It’s that time again.
With the Indians a day away from pulling into the All-Star break, the midterm report cards are in the mail.
Not surprisingly, the majority of Indians players will be running to the mailbox to intercept them before their parents.

3B/1B Casey Blake

.279, 9 HRs, 51 RBIs
Grade: B+
Comment: A year after being one of the team’s worst hitters with runners in scoring position, the versatile Blake is one of its best.

RP Rafael Betancourt

2-4, 6.30 ERA, 4 SV
Grade: F
Comment: One of the league’s best setup men a year ago, has failed in the same role this season, adding a subpar spell as closer.

RP Joe Borowski

1-3, 7.56 ERA, 6 SV
Grade: F
Comment: The Indians should have gotten rid of this broken-down pseudo closer in the offseason.

SP Paul Byrd

3-10, 5.47 ERA
Grade: D
Comment: The veteran looks like he’s en route to a forgettable final season in a Cleveland uniform.

2B Asdrubal Cabrera

.184, 1 HR, 14 RBIs
Grade: D-
Comment: The second-year player who was shipped to the minors because he couldn’t hit, is saved from the F by playing flawless defense when he was here.

UT Jamey Carroll

.267, 0 HR, 22 RBIs
Grade: B
Comment: Has stepped into a starting role at second base and held his own, while serving as a veteran clubhouse leader.

OF Shin-Soo Choo

.243, 3 HRs, 18 RBIs
Grade: C-
Comment: Hasn’t made the big splash many expected after his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

OF/DH David Dellucci

.226, 8 HRs, 30 RBIs
Grade: D
Comment: A year removed from injury, this was the season Dellucci was supposed to show Cleveland fans what he’s made of. He has.

OF Ben Francisco

.288, 8 HRs, 34 RBIs
Grade: B-
Comment: The minus is for some defensive shortcomings on display from the up-and-comer.

1B Ryan Garko

.237, 6 HRs, 40 RBIs
Grade: D
Comment: The sophomore slump has Garko, who has been unable to solidify himself as a starter, in its clutches.

OF Franklin Gutierrez

.215, 3 HRs, 18 RBIs
Grade: D-
Comment: A projected breakout year for the smooth-fielding outfielder has gone south.

DH Travis Hafner

.217, 4 HRs, 22 RBIs
Grade: D
Comment: He’s been on the disabled list with a mysterious shoulder ailment, but wasn’t doing anything before he got injured.

RP Masa Kobayashi

4-4, 3.21 ERA, 4 SV
Grade: B
Comment: The Masa man has been about as good as it gets out of Cleveland’s bullpen, but that’s not saying much.

SP Aaron Laffey

5-5, 3.45 ERA
Grade: B+
Comment: Picked up where he left off last year to save an injury-riddled rotation.

SP Cliff Lee

12-2, 2.31 ERA
Grade: A
Comment: The Cy Young candidate shook off a disappointing 2007 to perform as one of the game’s top starters through the first half.

RP Jensen Lewis

0-3, 4.73 ERA
Grade: D+
Comment: Earned a spot in the bullpen last year as a late-inning reliever, the same spot he lost this season.

3B Andy Marte

.160, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Grade: F
Comment: The Indians are trying to find out if this once-prized prospect can play, and are discovering he can’t.

C Victor Martinez

.278, 0 HR, 21 RBIs
Grade: B
Comment: Played through injuries and was still one of the club’s better hitters before finally succumbing to elbow surgery.

SS Jhonny Peralta

.257, 15 HRs, 45 RBIs
Grade: C+
Comment: Is beginning to show signs of life at the plate, but where was he when the Indians’ offense needed him?

RP Rafael Perez

1-1, 3.21 ERA
Grade: B-
Comment: Hasn’t been the lights-out late-inning reliever he was during the second half of last year.

SP CC Sabathia

6-8, 3.83 ERA
Grade: B+
Comment: After a slow start, had returned to his Cy Young form before leaving the wigwam.

C Kelly Shoppach

.255, 7 HRs, 20 RBIs
Grade: C+
Comment: Is a top-notch backup, but is still working on becoming an adequate regular.

CF Grady Sizemore

.274, 22 HRs, 52 RBIs
Grade: A
Comment: Has carried the Indians’ offense, while playing his usual Gold Glove defense in the outfield.

Manager Eric Wedge

39-53 (last place)
Grade: D
Comment: Last year’s manager of the year hasn’t found the sailing as smooth this time around.

Gm Mark Shapiro

39-53 (last place)
Grade: D
Comment: Wrong or right, last year’s executive of the year didn’t improve his team in the offseason, and it wound up coming back to bite him.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

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