NAT COOMBS is a writer and broadcaster who hosts the chat show Talk of The Terrace on our partner channel ESPN, and both NFL & MLB coverage on BBC Radio Five Live. He also anchors the US sports podcast Americarnage and is a regular guest on ESPN Radio’s Fantasy Baseball Podcast.

Seeing as we’ve just started the second half of the baseball season I figured it made sense to put together my Half Term Report Card. Don’t panic gang – I’m not gonna be giving A-Rod a grade for his performance in Math class, or CC Sabathia for Home Economics – though if I did, they’d be C+ and A respectively. And I won’t even mention the note from his Mum that Derek Jeter brought in to excuse him from the All Star Game.

Nope, these are my Special Awards for performances – good, and not so good – for the season so far.

WALL BALL: Noted for going deep over the wall, here Bautista goes up against the wall for a spectacular catch in the All Star Game

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER
Honorable mentions here for the Dodgers Matt Kemp, who is playing on the most dysfunctional franchise since Charlie Manson uttered the immortal words: “Who fancies a game of pick up?” Adrian Gonzalez whose 128 hits up to the All Star Break is the most in Red Sox history, and the Mets Jo Jo Reyes who led the Majors (along with A-Gon with a .354 BA) but for me, much as like tip & run, Offense = Power, so my first award goes to the remarkable Blue Jay Jose Bautista – or “Joey Bats” to his mates – whose whopping 31 Home Runs was 6 ahead of his nearest rival (Curtis Granderson) and means he’s on pace for a 60 HR season – (see, I’ve been taking Math class with Tony La Russa). He’s redefining the term Power Hitter and is showing no sign of letting up.

BEST STARTING PITCHER
Some remarkable performances in the first half of the year, including 2 no-hitters (step forward & take a bow Justin Verlander & Franciso Liriano), shutouts becoming all the rage, and some unfashionable names in Jair Jurrjens and Jared Weaver leading the league in ERA but my half time award goes to Josh Beckett of the Red Sox, whose all round stats coupled by pitching after a so-so year in the pressure cooker that is Boston inches him ahead of stiff competition. Plus he still manages to appear formidable despite wearing that rather odd necklace that he must have got as 14 year old on holiday and never gave back.

BEST RELIEVER/CLOSER
Baseball’s most volatile position has been relatively stable this year. New York’s finest Mariano has had injury niggles and been slightly off colour, Giants Brian Wilson, wonderfully barmy as ever, stood up and was counted in closing the All Star game down, and lefty Jonny Venters of the Braves has been reliably unhittable at times and Joel Hanrahan of the Pirates deserved his All Star call up but I’m opting for Craig Kimbrel of the Braves (28 Saves & counting) who, with Venters, makes up what must be the most lethal set up/closer tandem in the majors today

ALL HAIL: Jeter acknowledges the Yankee Stadium crowd after his 300th hit.

BEST MOMENT
I loved 80-year-old Marlins manager Jack Mckeon pulling a pitcher during an at-bat, but this award is no contest. The remarkable Derek Jeter biffing a HR for his 3000th hit – ending up going 5/5 (plus a SB) at where else, but Yankee Stadium? Even the most die-hard Red Sox fan must have been somewhat impressed – not that they’d ever admit it. Rather like all of you lot claiming you didn’t cry during the last 5 minutes of Titanic.

COMEBACK PLAYER
Admit it. At the start of the season, Bartolo Colon was set for a 3 win, 9.95 ERA type season. But the big man has confounded his detractors and survived a bizarre stem cell controversy, where he was implicated in an unorthodox recovery process.

Let’s show some love to for another big man – ‘Big Papi’ David Ortiz who has been reveling in his role as DH for the Sox, and loved leading the AL team of sluggers in the Home Run Derby.

But the runaway winner has to be Lance Berkman of the Cardinals, which we should have seen coming. The 35 year old kept telling us he was in the best shape of his life coming into the season (shedding 20 lbs from last year) and his stats tell you all you need to know – he’s well on course for a 40HR / 100RBI / .300+ season

SURPRISE TEAM
No-one saw the Diamondbacks coming, least of all any other teams in the NL West, and the Pirates are a genuine feel-good story, as the Pittsburgh franchise has been suffering for so many years, but no doubt that the surprise team of the year so far is the Cleveland Indians. An unsung pitching rotation, young, fast offense and a fearless attitude. Experts keep tipping them to freefall but there they are, still on top of the AL Central and seemingly not going anywhere.

FALL GUY: Volquez has caused nightmares for Reds manager Dusty Baker and certain fantasy owners.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
A number of big names just haven’t come to the party this year for various reasons – Jason Heyward (Braves), Phil Hughes (Yankees), and I was hugely tempted to award this on points to Dan Uggla (.185 AVG, 34 RBI’s) of the Braves as I own him in my fantasy team (Reno Rehab) but it would be far too ironic to connect him to anything relating to points as he hasn’t managed to score me any, so my winner is Edinson Volquez.

The Reds opening Day starter found himself sent packing to AAA ball after walking nearly 16 percent of the batters he faced which would have been fine, if he had a decent ERA right? Maybenotsomuch (6.35 ERA). He was called back, was equally poor and went back down again. And guess which mug had him on his fantasy team too. Yes, I’m last place before you ask.

BEST HISSY FIT
Shouts to BJ Upton (Rays), Carlos Zambrano (Cubs) and Jorge Posada of the Yankees who refused to play after being dropped down the order, but Brian Wilson of the Giants takes the crown by a country mile. Pulled after blowing a save, the bearded beat the hell out of a large drinks container with a bat. And then went back for some more. I don’t care what the purists say – it was a thing of beauty. Much like his spandex tux he wore to the ESPY’s.

BEST HAIR
Two words. Coco Crisp. In fact can we just give him the award for the next 10 years please?

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