Report Card Day: Who Made the Grade?

The first month of the regular season is behind us.  It is time to grade our team and its players.  I will be writing this column monthly.  April was a tough time for all of us, let’s take a look at the individual players as well as the team as a whole.
A+
Jonathan Papelbon: Return to dominance.
Jed Lowrie: Avg coming down but was reason for teams resurgence. 

A
Josh Beckett: Shades of 2007, hope the flame doesn’t burn out too soon
Jon Lester: Living up to the billing as team Ace.
Dustin Pedroia: Just cant judge by the stats, intangibles earn this grade.  Also the teacher’s pet.

 B+
Adrian Gonzalez: Slow start, Low power numbers prevented Gonzo from getting and “A.”
Daniel Bard: Shaky beginning, but back to firing 98+ MPH fastballs.

 B
David Ortiz: Got first Home Run before May 1 and Batting Avg is up.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Who would have thought he would be better than Buchholz or Lackey?
Jason Varitek: No bat, but who cares, as long as the pitching maintains. Pitching slips so does the grade. 

C+
Matt Albers: His walks to innings prevent a “B”
 

C
Jacoby Ellsbury: Ended month on high note, earned Lead off position back.
J.D. Drew: Always stays the same, not great but not bad either.  Still has a solid glove in right.
Tim Wakefield: Like Drew, you always know what you’re going to get.

 D
Clay Buchholz: Having trouble keeping the ball in the park.
John Lackey: Struggled with his control in the early going.
Kevin Youkilis: Good power.  Strikeout rate is alarming.  Not showing Gold Glove either.
 

D-
Mike Cameron: Good Power in limited games, poor average.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia: Consider a “D-” a gift, glove and arm a major concern.  Poor performance forcing Varitek to play more than expected. 

 F
Carl Crawford: Words can’t describe the disappointment. Showing signs of life lately.
Marco Scutaro: Poor performance let Jed Lowrie take over as starter
Darnell McDonald: Limited playing time and not doing much to earn anymore.
Dan Wheeler: Very disappointed in my Rhode Island Neighbor.  His glove shaking is making my head shake.
Hideki Okajima: Demoted, returned, heading for another demotion if he doesn’t turn it around quick.
Bobby Jenks: Weapon of Mass Self Destruction, I even hate the blonde goatee.

 Incomplete:
Alfredo Aceves: Reassigned
Felix Doubront: Reassigned
Dennys Reyes: Designated for assignment

Overall Pitching C-          
Bullpen still a major problem.  Papelbon and Bard can’t be expected to pitch every night.

Overall Position Players D
This team leaves to many runners on base.  When is the power going to come?

Manager, Terry Francona D
Still cant figure out a starting lineup that works.  Relied on Bobby Jenks one too many times for my liking. 

Pitching, Coach Curt Young D-
Better figure this bullpen situation or this could be a very long season and one he might not be around to see at the end.

 Overall Team F
Overrated and underachieved, not a good combination in the AL East.  Let alone a World Championship.

As you can see I am going to be brutally honest with this team.  Success is the only mother  f—g option, failures not.

Who do you think made the grade and who didn’t?

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