Overall: 40 - 40
Projected Finish: 81 - 81
http://jeffsoutoftheblue.blogspot.ca/2013/04/10-game-report-for-crying-out-loud.html
So we are halfway home*, and the boys in blue have an opportunity to make this a hell of a summer and take a run at the postseason. To do it, all they have to do is continue playing like they have the past 50 games.....and not the first 30 games.
Midterm grades are in and they tell an interesting story. Remember, you cannot fail out at this stage so the lowest possible grade is a D (unless your initials are "RR"). And to make it confusing, yes better players are held to a higher standard and graded harder.
* I realize they have now played 82 games, but I uh.....well I was out of commission so this post was delayed two days.
A
Cecil - I've said this many times, but I am so damn happy that Brett has rebuilt his career in the bullpen. I think they sky is the limit for him. A true fireman.
APerez - Talk about coming out of nowhere! Arms and hips flailing all over the place. He hasn't given up a run in over 15 innings. I'm not confident it will continue, but hey it is a hell of ride.
A
Jansenn - 17/18 in save opportunities. 2.03 ERA. Gibbons has not been afraid to use him in tie games, the anchor of a dominant bullpen.
A
Wagner - This is bit of a ridiculous bullpen when a guy who throws 100 mph and has an ERA under 2.00 is clinging to a roster spot.
A
Delabar - Another power bullpen arm? Clearly a team strength right now. Seems to walk the leadoff guy almost every time he comes in and then strikes out the side. Fun to watch.
A
Lind - What can I say? Hell of a turnaround from the past few years. What this means though is that he is either extremely dumb and was unable to work with the previous hitting coaches or he is incredibly lazy and he was out of shape the past few years and not taking care of himself. He just got injured again....looks like lazy wins this round.
A
Encarnacion - The Parrot Walker is having another extremely solid year. AA was very smart to lock him up. Always hoped he had this in him.
A
Davis - Did you know Rajai is hitting .321 and has 21 steals in only 131 AB's and he has only been caught twice? TWICE?? This is a spectacular season for Rajai.
A
Reyes - Obviously his injury was a huge blow. His return has, and will continue to be, a huge lift.
A -
Loup - I don't trust him as much as the other bullpen guys above him on this list....which means he is still almost completely trustworthy.
A-
Rogers - A poised young electric arm who impresses each time out? In a trade for a crappy, mischievous manager? Um yes please! Where do I sign?
B+
Bautista - Every time I even begin to doubt him, he does something crazy and lifts the team on his back like he has the past few days. Let's not forget that he is coming back from some super scary surgery. In Jose We Trust!
B+
Rasmus - For years we hoped for more and once we gave up on the chosen one, he finally slowly starts delivering. With Gose breaking my heart in Buffalo, it's Colby's job for the foreseeable future.
B
Kawasaki - The thing is, he can't really hit or field all that well. But other than that, he is having a great year.
B-
Oliver - They don't really need him anymore. I can't believe I just wrote that after the season he had last year. Still very nice to have the veteran arm around.
B-
Happ - It will be very interesting to see what kind of a role he fills once he gets healthy again.
B-
DeRosa - The thing is, he can't really hit or field all that well. But other than that, he is having a great year. Wait don't we already have that guy?
C+
Cabrera - Professional hitter, but his XB power has been non-existent. Hopefully he gets healthy and shows everyone the real Melk Man, but I'm not sure what that means.
C+
Dickey - His 2nd last game was a Maddux masterpiece.
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/20/introducing-the-maddux/
He could own this town if he turns things around. He won again today and I'm expecting a big 2nd half.
C+
Buerhle - The Bulldog has been pretty much as we expected. Which is a real rarity on this team.
C
Wang - I sense Wang Chung may not be "fun" much longer......if only we had a healthy replacement ready.
C
Iztruis - He dug himself a huge hole early on with his struggles, but his D has settled and his hitting is improving. Could be a key for the 2nd half.
C
Lawrie - They rushed him back early on and he never seemed comfortable. That and he is too amped, dumb and stubborn. Not a great combo. Hell of a weapon in the field though.
C-
Johnson - He's back and "healthy". Unfortunately he can't seem to crank it up into the mid and high 90's like he used to and he is overusing his breaking pitches. This may not end well. See: Halladay, Roy
C-
Bonifacio - So fast.....and.....well that is all we have seen thus far. For the love of everything baseball - It's not that hard to bunt Emilio.
C-
Arencibia - 9 walks and 90 strikeouts. You have to hit a lot more than 15 HR's to be valuable with that kind of K/BB ratio. Or play good defence. Let's just move on.
D
Morrow - A healthy Morrow circa 2012 would be unbelievable right now. Sadly I am not holding my breath.
D-
Blanco/Thole - So....I guess the backup catcher role has not been an area of strength this year. They can't get much worse.
F
Romero - The only good thing that ever came out of Buffalo was wings. Success can be pretty fragile sometimes. I'm still hoping for the best, but fearing the worst.
Incomplete
Santos....if he ever gets healthy this bullpen will be busting at the seems with talent. McGowan.... 6 innings??? Do they ever intend to use him?
Lincoln & Jenkins - good bullpen depth in Buffalo.
Ortiz - sad that his career may be over, but thank goodness he is no longer in the rotation.
There you have it. They have split another two games since the 80 game mark. So we are now into the 2nd half at 41-41.
As dumb dumb Brett would say. LEEEETTT'S GETTT ATTTTER!!
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