Best, Worst of May

Another month has drawn to a close. Let’s take a look back at the Tribe’s up and (mostly) down month of May.

Team Record in May: 9-17

The High: I guess a three-game winning streak versus Detroit and Kansas City. A come from behind victory versus the Yankees on May 29th.

The Lows: A six-game losing streak from May 17th through the 22nd. Asdrubal Cabrera breaking his arm. Grady Sizemore going on the DL and possibly missing the season.

May MVP: Admittedly, this is a weak field. Nobody on the Tribe was playing very well in May, even Shin-Soo Choo finished the month in a bad slump. So I’m giving this to a guy who I never thought I’d hear the words of his name and “MVP” in the same sentence again. Yes, I’m talking about the ghost of Travis Hafner, who returned with 2 home runs, a .448 OBP and a .909 OPS. Those numbers won’t set the world on fire, but given the ammount of production we’re used to getting from Hafner (which is to say, nothing) this is like Christmas coming early.

May LVP: I’m holding off on ripping apart Matt LaPorta because there has been someone who has been even more unvaluable to the Indians. That man is Luis Valbuena, who had a .231 OBP, a .095 SLG and a pathetic .326 OPS. This also includes his spotty defense, which has let to at least a couple bullpen meltdowns. Valbuena had his bags packed and was ready to go to Triple-A Columbus, before Asdrubal Cabrera’s injury derailed that plan.

May Cy Young: Fausto Carmona started 5 games in May, and averaged about 6 IP per start. He also had a 3.30 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP and just 12 walks. Fausto may never be as good as he was in 2007, but if he continues to pitch like this, he’s at least usable, and is giving you the numbers of a number 3 starter. And that’s better than what the Indians had gotten out of him the previous two years (which is to say, nothing).

May Cy Yuck: Rafael Perez and David Huff get honorable mentions, but this award has to go to Kerry Wood. He’s looked atrocious since he came back (I was actually surprised when he saved the game last night without surrendering the lead), with an 11.05 ERA, a 2.32 WHIP, and all this in only 9 games, 7.1 IP. Get used to the sight of Kerry Wood, Tribe fans, because he isn’t going anywhere with how poorly he’s pitched.