Commentary

Red Sox midseason report card

Check out our expert's first-half grades, then share yours for each player

Updated: July 9, 2012, 11:38 PM ET
By Gordon Edes | ESPNBoston.com

Call it the good, the bad and the ugly: Midseason grades for Red Sox players and members of management, plus your chance to evaluate each one. Agree or disagree with my grades? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Position players

David Ortiz, DH

Edes: Class valedictorian, with attitude. Grade: A

Your grade?

  •  
    5%
  •  
    0%
  •  
    0%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    94%

(Total votes: 8,182)

A. Gonzalez, 1B

Edes: 6 HRs last among AL 1B.
Grade: C

Your grade?

  •  
    7%
  •  
    0%
  •  
    10%
  •  
    46%
  •  
    37%

(Total votes: 8,147)

J. Saltala., C

Edes: 16 of 17 HRs from left side. Grade: B

Your grade?

  •  
    60%
  •  
    9%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    29%

(Total votes: 7,977)

M. Aviles, SS

Edes: Better grade w/higher OBP.
 Grade: C+

Your grade?

  •  
    5%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    2%
  •  
    51%
  •  
    41%

(Total votes: 7,467)

D. Pedroia, 2B

Edes: Injuries = .218 BA since 5/12.
 Grade: C

Your grade?

  •  
    59%
  •  
    18%
  •  
    2%
  •  
    2%
  •  
    19%

(Total votes: 7,566)

W. Middleb., 3B

Edes: Now comes the hard part. Grade: A-

Your grade?

  •  
    0%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    55%
  •  
    41%
  •  
    3%

(Total votes: 7,553)

C. Ross, OF

Edes: Delivered power from right side. Grade: B

Your grade?

  •  
    23%
  •  
    68%
  •  
    9%
  •  
    0%
  •  
    0%

(Total votes: 7,105)

D. Nava, OF

Edes: No one could have expected this. Grade: A-

Your grade?

  •  
    54%
  •  
    42%
  •  
    4%
  •  
    0%
  •  
    0%

(Total votes: 7,068)

R. Sweeney, OF

Edes: Outhomered by Reddick, 20-0.
 Grade: B-

Your grade?

  •  
    4%
  •  
    47%
  •  
    42%
  •  
    6%
  •  
    1%

(Total votes: 6,955)

N. Punto, IF

Edes: A .300 batting average since 6/1. Grade: C

Your grade?

  •  
    1%
  •  
    12%
  •  
    48%
  •  
    29%
  •  
    10%

(Total votes: 6,713)

R. Kalish, OF

Edes: Still a work in progress.
 Grade: C-

Your grade?

  •  
    1%
  •  
    9%
  •  
    56%
  •  
    30%
  •  
    4%

(Total votes: 6,654)

K. Shoppach, C

Edes: Dependable all-around backup. Grade: B

Your grade?

  •  
    2%
  •  
    3%
  •  
    50%
  •  
    40%
  •  
    5%

(Total votes: 6,635)

B. Lillibridge, U

Edes: Negligible first impression. Grade: Inc.

Your grade?

  •  
    39%
  •  
    27%
  •  
    29%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    4%

(Total votes: 5,176)

Starting pitchers

Jon Lester, SP

Edes: 4.49 ERA; he's fighting himself. Grade: C+

Your grade?

  •  
    32%
  •  
    52%
  •  
    13%
  •  
    0%
  •  
    3%

(Total votes: 6,986)

J. Beckett, SP

Edes: Career-low 6.5 K's per 9. Grade: C+

Your grade?

  •  
    0%
  •  
    2%
  •  
    23%
  •  
    50%
  •  
    25%

(Total votes: 7,010)

C. Buchholz, SP

Edes: Fielding ind. ERA 6th worst in AL. Grade: D+

Your grade?

  •  
    0%
  •  
    5%
  •  
    28%
  •  
    46%
  •  
    21%

(Total votes: 6,925)

F. Doubront, SP

Edes: Gotta love rookie's upside. Grade: B-

Your grade?

  •  
    15%
  •  
    70%
  •  
    13%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    1%

(Total votes: 6,672)

F. Morales, SP

Edes: Could turn into real sleeper. Grade: C

Your grade?

  •  
    60%
  •  
    30%
  •  
    3%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    6%

(Total votes: 6,589)

A. Cook, SP

Edes: Healthy, has provided needed depth. Grade: C

Your grade?

  •  
    7%
  •  
    2%
  •  
    2%
  •  
    36%
  •  
    53%

(Total votes: 6,409)

Daniel Bard, RP

Edes: Trying to salvage a lost season. Grade: D-

Your grade?

  •  
    26%
  •  
    70%
  •  
    0%
  •  
    0%
  •  
    4%

(Total votes: 6,764)

Matsuzaka, SP

Edes: Limping to end of Sox tenure. Grade: Inc.

Your grade?

  •  
    1%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    7%
  •  
    25%
  •  
    66%

(Total votes: 6,602)

Relief pitchers

A. Aceves, CL

Edes: Overcame dreadful start in new role. Grade: B-

Your grade?

  •  
    9%
  •  
    48%
  •  
    32%
  •  
    7%
  •  
    4%

(Total votes: 6,206)

V. Padilla, RP

Edes: Has thrived in setup role.
 Grade: B

Your grade?

  •  
    2%
  •  
    13%
  •  
    66%
  •  
    17%
  •  
    2%

(Total votes: 6,053)

S. Atchison, RP

Edes: Couldn't have done role any better. Grade: A

Your grade?

  •  
    71%
  •  
    23%
  •  
    4%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    1%

(Total votes: 6,025)

Matt Albers, RP

Edes: Recovered from '11 collapse. Grade: B+

Your grade?

  •  
    2%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    13%
  •  
    64%
  •  
    20%

(Total votes: 5,797)

A. Miller, SP

Edes: Morphed into a major weapon. Grade: B

Your grade?

  •  
    67%
  •  
    16%
  •  
    2%
  •  
    1%
  •  
    14%

(Total votes: 5,814)

M. Melancon, RP

Edes: Minors, and a minor role.
 Grade: D-

Your grade?

  •  
    1%
  •  
    4%
  •  
    25%
  •  
    35%
  •  
    35%

(Total votes: 5,867)

Management

B. Valentine

Edes: Impossible juggling act, in-house tension.
 Grade: C+

Your grade?

  •  
    17%
  •  
    4%
  •  
    28%
  •  
    28%
  •  
    23%

(Total votes: 6,958)

B. Cherington

Edes: Early trades (Reddick, Lowrie, Youkilis) have boomeranged. Grade: C

Your grade?

  •  
    1%
  •  
    8%
  •  
    30%
  •  
    38%
  •  
    23%

(Total votes: 6,810)


Gordon Edes

Red Sox reporter, ESPNBoston.com
  • Has covered Red Sox for 15 years
  • Award-winning beat reporter
  • Joined ESPNBoston.com in 2009

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