The Yankees had a better month in August going 16-12 over the 28 games they played. Improvements in batting and pitching and some notable returns kept them in the frame for a wildcard and a possible backdoor entrance into the post-season…..

Good

Robinson Cano. Robby Cano continued to lead the team by example and he let his bat do the talking. Once more he led the team in batting average, came 2^nd in slugging (behind Soriano) and led in on-base percentage and kept the engine at the heart of the team roaring.

Alex Rodriguez. It hurts me to include A-Rod in the “good” category of this column but if I separate out his off-field shenanigans from his on-field performance then I suppose that’s where he should be. He provided solid defence and improved the offensive performance from the 3^rd base slot to such a degree that there is really no argument.

Curtis Granderson. Curtis is another who has returned from injury very solidly and without all the off-field baggage that comes with those who have already been named. Amongst all his other contributions he shared the month’s lead in stolen bases with Soriano who should be due a mention just about now…….

Alfonso Soriano. I was one of those who felt that the Yankees gave up too easily on Alfonso Soriano when they let him go a decade ago. Okay, he was not going to be a second base for the long term and he was never going to have much patience at the plate but someone just needed to take the time to convert him to an outfielder for his other attributes to really shine. Now back in the pinstripes, he hit 11 home-runs this month and, hey, he even achieved 7 walks. What’s not to like? Welcome back, Alfonso.

Bad

Derek Jeter. As Jeter limps (literally) towards season’s end, it is time for us all to begin wondering whether he can ever recover from that late 2012 injury and be the player he was before then or whether he should hang it up and call an end to a great career.

Chris Stewart. Stewart continues to labour with the bat and this puts him in marked contrast to Romine who is shining in that category at the moment. As in July, the Yankees need to address the question of where there priorities lie at catcher. Cervelli should be out of the picture. Stewart obviously isn’t the guy for the long-term. If there is even the remotest chance that Romine could be, they need to adjust the game time they’re giving the two over these coming weeks.

Ichiro Suzuki. Ichiro has had a very patchy season and just when you think that he’s improving, his form took a nosedive in August. Producing only .228, he looks far from the player he did at his Seattle peak.

Brett Gardner. After raving about Gardner’s performance in the first half of the season, last month, he brought us back down to earth with a bump in August. He batted only .238 with 1 home run. He played every game in the month and he needs to produce more if that every-day situation is going to continue.

Surprises.

Jayson Nix. Nixon is another who has bounced back from injury with gusto. In the 12 games he played in, he contributed strongly with the bat and does enough in the field.

Austin Romine. As already mentioned, Romine continues to do well behind the plate and his bat has been a solid presence.

Mark Reynolds. Reynolds was a surprising signing and his surging bat will likely put him in a contest with Overbay and others for playing time in the last weeks of the season. He has been a pleasant surprise as an addition who cost us very little at all.

Vernon Wells. Wells had a good month and for some who went very quiet in the middle months of the season, after a good beginning, he is now making his presence felt again in his part-time role.