2010 New York Yankees Midseason Report 2

I am hoping most of you read the first part of the Yankees midseason report, as I went over the infielders. Today I am going to be going over the outfielders for the Yankees. Enjoy.

Left Fielder

Brett Gardner- So far this season Brett Gardner has been everything that Joe Girardi has hoped he would be. Batting 9th almost everyday for the Yankees, Gardner is batting .309 and has 25 stolen bases and also he plays gold glove defense. The best part about it, is that Gardner knows and accepts his role on the team to slap the ball and get on base, not hit homeruns, even though if you have watched Gardner’s 5 homeruns this year, they just don't clear the fence he gets a hold of them. Watch for Gardner to continue to play like this and hopefully, gain the confidence of the Yankees front office so they don't go out and get another all start to play left field.

Center Field

Curtis Granderson- Granderson honestly hasn't been anything that the Yankees had hoped for when they traded away blue chip prospect Austin Jackson, but to be fair he was hurt for a portion of the season, so we will give him the benefit of the doubt. Look for Granderson, if healthy, to have a strong second half and bring it into the playoffs.

Right Field

Nick Swisher- What can you say bad about this guy. Last season he had a decent year, but everyone loved him (especially me) because of what he brought to the team from a clubhouse perspective. So what does Swisher do. He goes out and makes the AL All-star team, he is on pace for a overall career year, and everyone still loves him. Look for Swisher to continue this great season and in a few years after his career is over run for mayor of New York.

Bench Players

The bench outfielders for the Yankees this season have been Colin Curtis, Marcus Thames and Chad Huffman. Colin Curtis has been very solid defensively for the Yankees but the stick hasn't been there. Marcus Thames should have his glove stolen from him, because he is downright terrible in the outfield, but his bat has been very solid and has silenced many critics, who wondered why Girardi put him on the team. Now Chad Huffman has been a solid overall bench player for the Yankees, but watching him in outfield makes me wonder if Thames should have his glove back (just kidding), but its pretty ugly, his bat on the other hand isn't as bad. The second half we will see Curtis be more of a defensive replacement in the late innings, Thames will DH a lot against lefties or pinch hit in the late innings, Huffman will probably be brought back up in September when the rosters expand.

2010 New York Yankees Midseason Report Part 1

I thought before you guys read my next blog I would like to talk about the losses not only to the Yankee Family and not only to baseball but to the whole sporting community.

This week has been very hard on the Yankee family with the deaths of Bob Sheppard and George "The Boss" Steinbrenner. Sheppard has been the voice of the Yankees since 1951 and as many called him the "Voice of God" though he never did a game at the new Yankee Stadium, Derek Jeter has Sheppard’s voice taped for his pre at bat call, "Now batting numba 2 "Derek Jeet-tah."" Sheppard’s passing is very sad. Growing up a Yankee fan and going to hundreds of games in my life, when Sheppard left in 2008, and you didn't hear Sheppard’s voice over the sound system you knew something was missing and knew that he was gone, he will be forever forgotten and missed.

For the last few years George Steinbrenner was sick and everyone knew that, he was absent from his box at Yankee Stadium and the only time fans heard from him was through statements. Steinbrenner, you either loved him or hated him was one of the greatest owners not only in baseball history, but in sports history and he will be missed so much. I had the honor of seeing him in person during the late 90's dynasty run. I was leaving the game with my father and we were walking towards the parking lot and there he was crossing the street with a few people with him. As he passed by my dad says "Hey George good game today huh?" and George looks at the both of us and says "Hey, yea great game, have a goodnight." Now maybe he was nice because the Yankees had just won, but that’s the lasting impression I have of "The Boss." Hopefully with the passing of "The Boss" Hal and Hank will keep the same winning tradition and as there father has said before "Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." Miss you "Boss"

Going into the All Star break in the 2010 MLB season, the New York Yankees are exactly where they expected to be, having the best record in baseball. Now 88 games into the season, the Yankees sit atop the AL East over the Rays by 2 games and they way they finished the first half by winning 8 out of their last 10, they seem ready to just run away with the division and the league. I will be going through the Yankees roster, talking about each of their respected first halves and talking about what they will do in the second half.

Part 1- Infielders

Catchers

Jorge Posada- Posada isn't having the year that he, or the fans expected, but it’s not entirely his fault. Posada has only played in 60 of the possible 88 games for the Yankees, missing most due to injuries. Even then, Posada has hit 9 home runs and 29 runs batted in and those numbers seem down for a player with Posada's background, but in this Yankee lineup Posada can be hid until his bat comes around. Look for Posada to see more time at the DH position, so they can save him for the playoffs.

Francisco Cervelli- Anyone who is not a hardcore Yankee fan, probably has no idea how much Cervelli has meant to the Yankees this season. Like I said with Posada missing numerous games, Cervelli has been the man that has stepped in and kept the veteran Yankee pitching staff in check, along with having a ridiculous batting average with runners in scoring position and that very cool fohawk. Look for Cervelli to play a good amount of games behind the plate in the second half, and if his bat stays hot with runners on, look for him to see time when it matters most.

First Baseman

Mark Teixeira- After another Mark Teixeira like April, he has settled down and is playing like the Mark Teixeira that the Yankees are paying him to be. Although his average is down at .254 he has 17 home runs and 60 RBIs. Teixeria also whether he is hitting or not, is playing great first base as usual. Look for Teixeria to just flat out rake the ball in the second half, finishing the season with his normal Mark Teixeria statistics.

Second Baseman

Robinson Cano- This could possibly be the year that Robinson Cano finally proves all the scouts right. Now we have known for a while the Cano could hit, but he never seemed able to put it all together in a full season, until now. Cano seemed to slow down at the end of the first half, but hopefully these days off will help him get back on track. Look for Cano to come back from the break on fire and this will be the final leg for his first of a few batting titles.

Shortstop

Derek Jeter- Currently the numbers don’t speak for what Jeter brings to the table night in and night out. But Jeter is the captain and the lead off hitter on this team and I don't care if he is batting .250 I want Jeter to get that extra at bat late in the game. Look for Jeter is get his batting average up somewhere near the .280 area and maybe if he gets hot he could bring it up to .290 and maybe even .300. But that won't matter because to Jeter the only statistics that matter to Jeter are the ones in October and Jeter will have plenty at bats in October.

Third Baseman

Alex Rodriguez- For any other third baseman in baseball who had Rodriguez's stats right now they would be very happy with themselves, but for us Yankee fans, we expect more from Rodriguez. Is that fair to A-Rod? No but its ok because were Yankee fans, but on a serious note Rodriguez is on his way to another 3o home run and 100RBI season. Rodriguez until July has yet to "carry" the Yankees for a time period like he has done in the past, so I think that by looking at the way A-Rod finished the first half it looks like July will be that month.

Bench Players

Ramiro Pena and Kevin Russo have filled in nicely when called upon. Pena playing second, third, shortstop and even the outfield when called upon, he is a very solid fielder and sometimes has luck with the stick. Russo equal to Pena has been just as solid in the field and has come up with some big hits and made a big impression on Brian Cashman who decided to waive Randy Winn instead of sending Russo back down to the minors. Look for both to stay solid and see more time down the stretch if the Yankees clinch a playoff spot early.

Is Ilya Kovalchuk really worth 10 million dollars per season for the Islanders?

Any of you who haven't been paying all of your attention to the NBA free agent market might have heard that the New York Islanders have reportable offered Ilya Kovalchuk a ridiculous 10 year 100 million dollar contract to come play in Uniondale. Even though we don't know whether or not Kovalchuk will sign with the Islanders or the New Jersey Devils, as a die heart Islanders fan I began to wonder whether or not I wanted him on the Islanders.

Many of you are probably thinking, "are you kidding me, who wouldn't want Ilya Kovalchuk on their team." And there right Kovalchuk was drafted 1st overall in 2001 and ever since his second season in the NHL he has amassed 40 or more goals and has been one of the premiere goal scorers in the NHL since he arrived. Kovalchuk has also won the Rocket Richard award once and has amassed over 50 goals twice on his career. Who wouldn't want him?

As much as it looks pretty on paper to see Ilya Kovalchuk lining up next to John Tavares, I don't believe that it will help the Islanders in the long run. Garth Snow the Islanders General Manager has been saying the Islanders are rebuilding and they are set to sticking with that, so how would signing Kovalchuk be rebuilding? It wouldn't be and as much as he would put people in the seats in the lonely Coliseum, and yes the Islanders do have the money to spend. But what about when John Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey's contracts expire, these are only 3 of the many young players the Islanders are building around, and having a 10 million dollar hit on the salary cap each year for the next 10 years doesn't seem smart. How many dominant years does Kovalchuk really have left? Also Kovalchuk has only been to the playoffs once in his career, not saying that it is his entire fault but it could speak about what kind of player he is.

If Kovalchuk ends up signing with the Islanders, I would be happy, because he gives the Islanders the goal scorer that they have been looking for, but at the same time, I say stick to the plan Garth. It worked for the Penguins and the Blackhawks, why not us too?