Friday begins the second half of the 2015 MLB season. First, though, we review what the New York Yankees and Mets have shown us.
By Robby Sabo
It’s a record that not only symbolizes shock, as most forecasted a much bleaker outlook, but hope as well. It’s been many hot and sticky summers since both the New York Yankees and Mets have been winning teams during the same campaign. This is the reason giddiness is the emotion of the day.
In fact, city folks walking the streets haven’t been able to enjoy both the Yankees and the Mets over .500 together since 2008. Strangely enough, their identical 89-73 records seven-seasons ago still weren’t good enough to warrant postseason appearances.
2008 was the last time anybody could chatter the words “how bout those Mets” to the nearest hot dog guy or doorman.
Sure, 2006 was the more legitimate last season of success for the team from Flushing, but at least 2008 brought an assemblance of a pennant race.
2015 feels different. The Mets got the party started early with their obscene 13-3 record. They soon fizzled shortly after but shocked us yet again by finishing the first-half strong (winning seven of their last 10).
The Yankees have defied the odds with their comfy 3.5 game lead in the AL East. The outlook on one of the older teams in the league had everybody thinking mediocrity.
Quite possibly, the Yankees doing what they’ve done has been an even bigger shock than their little brothers.
In any event, we’ll now hand out midseason grades for both teams:
Offense
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Yankees: A
If you were to tell the normal baseball fan that Alex Rodriguez would finish with around 35 home runs (HR) and 95 runs batted in (RBI) for the entire 2015 season, you’d be cast aside with a flagrant wave of the hand.
Miraculously, those stats are what Rodriguez is on pace for. His .278 batting average, 18 HR and 51 RBI has earned himself the honor of hitting No. 3 in the lineup after starting in the seven-hole.
It’s also rejuvenated the entire offense.
A-Rod and Mark Teixeira’s incredible resurgence has led to a lineup that’s produced the second most runs (409) and home runs (116) in baseball. It’s still one of the more undervalued stories in baseball. Tex and A-Rod have been injured, suspended and/or ineffective for most of the last three-seasons.
The speed and table-setting element is also very real in the Bronx. No duo was better than Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner prior to the former Boston outfielder’s most recent disabled list (DL) stint.
As long as they stay healthy – which always remains the key for this team – the Yankees offense should be humming during the dog-days.
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Mets: D-
The only reason the New York Mets don’t garner a failing grade in the lineup position is purely based on ultra destructive injuries.
Which MLB team could survive the loss of their top two-hitters?
David Wright only playing in eight-games this season was a blow of epic proportions. Furthermore, nobody expects him back anytime soon.
The other major loss, and something becoming quite a concern, is the certainty that Travis d’Arnaud is incapable of staying on the field. Finally, the kid grew into his bat and matured at the plate. We continue to see his batting brilliance. The only problem that lies is he’s played in just 19 games.
Aside from those two major issues, the rest of the lineup has been downright dreadful.
Lucas Duda failed to carry over his 2014 success. After starting off on the right foot in 2015, his lack of consistency has become an outrageous problem.
Michael Cuddyer plain stinks.
This lineup is currently boasting the worst batting average in all the land with a pitiful .233 mark, while they toil in third to last in runs scored (310). The highest batting average from a regular comes from Daniel Murphy’s .277 number (aside from d’Arnaud’s .296).
What’s worse than a team who can’t hit is a team who can’t play small-ball or make things happen on the base-paths. Their 33 stolen bases places them 26th in baseball.
Fielding
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Yankees: C-
If the pleasant surprise for the Yanks has been Rodriguez and Teixeira, then the crazy disappointment has come in the form of Chase Headley.
It’s obvious Headley became a Brian Cashman favorite upon acquisition last season. He provided a little power and played a flawless third-base. This season, however, he’s been an enigma at the hot-corner.
In 127 total games a season ago, Headley only committed eight errors. This season, he’s already tallied up an amazing 16.
All told, this club who was expected to be one of the better defensive teams in the AL has piled up the fifth most errors in MLB with 64.
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Mets: C
Surprisingly the Mets have been a better fielding team than the Yankees on paper this season. Still, though, the eye test doesn’t fit the bill.
Several games have laid right at the feet of the Mets infielders. Wilmer Flores, Daniel Murphy and even Ruben Tejada have all endured boneheaded defensive lapses that have costed their team at least a few wins.
They’ve been much more sure-handed since moving Flores to second and Murphy to third.
One thing is certain with this defense. Juan Lagares in center-field still represents one of the goldest gloves in the world.
Starting Pitching
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Yankees: C+
The one area the Yankees will find a struggle with comes in the starting rotation. Currently as a unit, the rotation is yielding 4.24 earned runs per game which places them in the lower-third of MLB.
When looking for an ace, there really isn’t one.
In theory Masahiro Tanaka should be that guy, but the struggle to stay healthy for the 26-year old Japanese import is a serious one. Besides, his 5-3 record to go along with a very paltry 3.63 ERA is nothing to howl at the moon about.
Michael Pineda has made tremendous strides this season, but even Big Mike is prone to missing time (13 games started in 2014).
The real issue lies in the No. 5 spot, C.C. Sabathia. If Joe Girardi wants to stay away from pitching C.C. in Game 4 of the ALDS, then nothing better happen to Tanaka, Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi and Ivan Nova from now until October.
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Mets: A+
Lets call it like it is. The only reason the Mets enjoy a five-game buffer above the .500 mark is due to this phenomenal crop of young talented arms in the starting rotation.
A starting rotation that some have already dubbed the “Phenom-Five,” and others (namely John Smoltz) have called better than the 1990s Atlanta Braves staff.
For good reason too.
Only Bartolo Colon possesses an ERA over four (4.46). The wins surely aren’t there, but everything else is. Power, movement and plain filthy stuff is spread throughout the top-four young guns.
Despite not lighting the 2015 world on fire, Matt Harvey is still doing his thing. A 3.11 ERA and 109 strikeouts (K) in 111.1 innings-pitched (IP) is nothing to sneeze at.
Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz have added fuel onto the pitching prowess in Queens, but the reason reason to get excited comes from the Mets lone MLB All-Star, their other ace.
Jacob deGrom enjoyed the best outing of any All-Star pitcher on Tuesday night. His striking out the side with just 10 pitches boggled the minds of everyone who laid witness. Combining his filthy ways with the competitive attitude of Harvey is what nightmares are made of for batters, especially down the stretch in a pennant race.
Imagine the potential danger this rotation presents for opponents during a five or seven game series. They’ll have the ability to throw Harvey, deGrom, Matz and Syndergaard (in that order).
Straight nasty, and that’s exactly why this unit is the only in this story to garner an A+ grade.
Bullpen
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Yankees: A-
The only unit that comes close to touching the dominance of the Mets starting staff is the offense that resides at Yankee Stadium, but the bullpen isn’t too far behind.
Even with Andrew Miller sidelined for several weeks, the sheer power of Dellin Betances has been on full display since his arrival in 2014. Imagine how batters will feel when the cold of October comes and they have to think about facing Miller and Betances late in games.
Sprinkle in a little Justin Wilson and Adam Warren and the unit has pitched to a 3.45 ERA with an MLB-leading 316 strikeouts out of the pen.
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Mets: B+
Surprisingly, the Mets bullpen has a much better ERA than the Yankees (2.77 as opposed to the Yanks 3.45).
Jeurys Familia has taken the city by storm, fully grabbing a hold of the Mets closing situation.
Still though, the Yanks will get the top nod here purely based on the fact the Miller-Betances duo is downright scary and the Mets lower-tiered guys leave a lot to be desired at times.
Overall Grade
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Yankees: A-
It is just downright phenomenal what the Yankees are doing right now. Their 48-40 record doesn’t speak to the shock.
The fact that injuries haven’t been plentiful forces credit to be handed to Joe Girardi. The skipper’s way of resting guys when fans don’t want to see it and handling his bullpens is one of the better attributes any manager in baseball possesses.
Brain Cashman also deserves some credit in the area of integrating some young talent into a tough situation.
With older, high-priced veterans plugging up positions all over the diamond, it’s a tough chore to give baby Yanks a chance. He’s already done this with Mason Williams and Rob Refsnyder.
One legitimate starting pitcher could actually transform this Yankees team from one that has a shot into a serious World Series contender.
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Mets: B+
While the Mets overall grade isn’t an A- like their older brothers from the North, they deserve a ton of credit collectively.
There’s no question their 13-3 unheard of start is a key their still five-games over .500, but the strong finish to the first-half of the season speaks more to the character of their fight than anything on the negative end of the spectrum.
Terry Collins has been stable. His lack of ammunition offensively and in the area of small-ball forces his hand to completely rely on his young, phenom arms.
The second-half of the season will depend on that all-star cast in the front office.
Their future is bright, there’s no doubt about that. However, the question for the here and now deals with the lack of financial wherewithal by ownership and baseball executive want-to from Sandy Alderson.
Everybody agrees that none of the young phenom starting pitchers should be moved. That doesn’t mean other prospects have to stay. Get creative and make a move for a mid-tier bat that will provide Mets fans a chance to get very excited about 2016 and beyond.
They fully deserve that chance.