Please Take These Home and Get Signed By Fred Wilpon

Ahh the night after the Midsummer Classic, known as the slowest day on the sports calendar.  The perfect time to take a look at the

first half of the season and to dish out a mid-season reports card. This should be fun. I think a lot of these guys will need tutors in the second half of the season.

Carlos Beltran

This guy essentially carried the team in the first month of the season. He was still hitting over .400 in early May and is hands down the best defensive CF in the National league. Did anyone notice the Mets were still above .500 when he went to the DL on June 22? Always undervalued by Mets fans. Would have gotten an A+ if not for the injury.

GRADE: A

Francisco Rodriguez

The Mets have gotten exactly what they paid for with K-Rod so far. He is 23 of 26 officially in save opportunities (really 24 if you consider the Luis Castillo dropped pop-up disaster). His 1.90 ERA (which was well below 1.00 for most of the season) is an indication of  how dominant he has been. Seems capable of pitching everyday if necessary.

GRADE: A

Johan Santana

Had a truly dominant month of April but struggled mightily in June. Nine earned runs in three innings at Yankee Stadium was the lowlight of his tenure with the Mets. Lack of run support and dreadful defense likely cost him two or three more wins. Velocity is down, but this guy remains irreplaceable.

GRADE: A-

Gary Sheffield

Due to rash of injuries, has received much more playing time than the Mets would have liked for a 40-year old. Has thrived since joining the everyday lineup in May compiling 10 HR and 35 RBI and is team’s only real power threat at this point. It is clear the old pro still has some life left in that waggling bat and his locker room presence is apparent.

GRADE: A-

David Wright

His .324 batting average is good for seventh in the N.L., but his meager five homers  and 12 errors have been a big downer. Cavernous Citi Field is partly to blame, but Wright needs to up his power numbers in the second half for the Mets to have any shot. No protection in the lineup with the three other core stars injured.

GRADE: B+

Omir Santos

An afterthought to start the season, has been primary part of the most productive run-producing catching tandem in the N.L. Pitchers like his pitch-calling acumen and defensive skills. Has had more than a few clutch hits.

GRADE: B+

Alex Cora

His value can be measured more as a locker room leader than through his stats. Has filled in admirably for Jose Reyes, but is better suited to be a utility player. Tremendous baseball instincts make up for lack of skills. Playing through a painful thumb injury.

GRADE: B+

Pedro Feliciano

Rubber-armed reliever has been devastating against lefties (.171 BAA, 19 K). Has performed at a high level since inheriting eigth inning duties from J.J. Putz, though chances have been limited as of late.

GRADE: B+

Fernando Nieve

Plucked from the scrap heap, has yet to give up more that three runs in any of six starts, despite losing last three. First three starts were eye opening, especially his 6 2/3 inning performance vs. the Yankees at the Stadium. Still, spot in rotation appears to be up in the air with John Maine on the mend.

GRADE: B

Fernando Nieve

Plucked from the scrap heap, has yet to give up more that three runs in any of six starts, despite losing last three. First three starts were eye opening, especially his 6 2/3 inning performance vs. the Yankees at the Stadium. Still, spot in rotation appears to be up in the air with John Maine on the mend.

GRADE: B

Jeremy Reed

Has provided solid late-game defense and performed well at the dish when given the opportunity with .292 BA. Deserved more than 17 starts with Tatis and Murphy struggling all season long.

GRADE: B

Bobby Parnell

Spectacular April and May performance (2.11 ERA, 10 holds) buttressed by an equally pitiful June (13.50 ERA, .429 BAA). Has seemingly righted the ship in July. You can’t teach 98 MPH on the gun.

GRADE: B-

Brian Stokes

Sub-4.00 ERA puts him near the top of the list of bullpen performers. Doesn’t see the mound in too many pressure spots but is capable of dominating hitters with his heat.

GRADE: B-

Luis Castillo

Despite being whipping boy of Mets fans, has put up solid first-half numbers (.285 BA, 11SB, .385 OBP). Started second most games of any position player behind Wright. Would have gotten a B+ but unfathomable gaffe vs. Yanks drops him a full grade.

GRADE: C+

John Maine

Compiled a 5-4 record before heading to the DL in early June. Registered six quality starts during a stretch of seven games in late April/May. Didn’t pitch past the sixth inning in any of his 11 outings. Lack of durability is troubling

GRADE: C+

Brian Schneider

Has shown some pop in his bat the last month or so. Month and a half spent on DL allowed the team to uncover Santos as a potential gem. Doesn’t really hurt or help the cause.

GRADE: C

Livan Hernandez

Was 5-1 with a 3.88 ERA in early June. The wheels have come off since then. Has given up 20 earned runs in past four starts, all losses. A few more bad outings may spell the end of Livan’s tenure in the starting rotation. He is what he is.

GRADE: C

Fernando Martinez

Unfair expectations placed in the shoulders of a kid who can’t yet legally legally buy one of the Wilpon’s $10 beers at Cit Field. Didn’t show much of the pop in his bat he was touted for. Defensive prowess and quick bat were evident. Clearly needs more seasoning in the minors and needs to stay healthy. His face plant into the Milwaukee turf will not soon be forgotten.

GRADE: C-

Daniel Murphy

Has not lived up to the hype created by Mets brass in spring training. For a guy who is supposed to be a great contact hitter, the .248 BA and .314 OBP ain’t cutting it. The outfield experiment went terribly awry and cost the Mets a few games. Has actually looked adequate at 1B filling in for Delgado.

GRADE: C-

Fernando Tatis

Was anyone seriously expecting this guy to recreate the magic he captured last season? Was anyone seriously expecting this guy to ground into a whopping 11 double plays before the All Star break? The fact that he has batted cleanup three times is not a good sign for the Mets.

GRADE: D+

Tim Redding

Missing nearly the first two months with shoulder issues didn’t help his or the Mets cause. Performance in his nine starts didn’t his or the Mets cause either. Has since been relegated to the bullpen long man duties. What a waste of 2.2 million bucks.

GRADE: D

Sean Green

The second most important piece in the Putz deal has pitched mostly like a piece of @#$%. His streak of 15 straight appearances without allowing a run can’t be ignored, but neither can his outings allowing three, four and five runs which have translated into a 5.54 ERA.

GRADE: D

Oliver Perez

The depth of his futility in unison with his ludicrous salary has made him one of the most reviled Mets in recent memory. His 22/28 strikeout to walk ratio is about as bad as it comes. How would Randy Wolf’s left arm look in the Mets rotation right about now? He may be a lost cause…a $36 million dollar one at that.

GRADE: F

Jose Reyes

The Mets offense has suffered greatly with him void from the top of the lineup. Wasn’t exactly ripping it up before heading to the DL with the mystery hamstring tendon injury (.279, BA, 2 HR, 11 SB). Still wondering if his immature ways on and off the field will ever be remedied. One has to wonder what kind of player he will be when he returns. Simply put, the Mets need a healthy Reyes to be a winner.

GRADE: Incomplete

Carlos Delgado

His numbers through the first month or so showed the old man could still play (.298 BA, 4 HR, 23 RBI). The loss of the Mets only legit power source crippled their lineup. Remember how good he was in the second half of last year? There were no signs of him slowing down until the hip started barking. At 36, what can you really expect when he comes back in August.

GRADE: Incomplete

J.J. Putz

Was supposed to have provided the Mets with the most lethal setup/closer combo in baseball. Instead provided the team with a guy with broken down right elbow. Ignore his pitiful numbers (1-4, 5.22 ERA) since he was likely pitching in pain for most of that time. If healthy, he’ll be closing somewhere else next year

GRADE: Incomplete

Jerry Manuel

Has really done an admirable job trying manage a team being held together with glue. Makes some in-game decisions that make you scratch your head (bringing in Santos from the bullpen to pinch hit for Ramon Castro comes to mind), but so does every manager. His infectious personality plays well with the NY media and with his players, but the jolly attitude has irked fans with all the losing going on. You try going to war with the Triple-A team he’s dealing with.

GRADE: B-

Omar Minaya

No one really know how tightly his hands are being tied by owners who lost millions in the Madoff fraud scandal.  Acquisition of K-Rod is the only offseason move that has paid off. Credit him for not pushing the panic button and trading away the little talent he has left in the farm system. Discredit him for having such little talent in the farm system. The Jeff Francouer trade may end up being a decent move for the future. May only have one more year to captain this sinking ship.

GRADE: C

Mets Training Staff

How do these guys still have jobs?

GRADE: F