Yankees first half in review: successful but not good enough

It’s been a fun first half for the Yankees. Here are some thoughts on where the team stands now, the trade deadline and the overall outlook for the rest of the season.

After an incredible 2017 season and the winter acquisition of newly-minted NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton, everyone expected the Yankees to be really good this year. After a slow start, the Bombers have definitely lived up to those expectations, and their nickname.

For the offense, it’s been a nonstop dinger party. The bats have broken the MLB record for the most home runs before the All-Star break. Stanton and Judge have led the way, but everyone’s gotten in on the action.

Shout-out to fan favorite shortstop Didi Gregorius, who broke the team record for most home runs by a shortstop before the Mid-summer Classic.

Ascendant star Gleyber Torres has been an unexpected source of power, too. His call-up rejuvenated a dormant offense (and team), and since he joined the club, the Yankees have taken their place near the top of the MLB hierarchy.

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Torres’ contributions have been recognized, as the young second baseman made the AL All-Star team in his rookie year.

The pitching, however, leaves a lot to be desired. First, let’s recognize that this team does have good pitchers. Luis Severino deserves credit for his continued rise to stardom, as he has a legitimate case to start the All-Star Game. Aroldis Chapman is still a lockdown closer. The bullpen has been solid, but not as elite as it was expected to be.

The rotation, other than Severino, is the team’s Kryptonite. C.C. Sabathia is defying Father Time by giving the Yankees a solid outing nearly every time he takes the mound. But he’s 37 on bad knees and a balky back.

Sonny Gray has been inconsistent and, on the whole, largely disappointing. Masahiro Tanaka missed a lot of time with hamstring injuries. Even when healthy, Tanaka isn’t someone you can truly count on in crucial games.

The Yankees’ need for starting pitching is well documented. But who will fill the void?

The team is often linked to J.A. Happ and Cole Hamels, but both have completely fallen apart in recent weeks. Nathan Eovaldi is another name that has been making the rounds. If the Yankees could swing a trade with the Mets for any of their vaunted rotation, most fans would be pleased.

Regardless of the team’s pitching woes, the Yanks are reportedly chasing Manny Machado in an effort to make their offense even scarier. The Brewers and Dodgers are believed to be atop the sweepstakes for the Orioles star, and Yankees fans should be relieved.

The offense is fine. Scratch that; it’s not just fine. The offense is great. Failing to address the starting pitching will hamstring this team. Every analyst with a laptop or a microphone wants the Yankees to essentially swap stud rookie Miguel Andujar for Machado.

Giving a division rival a player that has proven he’s beyond ready to produce in the big leagues for a rental player would be a mistake. The Yankees stand at 62-33. They’ve had a great first half. But they need to be better, as outlined by ESPN’s Coley Harvey.

"This is a team, nearly 30 games above .500 entering the All-Star Break, that is mostly pleased with the way it performed throughout the earliest stages of the season. But the self-aware bunch also knows it can — and must — be even better if it wants to close the second half as a division champ and World Series winner."

Next: Tigers and Yanks may be on way to completing a big trade

The red-hot Red Sox have only improved as the season has progressed, and they hold a 4.5 game lead in the division. The Bombers need to step it up to win the AL East and avoid the dreaded one-game Wild Card play-in.

Yankees fans and players alike should be pleased with a successful first half. But there’s always room for improvement.

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