Yankees Grades by Position

My immense apologizes for disappearing but this blog shall now be updated regularly!

With the playoffs coming I figured i'll grade each of the Yankee starting positions, and do a little outlook on what they must accomplish come playoff time.

SP: B+. For the most part the SP'ers have been fantastic this season for the Pinstripes, but there are to many question marks for a team who should be favored to win it all. We all know of CC's terrible playoff numbers, and the lack of experience for Burnett. Pettitte just may be the key to the Yankee success come postseason.

RP: A++. Have performed beyond expectations but are young. One question: Can they get the big outs when necessary in October (if we get there).

CL: Infinite. Mariano Rivera....expecting more? Nope thats all.

C: Jorge/Molina/Cervelli- B+/B+/B. Catching tandem has been very valuable. Molina and Jorge recieve the same grade because Molina makes up for his lack of bat where Jorge lacks in the field. Cervelli quietly got the job done while both where injured he was a very valueable asset. Don't Expect to see much of Molina come playoff time though.

1B: Mark Teixeira- A+. Possibly MVP of the team if there was not a guy named Derek Jeter on the team. Mark has done it all hit, field, lead, and excite all he is around. If he does not make you excited for the next 10 years nothing will. If his short stint in the playoff last season showed anything he is simply CLUTCH.

2B: Robinson Cano- A. If you actually study the numbers many are better than Jeters, but he isn't nearly the leader. Still very valueable and a possible Gold Glove/Silver Slugger winner. Seems like he understands what must be done, a very important way to be in the playoffs.

3B: Alex Rodriguez/Cody Ransom- B/F. A-Rod has been very important to Tex's success but his struggles at the plate at times have been detrimental to the team, and A-Rods failures in the postseason since the Yanks '04 collapse is known by all. Will this be the turn around? As for Ransom's stint with the Yanks, he is baseballs version of the Power Play.

SS: Derek Jeter- A+++. Mr. November, Mr. Clutch, MVP Canidate, and by the official end of the season Yankees leader in hits. Must i say more?

LF: Johnny Damon- A. Has possibly given himself another year on the Yankees with his wonderful regular season performance. If he continues in the playoffs the projected fact he may have to take a paycut will be forgotten.

CF: Melky Cabrera/Brett Gardner- B+. Small ball guys. Don't let many balls fall in the outfield, run the bases well, and are young and energetic. Come playoffs Melky in the 9th spot is a God-send and Brett to pinch-run off the bench is Dave Roberts on Boston in '04.

RF: Nick Swisher/Eric Hinske- B. Add pop to the lineup, major energy guys, will keep clubhouse up even when losing, and make this GAME fun. Both may be terrible in the field, but if they are the weak spot in a lineup ill take it anyday.

DH: Hideki Matsui- B. If he could play more than just DH i wouldve given him a B+ but the fact he fills up the DH spot hurts his rating. Unfortunately will probably be odd man out in the Yankees plans for 2010, and lets hope his farewell is him showing his clutch abilities in October.

Extended Bench: Ramiro Pena/Jerry Hairston- A. For a bench very impressive showings, and although bench players have smaller roles come playoff time look for the Yankee bench to be a factor in most games.

Coaching: A+. Not just girardi but Tony Pena and all the other Yankee coaches have handled this team well allowing them to have fun. A major intangible come playoff time. Girardi deserves AL MOY.

That's my 2009 Yankee playoff Ratings and outlook of what I hope will be the 2009 World Series Winning Yankees when the playoffs are said and done.