First-Half Report Card: Starters

CC Sabathia, A+

Named an All-Star for the second consecutive year, Sabathia shut out the Rays in the last game before the break for his league leading 13th win against just 4 losses. As good as Sabathia has performed in his first two seasons in New York, this may turn out to be his best.

Bartolo Colon, A+

When evaluating Colon, one has to consider what was expected of him entering the season. His signing was met with mockery and ridicule, perhaps justifiably, as the hurler had not been healthy since his Cy-Young award winning 2005 season. Now, beneficiary of a revolutionary stem-cell surgery, Colon is pitching better then at any other time in his career and is a legitimate top-of-the-rotation pitcher. Paired with Sabathia, the Yankees have a 1-2 punch of ample proportions (literally).

A. J. Burnett, C+

The A. J. Burnett of the first half is the best version one could hope for. I think everyone has stopped day-dreaming of what could be if he were to ever harness his stuff. He gets points for curtailing innings of spontaneous self-combustion.

Freddy Garcia, A+

It would be impossible to ask anything more of Freddy Garcia. The man seldom touches 90 miles-per-hour on the radar gun yet has pitched to a 3.13 ERA in the first half. 11 of his 15 starts have been quality (6 innings pitched, 3 or fewer earned runs allowed).

Ivan Nova, B

Ivan Nova was rewarded for a quality first-half performance with a demotion to AAA. Admittedly, the Yankees had little alternative with the return of PHil Hughes. They could have put Nova in the bullpen but decided they'd rather have him continue starting in the minors.

Phil Hughes, F

Let's face it, Hughes has been an underachiever since his arrival on the scene in 2007. This season has been no different. Possibly falling victim to the effects of last season's inning-spike, Hughes has been derailed by the infamous "dead arm". He has totaled only 15 innings in his four starts, allowing 18 earned runs. After a prolonged stay on the DL and extensive rehabilitation, Hughes returned before the All-Star break and showed off a slightly better fast ball.

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Jeter Shouldn't Have Accepted 3000th Hit Ball

When the thrill of vicarious triumph wears off, I'm often given to ponder the will-full mania we fans of sport engage. Why do we invest emotions on the trivial performances of millionaires who often display less-then-amiable judgement?

I was recently forced to consider this conundrum in more focus when I learned that Christian Lopez, the fan who caught Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit, a home run, gladly returned the ball only to be compensated with merchandise and suite tickets for the season's remaining Yankees home games.

Mr. Lopez, a twenty-three year old recent collage graduate has over 100,000 dollars in student debt and could easily have sold the ball, which has been valued at a quarter of a million dollars. He indubitably did the honorable in unassumingly presenting Jeter with the ball -- but I can't help wonder why Jeter could not reciprocate the gesture by offering to alleviate Mr. Lopez's debt or, even better, transcending superficiality by allowing Mr. Lopez to keep the ball.

Jeter could have followed the lead of another Yankee Legend. In 1961, Sal Durante caught Roger Maris's 61st home run and offered to return the ball. Maris refused it. Rather, he insisted that Mr. Durante keep the ball and sell it for its worth.

Athletes owe their livelihood to the fans that watch and cheer for them. Whenever a player fresh off winning the World Series is asked how they feel, they invariably cite their happiness for the fans. It was the fans, they say, who guided them through the grind of the long season and they couldn't thank them enough. Derek Jeter had an opportunity to embody this sentiment, but he didn't.

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Sabathia, Yankees Shut out Rays 1-0

 

CC Sabathia, who before the game was named to the All-Star game after being snubbed in the initial selection process, substantiated the honor by recording a 1-0 complete game shutout against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon.

Continuing a recent trend of excellence, the burley left-hander struck out 9 while surrendering only 4 hits and 1 walk. In his last ten starts, Sabathia is 9-1 with a 2.42 ERA.Rays starter James Shields, also an All-Star, matched Sabathia for much of the game but suffered the loss due to an errant throw on a pick-off attempt of Robinson Cano in the seventh inning. Cano lead off the inning with a single and and advanced to third when Rays center fielder B. J. Upton threw a ball into the seats trying to chase back the runner after a fly-out.

Shields's throw seemed to catch both Cano and third baseman Sean Rodriguez off guard and sailed down the left field line allowing the only run of the game to score.

 (Boxscore)

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Jeter Collects 3,000th hit (Oh, and Yankees Win 5-4)

The life of Derek Jeter has always savored of fable and legend: young baseball fan with a passion for the New York Yankees evolves into a star high school short stop and is eventually drafted by said team. Upon reaching the majors, player immediately helps restore prestige of long-ailing franchise, winning the World Series. His popularity sours. Woman love him, men wish they were him. On the field he displays a proclivity for the dramatic, off the field his temperament is impeccable -- never adjoining himself to scandal.

Is there room for this legend to grow?

Apparently so.

In Saturday's game vs. the Tampa Rays, Derek Jeter collected his 3,000th career hit with a home run off lefty David Price. Jeter became the 28th player to reach the milestone and only the second to do so with a home run.

The blast tied the game (yes, there was a game to be won) at one, in what would turn out to be a sea-saw affair. In the end however, Jeter assured that he would be the singular subject of the afternoon's contest. With the game tied at four in the bottom of the eighth, he singled in the winning run to complete a 5 for 5 day.

Mariano Rivera recorded a perfect ninth for his 22nd save.

Yankee's starter A. J. Burnett displayed impressive stuff striking out 9 in 5.2 innings but struggled early, allowing all of his first four base runners to score.

BOXSCORE

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