2015.  If these were his predicted season numbers, the entire planet would have laughed. He's proving the doubters wrong, one day at a time. 
A-


Photo By: Matthew Healey/NY Daily News