MLB Baseball Report Cards - Volume 4

by Bodog Sportsbook | Jul 21 2008

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As we get ready for the second half of the MLB season, it's report card time. We're taking a look at whch teams are making the grade and which teams need to pick up the slack.

MLB Report Cards

Cleveland Indians
Hitting: C-
Pitching: C
Comments: Was it really last year that the Indians had the Red Sox with their backs against the wall in the postseason? It’s hard to believe that this team has fallen so far from grace. Grady Sizemore, Gold Glover and All-Star, is the only bright spot for this team along with pitching ace Cliff Lee; the list of bright spots drops off very sharply after that.
The Indians dealt pitching ace C.C. Sabathia, who had gotten off to a mediocre start in Cleveland, to the Milwaukee Brewers, where Sabathia has thrived, going 3-0 with an ERA of 1.88. Travis Hafner has been nonexistent, and this Indians’ club doesn’t look anything like it did last year. Who knows, maybe it’s the bugs.
Overall: C

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San Francisco Giants
Hitting: D
Pitching: C-
Comments: Since Barry Bonds left, the only thing the Giants have been able to celebrate is the fact that they play in the beautiful city of San Francisco, which isn’t much of a consolation when you’re almost 20 games below .500 and sport one of the league’s worst home records at 17-31. This is one team that has been hit the hardest by the end of the so-called steroids era. With how poor the Giants are hitting and pitching right now, the question just begging to be asked is, just how many guys on this team used to be on the juice?
Overall: D

Kansas City Royals
Hitting: C-
Pitching: C
Comments: Despite the poor record, the Kansas City Royals are actually an improved team. They have been hitting the ball but have not been able to translate their hits into runs. The Royals are eighth in the majors in hits but rank only 23rd in runs. They've played well in spurts but have not been able to put a consistent streak together. A 13-5 interleague play record really gave the Royals a boost and a much-needed break from American League Central opponents. If this team can get some consistent hitting and pitching they can be a .500 ball club as early as next year.
Overall: C-



Seattle Mariners
Hitting: D-
Pitching: D
Comments: After locking up Ichiro Suzuki to a lengthy contract, it appeared that the Seattle Mariners were going to make a push to be competitive again. Halfway through the regular season, the Mariners find themselves among the league’s worst teams, in the bottom of their division, with no chance to turn it around. A combination of inconsistent pitching, a poor bullpen and being ranked in the bottom three in run production has derailed the Mariners’ season. After dealing their struggling slugger Richie Sexson to the Yankees, the Mariners have their eyes set on next year, which should see major lineup changes for the club.
Overall: D



Pittsburgh Pirates
Hitting: C
Pitching: C-
Comments: The Pirates have improved since last year but they still have a long way to go. They have a good core of young hitters, particularly in Jason Bay and Nate McLouth. But the pitching staff has just been flat out terrible. They have the worst ERA in the Show at 5.33, which on most nights will get you beat and beat bad. An inconsistent, check that, nonexistent starting pitching staff has been the pebble in the shoe of the Pirates this year and they will need to make some big changes to the starting rotation if they hope to contend with the likes of the Cubs, Cardinals and Brewers in the National League Central.
Overall: C-

Houston Astros
Hitting: C
Pitching:C-
Comments: With the exception of Lance Berkman, the Houston Astros do not have a lot to cheer about this season. Their pitching has been lackluster and so has their hitting - that’s how they’ve found themselves in the basement of the NL Central 12 games out of contention. The Astros are giving up just over four-and-a-half runs per game, and they aren’t getting run support to match. The Astros are 22nd in the majors in both RBIs and overall run production and that’s just not good enough. It’s a long shot, but it’s not too late for them to turn it around, especially if they can rally behind the hot bat of Lance Berkman. 
Overall: C-

Oakland Athletics
Hitting: C
Pitching: A
Comments: Somehow, the Oakland Athletics management is able to put out a low-cost team with good, shining, young pitchers who are big league-ready, year after year. The system they run is one of the main reasons why they are able to put out a quality ball club on a yearly basis. This year the Athletics have the lowest ERA in the Show at 3.42. Unfortunately for the A’s, the Angels are doing their thing again this year and have a sizeable nine-game lead on the second place Athletics in the American League West division. The A’s haven’t managed much offense to balance their stellar pitching; there are only six major league teams that score less than the Athletics do, which is a real testament to both the A’s pitching and the fact that they play in a pitchers’ ball park.
Overall: B

Be sure to check out the other MLB Report Card Volumes:

• Previous: MLB Report Cards - Volume 3