Season in Review: 2008 Yankees Report Card (Part 1)

Now that I've finished my final feature for Pinstripes Plus, and the Yankees season if officially over, I can begin blogging again. I think a great way to kick off the reopening of this blog is to put together a 2008 report card for the Yankees, by position:

Jorge Posada: He deserves an "A" for effort, but the fact that his body broke down immediately after signing a big contact is both discouraging and alarming. If he proves that he can still serve as a decent backstop, the Yankees will still get some bang for their buck. The fact that he probably played while hurt earlier in the season is a testament to how much Jorge cares about his team.
Grade: B

Jose Molina: Aside from his disgraceful .216 AVG, Molina helped the team with his veteran presance and steady glove. I think the Yankees could do better, and they may want to investigate bringing in a more durable and offensive-minded catcher this winter. Especially if Posada breaks down next season.
Grade: B-

Jason Giambi: The "Giambino" was an important part of the Yankees offense in '08, but they would be foolish to resign him. He'll definitely get a decent contract from an AL team after showing that he could still play the field and hit for power. I bet he ends up in Seattle.
Grade: B

Robinson Cano: Offensively, he was only a disappointment in the first month of the season, but his countless mistakes on defense hurt him as a player. Thankfully, Cano turned up the heat for the final week after being disciplined by Joe Giardi. I hope he will carry his current attitude into next season, because I think he'll need to become more of a leader now that he is getting older.
Grade: B

Derek Jeter: Another great season for the captain, who hit .343 in the final two months of the season. Not much more to say about Jeter.
Grade: A

Alex Rodriguez: I like Arod, I really do. I hope he can string together a few monster seasons, so we can all dub the new stadium "The House that Arod Built."Rodriguez had a decent second half, but he still struggles in the clutch. I don't see that changing in the future either. At this point, we know what we're getting: a batting average around .290-.320, 35-40 HR and 100-120 RBI. That's premium offense. Take it and be happy with it. Hopefully someone else will hit in the clutch.
Grade: A-

Bobby Abreu: Abreu put up some solid numbers this year, but that is likely due to his strong second half. He hit well in the clutch, but Abreu may not be worth $16 million anymore. The Yankees should do fine with Nady in right.
Grade: B+

Johnny Damon: Damon was one of the most important components of the offense this year. He hit very well in the clutch and his defense in left was solid. Damon showed that he could bounce back after a bad year, and that he could be a leader in the clubhouse.
Grade: A

Melky Cabrera: Remember when someone compared Cabrera to Alex Rios before the season started? Yeah, I think its safe t say that Melky is a fourth outfielder at best going forward. That is the role that suits his playing ability.
Grade: D

Brett Gardner: I think Gardner should get a chance to start next season. Based on how Girardi feels about the speedy outfielder, he probably will. Similar to his Triple-A debut in 2007, Gardner struggled at first, but after getting a second chance, he put together a good offensive showing in the final weeks of the season. I believe Gardner can be a .300 hitter at the major league level, although it may be an empty .300. He brings a lot more to the table than just a batting average though. He has a great glove, takes the right routes and brings a lot of versatility and speed to the lineup.
Grade: B

Xavier Nady: The "X-Man" hit very well after getting traded to the Yankees, and I think he will end up mannign right field next season for the bombers. He is not as toolsy as Abreu, but he is a gritty, hard nosed player who brings a solid glvoe some much needed right-handed pop to the linup. I was impressed with his play, and I think he is a great fit for the Yankees.
Grade: A-

The Others: Chad Moeller was good in a pinch and showed that he still has some gas left in the tank...the Ivan Rodriguez trade was exciting at the time, but the he'll be somewhere else in '09..Fransico Cervelli has a good glove and deserves a shot as the backup in the future...Wilson Betemit showed a real lack of durability and plate discipline this season, but he did manage to post a .260 AVG. Maybe something is there...As much as I like Cody Ransom, he was probably nothing more than lightning in a bottle...Juan Miranda might be a decent bench player in the future, but he is too stocky and slow to be an everyday first baseman...If the Yankees would just let Justin Christian play the infield again, he could be one of the more valuable bench players in the league...Hideki Matsui might be a good bet at DH next season, but I don't think he is capable of being an every day defensive player anymore.

Other Grades:
Ivan Rodriguez: C+
Chad Moeller: C+
Fransico Cervelli: C
Wilson Betemit: B-
Cody Ransom: B
Juan Miranda: B-
Justin Christian: B
Hideki Matsui: B

Check back tomorrow for part two. I'll be grading the pitching and coaching staff.