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Yankees report card: Who’s responsible for ugly first half?

Who’s responsible for the subpar showing in The Bronx? Let’s grade it out.

The Yankees have been among MLB’s biggest disappointments in the first half. World Series aspirations have turned into the Yankees trying to get back into the wild-card race in the second half, as the Red Sox and Rays take control of the AL East. And just when they seem ready to turn things around, they suffer a disastrous defeat — like Sunday in Houston. Who’s responsible for the subpar showing in The Bronx? Let’s grade it out:

Nestor Cortes: A

The lefty hasn’t pitched much, but he’s pitched well and he provided two important outings late in the first half against the Mets and Houston.

Aaron Judge: A

Judge has been the lone constant in the Yankees’ lineup, providing power and the ability to get on base. Just as importantly, he’s been able to stay on the field, despite dealing with an unspecified lower-body injury.

Aaron Judge has remained consistent in the field and in his batting, one of the few players on the Yankees roster who have provided an offensive edge.
for the NY POST

Jonathan Loaisiga: A-

The right-hander continues to get better and has been as reliable as any arm in the Yankees’ bullpen. He’s had a pair of brutal outings, but has bounced back and otherwise been dominant, gaining the Yankees’ trust.

Luis Cessa: B+

Once known as an innings-eater out of the bullpen, Cessa has become a more important weapon the last two years.

Expected to provide a jolt to the rotation, the right-hander has instead had difficulty adjusting to the new approach he developed in coming back from a second Tommy John surgery, but has been good in three of his last four.

Aroldis Chapman: D

Like Cole, it’s been a tale of two seasons for the closer- although the reason for the collapse is a little less clear. Chapman’s spin rate hasn’t been down that much since MLB’s crackdown, but he’s gone from as dominant a regular season stretch by a closer to completely lost, practically overnight. If the Yankees aren’t able to get Chapman and Cole right, it doesn’t matter what else they do.

The first half of Gleyber Torres’ season has been defined by mistakes.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Gleyber Torres: D

So what was the fluke? The Yankees were hoping it was last year’s miserable season from Torres, but maybe it was his first two seasons in the majors, when he was an All-Star. His power has vanished and he still makes too many mistakes at shortstop.

Luke Voit: D

He’s been unable to stay healthy and hasn’t found his home run stroke.

Deivi Garcia: D-

He wasn’t bad in his one major league appearance this season, but the right-hander’s struggles in the minors have prevented him from being an option in The Bronx.

Clint Frazier: F

Anointed the starting left fielder in the offseason, Frazier lost his job and is now on the IL.

Justin Wilson: F

Signed in the offseason, the veteran lefty has been awful.

Aaron Hicks: Incomplete

The injury-prone Hicks is lost for the season again.

Corey Kluber: Incomplete

The right-hander was pitching well when he went down with another shoulder injury and his no-hitter in Texas was among the Yankees’ only highlights of the first half.

Darren O’Day: Incomplete

Had up and down results before going down with a rotator cuff injury and then a strained hamstring.

Manager Aaron Boone has failed to use his talented players and start winning.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Aaron Boone: D

The Yankees insist there is enough talent on the roster to contend, but the fourth-year manager hasn’t been able to tap into it.

Brian Cashman: D

An offseason that included signing Kluber, Gardner, O’Day and Wilson and trading for Taillon has, at best, been a disappointment. And bringing back LeMahieu at that price hasn’t looked good so far.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Dan Martin

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