We’re going to combine June and the first half of July as we grade the end of the first semester. The Yankees had their ups and downs as spring turned to summer and then arrived at the All-Star break. The Yankees went 15-11 in June, culminating with 6 straight wins to end the month. They made it 7 straight wins as they started July on a high note, but after going 7-2, lost the last 3 games in Anaheim. Overall, they were 22-16 for the 1 1/2 months combined.
Player of the Month
Derek Jeter - The captain may be playing the best defense of his career and he was the most consistent Yankees on offense in the 38 games played, of which Jeter appeared in 34 of them. He hit .343 over that span with 3 HR, 12 RBI, 25 runs scored and 7 stolen bases in 9 attempts. He also walked 17 times and posted a .423 OBP. For the season, he’s hitting .449 against left-handers with a 1.176 OPS. Honorable mention goes to Alex Rodriguez, who had 10 HR and 33 RBI, but hit just .207 in June. His inconsistency is the only thing that kept him from garnering the POM.
Highlights
4-5, 1 BB, 4 Runs scored in 11-7 win at Braves
4-4, 2 RBI, 2 Runs in 15-0 win at Mets
4-5, 1 Run in 10-6 loss at Angels
4-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 Runs in 10-8 win vs. Blue Jays
11-game hitting streak; current 7-game hitting streak
Reached base safely in 29 of 34 games
Worst Player of the Month
Robinson Cano - started to turn things around in July, but his performance in key situations was miserable in June. He went 12 games at one point without an RBI and couldn’t buy a base hit with runners in scoring position (overall just .211 for the season). His failure with the bases loaded continued (.200 for the season) as well.
Pitcher of the Month
Mariano Rivera - The man who just earned a record 4th All-Star game save, was scored upon in just 2 of 16 appearances. He went 1-1, 2.20 with 13 saves in 13 attempts, while he allowed 9 hits, walked just 2 and struck out 17 in 16.1 innings. A.J. Burnett, who was Pitcher of the Month in April, gets honorable mention for going 5-2, 2.28 in 7 starts, with 44 K’s in 43.1 IP. He allowed just 36 hits.
Highlights
Earned 500th career RBI and 1st major league RBI in 4-2 win at Mets
Struck out all 4 batters he faced in saving 8-4 win at Braves
Recorded back-to-back saves at Twins by retiring league’s leading
hitter, Joe Mauer, to end both games
Worst Pitcher of the Month
Andy Pettitte grabs the (dis)honor with 5.93 ERA in 8 starts. He managed to win 3 games while losing 4, but allowed 51 hits and 21 walks in 44 innings pitched. Even worse, he helped tax the bullpen by barely averaging more than 5 innings a start. Brian Bruney could have easily worn this crown of shame had he not been DL’d for part of June. He posted a 7.04 ERA in 9 games, with 8 walks and 9 hits allowed in just 7.2 IP.
Biggest Win of the Month
It was a big win, but not the biggest (definitely the craziest): the Yankees beat the Mets on Luis Castillo’s E-4. The biggest win was 6/24 in Atlanta. The Yankees had dropped the opening game of the series and had lost 5 of 6 to the Braves, Marlins, and Nationals. Overall they had lost 9 of 13 including being swept (again) by the Red Sox in a 3-game series in Boston. But the victory started them on a 7-game winning streak that restored their confidence.
It was the last good start Joba Chamberlain made- he dominated in 6.1 innings, allowing 2 earned runs in picking up his 4th win. For quite a while it looked like the game would just be another loss. The first 15 Yankees went down in order to Kenshin Kawakami, who had to leave the game when Chamberlain of all people lined a pitch off the side of his face, and Kris Medlen.
Brett Gardner broke up the perfect game by drawing a lead-off walk in the 6th and then was promptly picked off… or was he? Replays showed that Gardner was clearly safe and 1st base umpire Bill Welke had blown the call. Joe Girardi blew his stack and was ejected from the game. It’s anyone’s guess if that ignited the Yankees, but things did change.
Francisco Cervelli, batting when Gardner got picked off, belted his first major league home run to tie the game at one apiece. The Yankees loaded the bases with 2 outs on singles by Jeter and Johnny Damon, and a walk to Mark Teixeira. That’s when A-Rod started to bust out again. He lined a single to center, then scored two and put the Yankees on top for good, 3-1.
The two teams battled, with the Yankees adding 2 runs for an 8-4 lead in the 8th. Rivera had struck out Kelly Johnson in the 8th, with two aboard, when it was still a 6-4 game and he K’ed Matt Diaz, Nate McLouth, and Yuniel Escobar in the 9th to nail down the save.
Worst Loss of the Month
There were a number of games that could have fallen into this category, including the bad trip to Beantown, but the back-to-back losses on the Friday and Saturday preceding the All-Star break takes the prize. The Yankees finished it off by losing a one-run game on Sunday after failing in the clutch numerous times.
July 10-11 in Anaheim, the Yankees blew 5-1 and 4-0 leads on consecutive days. Chamberlain completely fell apart in Friday night’s loss and so did the defense and bullpen. He allowed a game-tying 3-run home run to Kendry Morales before Mark Melancon and Bruney let the game get away completely in a 10-6 loss.
The next afternoon, the Yankees staked Pettitte to a 4-0 lead on home runs by A-Rod and Eric Hinske (who each hit two), but the Angels pounded Pettitte and the pen. The Yankees’ veteran lefty was charged with 6 runs in 4.1 IP, while David Robertson, Brett Tomko, and Phil Coke couldn’t get anyone out.
Most Devastating Injury
Xavier Nady was trying to work his way back to the Yankees when his elbow gave out for the last time on June 24. Nady was originally injured on April 14, but hoped to avoid surgery and be back during the summer. The Yankees could have used him to make up for Nick Swisher’s lack of consistency, but Nady had to have Tommy John surgery and was lost for the season.
Clutch Performer
A.J. Burnett - Burnett came up huge with 5 wins and bounced back after his debacle in Boston on June 9. Since then, he has allowed just 5 earned runs in 33.2 innings pitched.
Most Dramatic Moment
No question, it was Mariano Rivera’s 500th save of his illustrious career. The fact that he also walked with the bases loaded, against fellow closer Francisco Rodriguez, for his first career RBI, was the icing on the cake. A national TV audience got to witness the game on ESPN.
Declining Performer
Johnny Damon gets this hands down. His defense is become a big liability and, frankly, we’re embarrassed for him. The lowlight was a misjudged fly ball that caused him to fall on his back. His arm has gotten worse and he’s hitting just .147 in July. Don’t let the home runs fool you.
Report Card
Derek Jeter A+
Mariano Rivera A
A.J. Burnett A
Brett Gardner A
Alex Rodriguez A-
Phil Hughes A-
Francisco Cervelli B+
CC Sabathia B
Phil Coke B
Al Aceves B
Mark Teixeira C+
Robinson Cano C+
Melky Cabrera C
Nick Swisher C
Ramiro Pena C
Johnny Damon C
Joba Chamberlain C
Jorge Posada C
Hideki Matsui C
Chien-Ming Wang C
Brett Tomko C-
Andy Pettitte D
David Robertson D
Cody Ransom D
Brian Bruney F
Incomplete
Jonathan Albaladejo
Jose Molina
Mark Melancon
Eric Hinske
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