Midseason Report Card - Position Players

So I was hoping for a report card in the post someone else made, but
alas, saw no grades. So here is my fly-by-night, probably incomplete
because it's all off of memory midseason report card. Grades are based
on overall performance, as well as performance against expectations.

I'll do pitchers next.

Matt

CATCHERS (overall grade - B+)
Joe Mauer - B+
The defense is good, as always, and he's hitting in the .320s. For
such a demanding position, that's all anyone could ask for. The power
hasn't been there, however, so he doesn't get an A.

Mike Redmond - B-
Only 68 at bats, hitting .279. Quite acceptable for a guy who hardly
ever sees the field. Would be so easy to be rusty, but at almost .
280 ... that'll do.

INFIELDERS (overall grade - B)
Justin Morneau - A-
How can you complain about .324/.387/.515? He's a run-producing
machine and his defense is well above average.

Alexi Casilla - A
With expectations near zero, this is an easy A. He's been a huge lift,
both offensivly and defensivly.

Nick Punto - A-
Just 100 at bats, but you can't argue with the results so far. He's
even hit his home run this year.

Brenden Harris - C-
A dissapointment in the field and at the plate. Coming around a bit of
late, but 255/.311/.362 isn't getting it done

Adam Everett - F
74 at bats. Don't need to see any more. Even the defense isn't all it
was built up to be.

Mike Lamb - F
Hmm, maybe there was a reason Houston didn't want these guys. Lamb's
numbers, to go with his subpar defense: .224/.261/.297. Yuck.

Brian Buscher - A-
Would like to see more than one homer in 72 at bats, but aside from
that, he's been solid since his callup. Doesn't walk much, which means
it should probably be a B or B+, but he's being compared to Lamb,
which makes him look like Mike Schmidt.

Matt Tolbert - C+
Ehh, .265/.306/.337. Like I said, ehh.

OUTFIELDERS (Overall grade - C-)
Delmon Young - C
He's really come around with his average of late, but the power still
is lacking and he's way too free swinging. It would have been a B- if
not for his horrible, often laughable defense. At .287/.333/.390, he's
failed to live up to expectations so far.

Carlos Gomez - C-
As much as I enjoy watching him and appreciate his enthusiasm and
great defense, the numbers at the plate don't lie: .260/.295/.361.
That's not a leadoff hitter. That's barely a #9 hitter.

Michael Cuddyer - D
Defense is good, arm is spectacular. But for the money he's getting, a
D might be generous. I don't want to hear about injuries. If you can't
play, don't. Because when you do play, you're putting up: .
252/.324/.376. Granted, that's better than Gomez, but this is partly
about expectations, and Cuddyer's falling far short.

Jason Kubel - B
Mainly a DH, but plays a fair bit of OF as well. Kubel has exceeded
expectations, especially in the power department. Would like to see
him hit for a better average to go along with the power. But .
267/.328/.471 ain't bad.

Craig Monroe - D+
The power is there, but that's about it. He's supposed to hit lefties,
and he's not doing that. Eight homers in just 145 at bats, but the
rest of the numbers aren't good: .206/.281/.427

Denard Span - A
Probably should be an "incomplete," but that would be cheating. What
he's given, both in the field and at the plate, is quite deserving of
an A. Maybe even the elusive A+, but let's not get carried away. .
360/.465/.475. <- nice

Pretty much agree with you all around.

Everett should be traded for a rosin bag, or else cut.

My kids call Lamb "Mike Lame". I suppose he's a bench player, as is
Monroe.

When Cuddyer gets healthy I would send Gomez down to AAA. Send him a
message--work on your plate discipline, learn how to draw walks. No
way do you send Span back down. Or Buscher.

How would you like to be Denard Span? After being told for a couple of
years that you are the heir to Torii Hunter's spot in CF, your
organization trades its best pitcher for 4 guys, one of whom is a 22
year old that takes the CF spot away from you even though he's an
inferior player. You get your shot at the big leagues and you far
exceed expectations, in fact you play like an All Star. Yet there's a
nagging thought in the back of your mind that you will get sent back
to AAA. That's wrong.

I expect that Span's OBA will start to drop and settle in around .380-.
390, but that is still very good. He should be the lead off hitter and
Gomez should be in AAA. As Matt said:

..360/.465/.475. <- nice

Compare to:
..260/.295/.361 <-- puke-worthy Gomez stats