Half-Time Team Report: Please rate your team at the All-Star Break

[Mattingly]

The first post-All-Star Break games are about to begin for a few teams. All fans I know of are enthusiastically awaiting what their team can do in the second half, be it getting or staying above .500, or getting to or staying in playoff contention.

From what you have seen so far, using a grading system (either "A+" to "F" or numbers from 1-10), please share with us what you feel your team has done so far. How is the rotation? The bullpen? The lineup? The defense? Baserunning? Getting that big 2-out hit with runners in scoring position? In short, how good is your team doing, such as at winning the games you feel that are quite winnable?

Please also rate how highly you think of the manager, coaching staff and its front office, including the GM.

Please discuss as much about what you think your team has done so far, as well as what you think should be done in the 2nd half. Do you see any steady patterns in how your team wins or loses that need to be encouraged or discouraged? If so, please discuss that here.

Many thanks.

[STLCards2]

Relative to league: B+

Relative to expectations/injuries/talent level: A+

[Seattle1]

With MacLaren in charge: F

With Riggleman in charge: C-

[Tacosaregood/metsguy234]

Rotation- B+
Bullpen- B-
Lineup- B
Bench- C+ (except for Easley)


Under Randolph- C-
Under Manuel- A-


Overall-B

[blacksilverfan12]

Rotation- B
Bullpen- B
Lineup- F
Bench- C-

Overall-C

[NYMets523]

Rotation: B-
Bullpen: B
Lineup: C+
Bench: C-

Overall: B

[RuthMayBond]

Rotation: B-
Bullpen: B
Lineup: C+
Bench: C-

Overall: BIf B is the highest grade you give, and the other three are lower, how can the overall be B?
Cleveland Idiots:
Rotation: B
Bullpen: F+
Lineup: F+
Clutch Hitting: D
Overall: D

[NYMets523]

If B is the highest grade you give, and the other three are lower, how can the overall be B?
For me it's not an average.

[STLCards2]

Sorry, I didn't read the opening post. I'll break it down further:

Starting Staff: B+

Bullpen C-

Defense: A -

Lineup: B-

Becnh: A

Overall: B+

[DownUnderDodger]

Awful, pathetic, offensively inept.
D-
Haven't seen any games to be able to break it down however the results and stats tell the story.

[redlegsfan21]

Awful, pathetic, offensively inept.
D-
Haven't seen any games to be able to break it down however the results and stats tell the story.

At least you're only one game out of first.

[KCGHOST]

I thought for the Royals to have a chance at finishing .500 they needed for Gordon and Butler to show real development as hitters, Hochevar to show signs he was worth a #1 overall draft selection, Meche to be as good as last year, Bannister to only modestly regress, and for Teahen to hit like he did when he returned to the majors in 2006. Not a one of those things has happened and we are still on pace to win 72 games. Don't ask me how.

Starters: C-
Relievers: B+
Lineup: D
Defense: D+
Overall: C

[dbacksfan95]

Rotation: A
Bullpen: B-
Lineup: B-
Bench: C+

Overall: B-

[Solair Wright]

The only thing I'm not satisfied with my hometown team is the paper-walled bullpen. If they axed Marty Mason (the Cardinals' bullpen coach), the team would not have as many blown saves. It's as if he's trying to do this on purpose.

Anyway, here's my rating on another team, the San Diego Padres:

Offense: F - I don't know why I bothered, but I just picked the Padres just for fun.
Rotation?: C- The addition of Maddux would've brought a better team, but the batting is outweighing the team.
Lineup: C- Some bright spots, as in Adrian Gonzalez, but he's been the one-man show.
Bench: D - What bench?

Overall: D+ (not an average)

Now, for another team that I wanted to grade personally. The Washington Nationals:

Rotation: D+ - Other than Lannan, that's about it.
Bullpen: C - Not much to talk about here.
Offense: F- That's right, an F minus. They trail the league in runs scored with around 300 runs scored.
Lineup: D - What lineup? Everyone's been hurt, and now Elijah "You Dead Dawg" Dukes will be out for 6-8 weeks.
Bench: I'll get back to this.

Overall: C-. With everyone hurt, I'm being a bit fair with the overall grade. It's not Acta's fault, it's the team has been bit severely by the injury bug this season.

[Big_Mac]

Rotation: A-
Bullpen: B
Lineup: F
Bench: D
Defense: B

Under Gibbons: D-
Under Gaston: C+

Overall: D-

[RuthMayBond]

Now, for another team that I wanted to grade personally. The Washington Nationals:

Rotation: D+ - Other than Lannan, that's about it.
Bullpen: C - Not much to talk about here.
Offense: F- That's right, an F minus. They trail the league in runs scored with around 300 runs scored.
Lineup: D - What lineup? Everyone's been hurt, and now Elijah "You Dead Dawg" Dukes will be out for 6-8 weeks.
Bench: I'll get back to this.

Overall: C-I wish all my teachers were like you

[Mild Sauce]

Cubs:

Relative to the division: B+

Where they should be: C

This team, although they're fighting for the best spot in the league, should be head and shoulders above the rest of the compeition in the NL. Yeah, the Cards have been lucky and the Drunks have been coming on, but that's not an excuse, it should be motivation. They should be what they are at home on the road as well, and it's embarassing for a team that seems so flawless to have such a huge hole.

[TonyK]

Red Sox:

Players: A
Manager: A
Front Office: A+

This front office group will go down as the best the Sox have ever had. They keep making wise decisions year after year.

Losing Ortiz, Beckett, Dice-K, and Lowell for portions of the season have not affected the team very much.

[BlueBlood]

Starting Rotation: B+ (Great team ERA, rattled with a bit of inconsitency particularly from Penny)

Bullpen: A- (One of the top groups of relievers in baseball. The minus stems from Saito's injury)

Offense: D (Probably a D+ discounting injuries. Aging veterans with expensive contracts is the biggest part of the problem. Kent, Garciaparra and Jones all have an OPS+ below 100. We have more than enough guys floating around the minors that could do the same (or better) for minimum wage.)

Defense: B (It's at least this grade, hence the fine ERA performances all around. Martin's arguably the best defensive catcher around and people like Kent can still do admirable given their age.)

Overall, a team that could dominate in the playoffs given their outstanding pitching/defensive combo. The field is weak enough for us to easily capture the division and the National League doesn't have a team scary enough to stop us. We can beat the Cubs.

[r@cosun]

Rotation: D
Bullpen: D
Offense: C-
Defense: D
Overall: D

Boasting the league's third-highest payroll, most "experts" thought my Tigers were on a possible path to glory. Well, that ain't what's goin' down. Losing Curtis Granderson to start off the year was more devastating than expected, as the 0-7 start indicated.

Justin Verlander decided to extend spring training for an extra month-and-a-half, although he is back to his old (young) self nowadays. Jeremy Bonderman was mainly ineffective until he found a blood clot that required surgury to remove a rib and ended his season. Dontrelle Willis is just a look-a-like of the guy we traded for, then signed to a three-year deal. Kenny Rogers also is up-and-down, of course he's getting up there in age too. He's doing about as well as we could ask from an elder statesman such as himself. Nasty Nate Robertson is either locked-in, or should've been locked out of the stadium. Thank goodness for Armando Gallaraga, who nobody saw coming when we traded him away from the Rangers. He's cooled off plenty of late, but still reminds me of a young Rogers, who can paint the corners and keep hitters off balance. He looks like a keeper, as long as he can progress a bit more. This group has potential, but inconsistent run support (who woulda thunk it from this lineup?) has also hurt.

The bullpen was the weak link coming into the year, but was expected to be handed five and six-run leads almost every time. Not the case. Todd Jones is his normal shaky self. He loves to at least bring the tying run to the plate, just to test those pace-makers out there. Injuries to Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney have set this group back too, although Zumaya seems to be getting closer to his former self (and closer to taking Jones' closer role). Manager Leyland mentioned the possibility of converting Zumaya into a starter for next season (ala Joba Chamberlain), but unless the team inks Frankie Rodriguez in the offseason, it's probably not a wise decision. Rookie Freddy Dolsi has been a pleasant surprise, as has Aquilino Lopez, but the team is being let down by guys like Jason Grilli (since traded), Zach Miner, and a host of other no-names who never will-be.

How do I speak of an offense when there isn't much of one to talk about? Pre-season, this was a new version of NY's Murderer's Row, a modern-day juggernaut for opposing pitching staffs and managers alike to fear. Then Granderson broke a finger and all has been hell since. A 2-10 start had Jim Leyland throwing clubhouse tantrums and fans booing each and every player at the park and in the media. A few of the guys have since picked up some slack (Maggs, Polanco, Thames, Cabrera), but we still have too many underachievers in the daily lineup. Guys like Sheffield, Renteria, Granderson, and Pudge Rodriguez have yet to do anything remotely consistent every day. Granderson and Pudge have gone on a couple hot streaks apiece, but nothing sustained. Miguel Cabrera has had to deal with a new league, a new position, and a nagging leg injury all season, and is now hobbling around with a bum hip. The BA isn't where it should be, but the power and clutchness is evident every now and then. When this kid gets healthy, people will see why nearly every team in the league wanted him when he was on the block last winter.

Defense is key to every good team, especially when your rotation and 'pen have as many holes as the Tigers do. Sadly, we still make many boneheaded plays and ill-timed errors that a few hot bats can't make up for. Cabrera was making plenty of errors at 3B, and has kept up the pace while learning how to play 1B. Guillen has too many lazy throws, and playing so many rookies each day (OF Matt Joyce, INF Michael Holliman, OF Clete Thomas) also has it's drawbacks on a defense. The pitchers also still can't seem to make the simple plays, with exception for Kenny Rogers. The pitchers practically threw away the '06 World Series with each bad throw, and it seems they still haven't learned how to properly play the position defensively. Granderson has been great in CF, as usual, but Polanco and Renteria seem to be aging quickly, and Pudge isn't his former MVP self (obviously).

Overall this team still has hope for the second half, but the young bullpen needs to tighten it up, pitch a bit smarter, and for God's sake throw strikes. This offense may never live up to the pre-season hype (most teams usually don't), but they're still talented enough to pound teams on a regular basis. Perhaps not having as many lineup shuffles could spark them. As with any winning team, pitching and defense are key. I still have faith and hope for this squad, but they need some second-half soul-searching in order to overcome the obstacles they have thrown ahead of themselves.